Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Jacks.
Hi Kayla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story starts like many others, where someone discovers they have a passion whether by trial or tribulation, and the only way to truly explore it is to jump two feet in and trust that the Lord is leading you to your path. For me, it took leaving my steady job and being encouraged by my now second in command and simultaneous best friend, Kelly, to simply explore what I was intrigued by and nurture that growing interest.
As a child, I was exposed to the inner workings of renovations and real estate, and of course, my mom was a master furniture rearranger. Fast forward to being a young adult, the love and growing desire for creating special moments within a space became bigger than just a dream, transforming into a pursuit. In 2017, I had the unique opportunity to bring a slice of joy to those who were affected in the wake of Harvey by helping design and rebuild their homes. Chasing that feeling led me to apply for what I thought, quite frankly, was a fat chance of being an actual, legit designer. What started as a whim, led to a surprise of a second interview (like, that had to be a mistake right?), and then the whirlwind of ACTUALLY being hired. This was the confirmation that I needed to do this for real. It was the confidence to know that leaving a guaranteed income wouldn’t be a mistake. It wouldn’t be easy, but I knew in that moment that it would be totally worth it. I, for the first time, could call myself a designer. Officially.
Going from knowing next to nothing, to pursuing an interest, which required A LOT of learning, much application, and many many many mistakes along the way, taught me that creating special spaces for clients takes just as much learning about them as it does the technicalities that go into creating them. This gave me the ability to create something totally new, out of what I previously would’ve never considered possible.
This birthed the idea behind the Self + Space. Something that allows me to share my pursuit of happiness with others while encouraging them and building relationships with those clients. An extension of themselves, who they were, who they want to be, an expression of all of the people that make a house a home. We get to connect feelings to what is otherwise just a room. We get to nurture the bond between self and space and blur the lines of just a space to live, and a place meant to evoke the emotional response when you feel truly represented, even if just the way a room looks. We get to be a core piece of that puzzle to help build a place that is truly a space of radical emotion and connection to those that live and grow in it. That brings me a sense of peace greater than any other avenue I could imagine.
I’ve been so fortunate to be able to have the space and freedom to craft and curate unique designs for clients all over Texas and beyond, and I couldn’t do it had I not failed just as many times (if not more) as I’ve succeeded. Every day is a learning experience, every mistake and misstep makes the end of a project that much more special and satisfying. I couldn’t do it without the guidance of the Lord, my amazing clients that put their trust in us, Kelly and all of her endless encouragement and support (and tough love), and my team that help build these spaces that we manage to dream up. I’m truly so blessed to be able to do what I do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Remember all of those failures I mentioned before? There have been quite a few, to say the least. From small mixups or misunderstandings to full-blown outright mistakes. Sometimes they’re unavoidable, and you have to just to suck it up and get through the muck. Other times, all you can do is chalk it up to learning experiences. That next time you’ll do something different or take a more optimal approach, you’ll dot the i’s and cross the t’s a little better. But from those mistakes and the missteps, comes a great deal of appreciation for the clients who know you’re only human. A sense of relief when things FINALLY come together and reveal all the hard work you’ve been putting in: the late nights, the migraines from being on the computer for so long, the endless calls and texts and email threads to ensure things go even remotely smooth for any amount of time. To say that the road to where we are as a company now has been paved in gold would just not be true. It’s taken a lot of learning, a lot of growing, a lot of accountability, and a lot of wine.
When you are starting a business you otherwise have no experience in (for lack of better words), you go through what I would consider is the first wave where you really feel like you’re in over your head. My first, official, big girl, on your own, client was one that I would dare say not many would take as the first official “get your feet wet” project. A whole home, like the entire thing, renovation, down to the very last detail. Out of town at that. I was traveling multiple times a week trying to make the necessary contacts and gather information on the home that was pertinent to be able to provide even the slightest amount of professionalism on my design recommendations. There were a lot of moments during that project, where I felt myself questioning if I was ready, if I could REALLY do this, and in the end I did. Through a multitude of issues from contractor reevaluations, to plumbing nightmares, product delays and shortages and last-minute decisions galore, it came together. And then I could breathe again. Seeing it in the final, cleaned up and polished version of itself made all of the issues and problems, all of the learning that had to be done, completely worth it.
I think that any designer or anyone who has ever done any kind of home remodeling, whether hired or themselves, could stand to tell some horror stories of construction woes. There’s a great deal of trust you have to put into a team that comes into your home and does any kind of improvement. You’ve got to trust that they know what they’re doing, they’ll do what they say, or even that they won’t be one of the bad ones we’ve all heard about. To say that as a professional, I’ve never encountered a contractor or business that sees not only am I a woman, but I am also young and I presumably have no idea what I’m talking about (they’re wrong, btw), would be a fallacy. I’ve had my fair share of bouts with companies that don’t take you seriously, or don’t expect you to stand up for yourself, especially in a primarily male-run industry. But when you find the ones that respect and understand the amount of work you do, the stance you take for your clients and for the good of the project, you start to grow a little network. Like-minded individuals who care less about the bottom line, and more about the people that are trusting you for your expertise. The ones that care about quality and craftsmanship, not taking you for a ride.
Things happen all the time that are out of your control, things that go awry and send your stress levels skyrocketing. That’s why it’s important to keep good people around, and just breathe once in a while. I think it also goes without saying that it’s okay to ask for help. I did. I knew that without the help of Kelly, I couldn’t keep up with projects in the most optimal way. I was unorganized and all over the place, running from projects between Houston and Dallas, unable to manage, and stretched as thin as possible. It also helps that, for me, we shared similar passions. We both loved design, and she understood what I was saying and feeling, she could resonate. I could finally bring her on in a more official basis, and she wouldn’t have to listen to all of my ventings for free. With her help, it wasn’t just me shouldering all of the issues alone. I had someone that would share in the responsibilities and solutions, and that’s more valuable than I could ever explain.
It would be a mistake to say that challenges don’t arise in every career. For some, more mistakes lead to better business practices, knowledge, and experiences. For me, it led me to have amazing contacts with builders, makers and creatives, happy clients, and projects that stand on their own.
As you know, we’re big fans of the Self + Space. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The Self + Space is a multi-faceted, design-centered business specializing in all things interiors and exteriors. Things like your home, your belongings, and the spaces you stay in all contribute to who you are as a person, and we want to be a part of all of it every step of the way. We have created a comprehensive umbrella business with different sectors and aim to minimize typical pain points and make things easy in each of these areas.
Our process begins with the consultation, where we chat about all the ins and outs that is the space the client seeks to improve in whatever way shape or form. We use this opportunity to start building the relationship between design and client to properly nurture and grow the bond so that we may provide a very all-inclusive and personalized experience for every project. From consult to concept, we involve and include our clients in the process, because let’s face it, it’s their space and if we aren’t doing our job connecting them to things in the process, then the bond isn’t able to form as deeply. They feel a connection with the space as we continue to shape it and alter it into the version that it should be. The version that encompasses the people who live in it. With our client-centric approach, we’re able to better understand the needs of our clients, so that we can provide the best possible design.
We believe that your space is something that should feel like an extension of the self. Your home should be a reflection of who you were, who you are, and who you want to be. It can be anything, change at any time, and be used to brighten others’ lives.
Design is one of the best outlets of art we’ve yet to find. It isn’t one size fits all. We love connecting people with their spaces by creating beautiful, comfortable, inspiring havens. We pride ourselves in creating tailored experiences for our clients, and building the project around their specific needs, no matter what they may be! For every budget, timeline, and want, we’re here to help along the way.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I would venture to say that luck plays less into the outcome of where I am now, and more that I am blessed. The role of this blessing has impacted my life in more ways than I can count. It’s truly been such a gift that I get the opportunity to share with others, and I feel honored to be able to do so. My business wouldn’t be where it is today if not for the Lord. He led me here, He put it on my heart to pursue this passion, and He continues to bless me every single day. Not just through my work, or my clients, but every single day is a blessing and a lesson in and of itself. I’ve had the chance to connect with so many amazing artists and clients and makers and designers that are nothing short of inspiring, and I’m just so beyond grateful for this life, and this opportunity to share God’s love through building and creating special spaces that bring gathering and joy to people, just as He does.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theselfandspace.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfandspace_/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/theselfandspace/
Image Credits
Corey Bomar
Kelly Waldron
Vicheka Im
Kayla Jacks
