Written by Natalie Aldridge.
A seasoned interior designer with a passion for design deeply rooted in her earliest memories, Kara Miller has us charmed with her beautiful and breezy interiors. Kara spent her childhood daydreaming over Southern Living house plans and admiring the wallpaper in her Nana’s cabana. Her journey into interior design was fueled by a keen awareness of her surroundings and a love for every nuance of home. Raised in Florida by southerners and enriched by summers in the Bahamas, Kara’s fusion of styles has shaped the approachable aesthetic The Glam Pad celebrates.
A graduate of Louisiana State University, Kara returned to South Florida to embark on her career in Interior Design. She found her calling by transitioning into designing for General Contractors and hasn’t looked back since. Kara’s passion lies in understanding her clients’ aspirations for their living spaces, translating those desires into tangible backdrops where life’s precious moments unfold. Beyond her design expertise, Kara also holds an active real estate license and resides in Jupiter with her family. Join us as we delve into Kara’s tropical paradise and explore her design philosophy…
Welcome, Kara!
Images courtesy of Brantley Photography.
Q: When and how did you first become interested in interior design?
A: I have always loved architecture and design from a very young age. When my friends were getting YM and Bop at the grocery checkout counter, I was begging my mother for Southern Living House Plans printed in black and white. My family on both sides are all creative.
My grandmothers, my aunts and my mother were particularly gracious homemakers and hostesses. They all loved to design warm and inviting homes for our family and so from a very young age I was surrounded by and raised in very loving and beautiful environments.
Q: What are some style/design elements that you think are distinct or signature to your decorating style?
A: I love blending a mix of design elements to create fresh, but cozy spaces. Textures, great millwork details, colors and patterns are all given careful thought. I am very intentional about transitions between spaces, and I love establishing a rhythm throughout any project with these components.
Q: How do you describe your personal style and where do you find inspiration?
A: I would say my personal style is an eclectic mix. I love to blend old with new and always incorporate a dash of sentimentality. Family and roots are incredibly important to me. As cliché as it sounds, I find a lot of inspiration in nature for color palettes. We live by the ocean and I also spend a lot of time in the low country so the outdoors provide and endless amount of ideas.
Q: Do you have any favorite go-to paints, wallpapers, linens, artists, etc.?
A: Yes! Paint is usually very specific to a fabric or wallcovering, but some of my favorite colors are Ben Moore Simply White and Colony Green. I also love Farrow and Ball Pink Ground and Sherwin Williams Honest Blue. I love Phillip Jeffries and Thibaut for textures, Quadrille, Farrow and Ball, Soane Britain and Raoul Textiles for patterns, to name only a few.
Q: Where do you enjoy sourcing antiques and art?
A: I love sourcing older pieces! There are many great antique stores here in Palm Beach county that are a lot of fun to shop. I do love Palm Beach Regency and Palm Beach Home Style, as well as Chairish, First Dibs and etsy.
Q: What has been the most challenging (and the most rewarding) part of developing your business?
A: Great question! The most challenging has been learning to establish a healthy work/life balance for sure. I am so passionate about what I do and give so much to my projects that I have to remember to balance that with other areas of my life. It’s easier said than done when it’s your name on the door, but it’s something I have been very intentional about over the last year.
The most rewarding is definitely the relationships built with our clients. I have always wanted to maintain a boutique feel at KMI and so we intentionally keep our roster on the smaller side so everyone gets our best creatively and from a service perspective. We specialize in full service design so our projects are usually one to three years in length.
These are long term relationships that are very important and dear to me. I take my role very seriously and never take the trust that clients give us lightly. It is so rewarding to be involved in creating homes for families. I cannot think of anything else I would rather do. It’s the heartbeat of my career.
Q: What are your tips for setting a lovely table?
A: Beautiful linens, candlelight and fresh flowers – often times cut from the yard! You do not need to spend a lot to get beautiful bouquets. I actually think a collection from out back is more interesting.
Q: What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A: Reading, going to the beach, hiking, yoga, cooking for my loved ones and enjoying a great SEC game day at home with my family.
Q: What is your favorite design or coffee table book?
A: Island Whimsy by Celerie Kemble. I am driven by possibility and creativity so I find this story irresistible.
For additional information, please visit Kara Miller Interiors and follow @karamillerinteriors Instagram for ongoing inspiration!
x Natalie
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Follow Natalie on Instagram: @natalieealdridge
