Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill DeCoursey.
Hi Jill, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a Kansas City native, raised in Prairie Village, and attended Bishop Miege High School and The University of Kansas. I’ve always been more of the creative type. I was drawn to bright colors over black and white and gravitated toward anything that challenged my imagination. That instinct showed up early, especially through my love of decorating.
My mom has incredible taste, and decorating was something she genuinely loved. She was always refreshing a room or reworking a space, and I was right there with her—walking through furniture stores, flipping through those oversized wallpaper books, bolts of fabric, and paging through the home décor magazines that were always stacked around our house. Looking back, I didn’t realize it at the time, but those moments were quietly shaping my eye and my appreciation for design.
When I went off to college, I struggled with choosing a major. Design would have made sense, but once I learned how much math was involved, I pivoted and chose communications instead. After college, I took a job as an assistant manager in the Tabletop and Home Décor department at Halls, Crown Center. At the time, it felt like something to do while I figured out my next move—but I ended up loving it. I was surrounded by beautiful things every day: fine china, crystal, decorative accents. It didn’t feel like work in the traditional sense.
It was at Halls that I was first introduced to painted furniture, specifically the work of MacKenzie-Childs. The bold colors, the hand-painted tables and chairs, the black-and-white checks, stripes, and diamonds—it was unlike anything I had seen before. That style made a lasting impression on me and still inspires me today.
Eventually, I left retail and moved into the corporate world, spending years in business development and sales. I started in staffing and later worked in business development roles within marketing agencies, which is where I spent the bulk of my corporate career. While I enjoyed aspects of the work, I wasn’t using my creative side at all. They were good jobs, but they were just jobs. I never felt like I had a true career or something that was my own. I was always working to further someone else’s vision.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, but for a long time I didn’t know what direction to take it. About sixteen years ago, I found myself craving a creative outlet—something I could do simply because I loved it. I kept thinking about those brightly painted furniture pieces I had admired years earlier, and in my free time I started browsing Craigslist’s free section. I picked up furniture people had left on the curb, and I wasn’t even opposed to grabbing pieces from beside dumpsters. I didn’t really know what I was doing—I just started painting. Somehow, the pieces turned out pretty well.
When platforms like OfferUp and Letgo became popular, I posted a few pieces for sale, and to my surprise, they sold. What’s funny is that I didn’t think anyone would buy them if they knew I was the one who refinished them. I had no formal training and no established technique, and I felt like a bit of a fraud. When people asked if I had painted the pieces myself, I would say no. It was classic imposter syndrome.
Friends and family encouraged me to pursue furniture flipping more seriously, but I didn’t believe it could support me financially, so I kept it as a side project. That changed a few years ago when I found a free dresser on Facebook Marketplace. It was covered in thick black latex paint. Once I got it home and stripped it down, I discovered a stunning inlaid parquet-style top underneath. I couldn’t believe someone had painted over something so beautiful.
I updated the hardware, painted the body a deep navy blue, and sanded and stained the top to highlight the inlay. The piece turned out beautifully. I planned to sell it, but around that time I had just joined the Nextdoor app. Instead of listing it for sale, I posted photos of the dresser simply because I was proud of it. I shared the story of uncovering the hidden wood and the steps I took to restore it.
The response completely surprised me. Comment after comment poured in from people in the community telling me how beautiful it was and asking if I would refinish pieces for them. Some asked about tables and chairs, others about heirloom furniture. I responded to everyone, thanking them for the kind words and cautiously discussing commissioned work. That’s how I landed my first client.
What happened next felt incredibly organic. I kept sharing photos of finished pieces, and the support just grew. Strangers began recommending me, sharing my posts, and referring me to friends. These were people I’d never met, yet they felt invested in my work. That community truly launched my business.
As I took on more projects, I realized I wasn’t just refinishing furniture—I was listening to people’s stories. Clients shared the history behind their pieces: family heirlooms, meaningful moments, decades of memories. Those stories inspired me to create finishes that honored the past while giving each piece new life—something that fit their current space and could still be passed down to the next generation.
That philosophy became the foundation of Refined Design Finishes.
In a world where kindness often feels in short supply, the support I received was both refreshing and deeply reassuring. People took the time to encourage me, to recommend me, and to write thoughtful, generous comments. That support gave me the confidence I needed to finally pursue this full-time.
What once felt like imposter syndrome—hiding behind my work and hoping no one would realize it was mine—has transformed into pride. Today, I’m confident in my craft and excited to share it. This business grew from creativity, community, and courage, and I’m proud of the journey that brought me here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. In fact, it often felt like for every win there were a hundred setbacks, and for every good decision, just as many lessons learned the hard way. One of my biggest challenges was realizing—and eventually accepting—that I don’t fit neatly into a specific mold. I’m not a cookie-cutter person, and what works for someone else doesn’t always work for me.
It took me a long time to embrace what seems like a simple concept: find something you love, something you’re good at, and figure out how to monetize it. The hardest part wasn’t the “how,” though—it was trusting that I was actually good at what I do and having the courage to put myself out there.
When I finally took that leap and made my first post on the Nextdoor app, the self-promotion felt awkward and uncomfortable. But what I quickly discovered was that when you do put yourself out there, people in your community respond. The overwhelming support I received there truly helped make my business possible. In many ways, that encouragement is what smoothed the road when it felt especially uncertain.
Of course, challenges still come up every day. Pricing, time management, and workspace limitations are ongoing realities of running a business, especially a hands-on one. I’m also a bit of a perfectionist and tend to obsess over details—I want everything to be just right. Learning to balance that with the reality of a creative, handcrafted service has been a journey in itself. I’ve had to embrace the idea of being “perfectly imperfect,” and that lesson has been just as important as any business skill I’ve learned along the way
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What do you do and what do you specialize in?
I’m a furniture refinisher and furniture artist. At its core, furniture refinishing means stripping away an existing finish, making necessary repairs, and restoring a piece—either bringing it back to its original integrity or transforming it with a completely new look. That can mean updating the color, stain, or finish to give a piece a fresh start and a renewed presence.
Where my work really comes to life is in the artistic side. As a furniture artist, I specialize in one of a kind custom designed artisan finishes. This is where I get to fully lean into creativity—blending and layering custom mixed paint colors and incorporating a variety of techniques to create unique and intricate design patterns, Every piece is guided by imagination and shaped by the vision and needs of my clients.
What are you known for?
What I’m most known for are my artistic finishes, and no two pieces I create are ever the same. Everything I do is completely original and done entirely by hand. I don’t use sprayers or spray paint—every finish is carefully and meticulously applied by hand, with close attention to detail.
Another thing that sets me apart is the personal connection I build with each project. Taking the time to get to know my clients and learning the history behind the furniture is incredibly important to me. The essence of my work lies in creating a design that reflects the story of the piece, the personality of the client, and their future plans for it. Each finished piece is intentionally created to feel unique, meaningful, and deeply personal.
What are you most proud of?
I’m a very sentimental person, especially when it comes to furniture with history and meaning. I get attached to pieces that have a story, and I’ve found that many of my clients feel the same way. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is delivering a piece I’m especially proud of and seeing my client’s reaction when they experience its transformation for the first time.
My services range from simple color updates and refreshed finishes to fully custom, one-of-a-kind artistic statement pieces. My favorite projects are the ones where clients trust me completely and give me full creative freedom. Those are the pieces where my imagination can really take over—and they’re the ones I’m most proud of.
I also take pride in developing my own techniques and materials. I often mix my own paint colors, sometimes adding metallic or pearl elements to enhance depth and dimension. One of my signature techniques is a hand-created wood-grain finish. I don’t use standard wood-graining tools—instead, I create the grain entirely by hand using a custom blend of paint, stain, and glaze. It’s a slow, detailed process, but the result is rich, layered, and truly unique
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice is to accept that you are an individual with your own unique talents and gifts. Everyone’s path forward is different, and just because yours doesn’t look like someone else’s doesn’t mean it’s wrong—it simply means it’s yours. Explore your interests. Pay attention to what excites you and what comes naturally to you. Find your passion, trust it, and pursue it wholeheartedly.
I also believe in putting yourself out there, even when it feels uncomfortable. Share your work and your talent with your community. People respond to authenticity, and you’ll be surprised by the support that comes back when you allow yourself to be seen.
What I wish I had known when I was starting out is that perseverance matters more than perfection. There will be doubt, setbacks, and moments where quitting feels easier—but those moments don’t define you. Showing up consistently, believing in yourself, and refusing to give up is what truly makes the difference.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.refineddesignkc.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/Refined_design_finishes
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/Refined.design.finishes
