Today we’d like to introduce you to Ericka Howill.
Hi Ericka, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My career didn’t start in a design studio—it began at the Sundance Film Festival, supporting independent artists and filmmakers through a platform that championed raw, original storytelling. When I transitioned into interior design, I realized I hadn’t left that world behind at all; I’d just changed mediums.
I see interior design much like a film festival: as a living platform that celebrates stories and brings people together. In any project, the client is the protagonist, so the space needs to reflect how they actually live, what they love, and how they want to feel the moment they walk through the door. But a historic building carries its own narrative, too. I love uncovering the history behind forgotten architectural details and imagining the lives of the people who first created them and walked those halls generations ago.
That passion for independent makers remains at the core of my practice. When I’m not incorporating architectural antiques or salvaged elements, I look for every opportunity to collaborate with independent artists and craftspeople—woodworkers, sculptors, ceramicists, tile makers, weavers—from around the world. Whenever possible, I source art and objects that directly tie into my clients’ personal journeys, whether that’s an artist living right down the street from the project, a maker in their hometown, or a craftsman in a beloved travel destination.
Today, my work revolves around honoring those historic roots while making spaces function beautifully for modern life—whether that’s restoring a local historic property (I’m currently working on an 1880s stone house in the Flint Hills) or sourcing 300-year-old salvaged Dutch tiles in Europe. Spending part of the year abroad (with my miniature poodle in tow, of course) has only deepened my appreciation for environments that feel collected, warm, and deeply lived-in, rather than performatively polished.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Working for yourself always involves a good amount of troubleshooting, pivoting, and the occasional moment of floundering. Design is a second career for me, so making the shift took a real leap of faith and a lot of determination. Fortunately, I love both sides of the work—the business strategy just as much as the creative design. But no amount of schooling fully prepares you for the unexpected surprises hidden behind the walls of a 140-year-old home.
I’ve been incredibly grateful for the mentors here in Kansas City who welcomed me into the local design community. They’ve been an invaluable sounding board for all those unscripted, real-world questions that only years of hands-on experience can answer.
The real ongoing work has simply been carving out my own distinct line. I love doing work that centers on my client’s history, salvaged materials, and custom works by artists—but it’s a highly custom approach that takes time. An artisan-made and narrative-driven home doesn’t resonate with everyone—and that’s completely ok. What matters most to me is that my clients get to feel truly themselves when they’re in their own space. Success is whatever makes that possible.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ericka Howill Design specializes in interior design and historic restoration—from full-scale renovations down to single-room refreshes, across both homes and boutique commercial properties.
I believe design is fundamentally about how a space makes you feel from the moment you step through the door. Light, texture, and scale affect us on a very real, physiological level, so my goal is to build environments that feel every bit as good as they look. To give a space that authentic, gathered-over-time energy, I collaborate with local and international artists for custom pieces, source antique and salvaged elements, and work alongside specialty vendors who bring immense care to their craft.
What sets my practice apart is a deep commitment to my clients’ personal stories. I want to know what makes their shoulders drop when they walk into a room — and the answer is different for everyone. I bring that vision to life through three tailored offerings: Full Service Design for white-glove, end-to-end renovations; Room Revival for complete trade-sourced design plans clients execute at their own pace; and targeted Design Consultations to quickly get unstuck.
Working with me, clients can expect to feel deeply cared for through every step of the project. Ericka Howill Design is ultimately about pushing interiors beyond what’s just pretty, trendy, or good for resale—honoring the continuity of historic spaces to create environments that treat people as human beings with senses, memories, and real emotional needs.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Everyone throws around entrepreneurial clichés like “fail fast” or “just keep going,” but living those moments in the echo chamber brain of someone running a one-person firm hits different. My advice to anyone starting out is to define what success actually looks like for you—both in the long run and on any given day.
Maybe success today is just sending one scary email, pitching an unexpected light fixture, or taking one small risk. Make it approachable and celebrate wins. The first time I attended Design Week in Paris, I was so nervous. Of course it’s great to go to market and sell work and make connections and all that – but the goal I set for myself was to go and feel inspired. It made the entire experience so much more enriching, because I really cherished inspiring moments and leaned in without feeling stressed about deadlines or number of handshakes or projects sold etc. I showed up as a better version of myself and learned more because of it.
Know why you’re doing the work in the first place, and don’t let that purpose get lost in the hustle.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.erickahowilldesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erickahowilldesign/
