Today we’d like to introduce you to Jami Meek.
Hi Jami, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I realized my life was leading me to a career in design.
From a young age, I loved watching my mom constantly rearrange our furniture, redecorate the house, and paint characters for our bedroom walls. My dad introduced me to the joy of discovering unique finds at estate sales. My aunt owned an antique store she ran from my grandparent’s old barn and was always fixing up old chandeliers and other beautiful pieces. And my uncle owned a construction company where I got see him building houses firsthand. I was amazed by their career paths. Little did I know that it would have such a profound effect on my life.
I was surrounded by a family of self-starters who worked for themselves and urged me to find my own passion as well.
But when I graduated from high school, I still wasn’t sure what that passion might be. I worked at a flooring store and then at Sherwin Williams while taking a few college classes here and there. In the meantime, my husband and I bought our first house and started remodeling it. I started realizing my passion pretty quickly.
I had never met an interior designer before. I had only watched them on TV – back then Trading Spaces was the show everyone watched. I started paying more attention to the interior designers who brought clients into Sherwin Williams. When I saw firsthand what they did, my first thought was that I could not believe this was a possible career. My second thought was to call my mom. I’d found my passion.
When I told my mom I was going to transfer to the design program at the University of Missouri, she was almost as excited as me. Turns out that was her first major and her passion as well before turning to accounting to help support our family.
My education didn’t end after I graduated from MU, but it did take a detour for personal reasons. In 2010 my dad was diagnosed with stage four cancer. I started taking him to appointments. We spent a lot of time together talking about the future. He urged me to quit my job at the commercial architecture firm I had joined after college and help my sister run his insurance company. I loved my job, but I loved my family more. After he passed, I put my passion on hold to help run the family business for six years. It was something I had to do, and I’m glad I did, but I missed the creativity of design work.
In 2013 I started phasing out of our family business to start my own interior design career. Always an entrepreneur, I knew my dad would not only understand but celebrate my decision if he were still around.
What began as something simple – giving people advice when selling their homes – quickly took off. It was a crazy time. My husband and I had just purchased an almost 100-year-old lake home and were renovating it with our two young children at our feet. But no matter what, I was following my passion.
It has been an exciting ride since then, and I have loved every minute of it! I now have two employees and an intern. And this fall I am opening a new office in downtown Lees Summit. I couldn’t have designed a better life for myself if I’d tried.
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?
It has been a winding road, but without those challenges I would not be who I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My experience at Sherwin Williams taught me about undertones of paint colors and how different woods take different stains. My experience at MU taught me overall how to pull a project together with planning, materials, colors, textures and most importantly architectural features. I use a 3D scanner to create layouts and designs for my clients. Then we work on colors and textures. I am most proud of helping people create the spaces that they want to live in every day and live happier lives because of it. I really care about my clients and their families. I would say what sets me apart from others is my sparkling personality. Haha.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a bit of a wild child. Always getting into trouble for something. My friends say I was a bit boy crazy and probably a bit of a class clown too. I played all of the sports. Growing up in a small town that is just what you did… I actually think that kept me from causing too much trouble. I am still close friends with a lot of the people I grew up with. I loved my small town and wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.jamimeekdesigns.com
- Instagram: jamimeekdesigns
- Facebook: jami.meek.designs
Image Credits:
https://www.matthewaphoto.com
