Meet Emily Catlin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Catlin.

Hi Emily, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Hi. I’m Emily, the decorator and content creator behind the squares of @modwestmade. I’ve always had a thing for those before and after on HGTV, and in 2016, I purchased my first fixer upper and I could not wait to put my love of modern design into action. I searched Pinterest, magazines, and began following many designers on Instagram to see how I could incorporate the newest trends into my home with hopes of having it just ahead of the curve when it came time to sell. My dad and I put in what seemed like endless hours, doing project after project to make my visions come to life.

As the renovation process was coming to an end, with my love for interiors becoming even stronger, I decided it was time to share it with others… so began Modwest Made. It started out as a small Instagram account where I’d collect photos of my paintings, before and afters, and all the design inspiration I could find, but it quickly turned into so much more. l had no idea about the wonderful community I would discover and become a part of in the coming years. I’ve connected with Kansas City locals and designers all over the world and found the creative outlet my 9-5 life was desperately needing.

With the excitement and support of my little Modwest community, I have been tackling renovations on house number two, a mid-century Drummond, and am now off on a new adventure, decorating Airbnbs. I could have never predicted my love for design paired with a little “why not” moment would evolve into one my favorite adventures and I can’t wait to see where it takes me next!

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?
In true millennial fashion, I often struggle with finding a balance between doing what “I should” be doing with the nagging desire to do what I want.. and when you had never really put much thought into what goes into “influencing” there are many moments that make you think “What am I even doing?”.

When you have a degree that leads to a sure and steady career, it can be hard to act on those little “what ifs”, that could completely change up your day to day life and lead to some uncertainty. But after realizing the satisfaction that comes with renovating and creating beautiful spaces, I’ve been determined to find a way to make them both work. This has looked very different over the years and has not been without some challenges along the way.

From quitting a full time job to pursue greater flexibility and creative opportunities which lead to financial obstacles, to then going back to working full time and devoting my nights and weekends to social media and design which has made for some long, busy days. That search for the perfect balance between “should” and “want” isn’t always easy, but with every new opportunity that comes my way, I can’t help but think it’s going to end up being worth it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My full time career is in pediatric Speech Language Pathology. I work in public education in the preschool setting, as well as part time for a local private practice. I have always wanted to work with children and have loved being a part of so many little lives over the years. I am now also working part time decorating and sharing that on Instagram. I always thought these two career paths didn’t have many similarities, but over time I realized there was an overarching theme of connecting with people and leaving something maybe just a little bit better than you found it.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Things might have to look a little different than you originally planned, and it might seem impossible in the moment, but those challenges might lead to something even better in the end. Just keep going.

Contact Info:

• Email: modwestmade@gmail.com
• Instagram: @modwestmade

Image Credits
Richard Pablo