Thrive & Inspire: Kathy Anderson and Eklektik Team Happy ‘When Clients Are Happy’

Thrive & Inspire: Kathy Anderson and Eklektik Team Happy ‘When Clients Are Happy’

Kathy Anderson, Eklektik Interiors Owner and Principal Designer, & the Eklektik team

WHAT WAS THE highlight of 2022 at your business? Winning Best of Show at the 2022 ASID Ruby Awards was very exciting. It was an honor to be recognized and supported by amazing industry partners and friends.


Successful people usually have many choices in what to do professionally. Why did you choose this? I discovered interior design purely by accident. Growing up on a farm in East Texas, I didn’t even know this was a profession. I took a beginning interior design class with a friend in college, and I fell in love with it. I believe I’ve been successful because I work hard, and I truly love what I do.

We’re fans of late educator Stephen Covey, who used to say that successful people “begin with the end in the mind.” At your business, what are you striving to accomplish? At this point in my career, I am working more as a mentor to my team. I want to leave my team and clients better off because they worked with me. Even though I’ll probably never 100 percent retire, I am slowing down and thinking more about what I want to leave behind. I feel so blessed with the success that I’ve experienced creating and building Eklektik Interiors, and I want to focus more on giving back to my industry and community.

Covey also spoke of having a “win-win strategy,” in which both the business owner and the customer win in the transaction. Can you describe your win-win strategy? When my clients are happy, I’m happy. It’s just that simple. I believe having a win-win strategy is being aware of the impact that you have and owning it. Every day that I get to get up and do what I love to do is a win. Figuring out different solutions, thinking outside the box, and finding inspiration in the process, is how I continue to find ways to make myself and others happier.

What’s special about your team? My team is eager to learn and tackle challenges. They love it just like I do! We all work together and individually to reflect Eklektik and our philosophy. We believe that the project isn’t about us; it is about our client and what they have asked us to do. I trust the fact that my employees know how to do just that. I love to see each designer flourish on their own and work together as a team for Eklektik’s success.

What’s new for 2023 that you’re excited about? We are very excited to announce our new location at 9434 Katy Freeway, Suite 200! Our studio in now dedicated 100 percent to interior design. We know that everyone is worried about inflation and being careful with their money. We are committed to working smarter as we give our clients the most bang for their buck. I’m excited to slow down and simplify my business and life and give my staff an opportunity to grow.

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How did you get where you are today? “Life is what happens while you’re making plans.” After graduating with a BBA from the University of Texas, I married, and was a stay-at-home mom. Divorcing when my children were just four and six, I became their sole supporter, and I chose real estate for the time flexibility and income potential. After four years working for another Broker, I founded my own company with one sales associate and 375 square feet. Little did I imagine this journey. Houston offers amazing opportunities for those who are willing to work hard and persevere! I have watched the city mature with the addition of all the wonderful, talented people from around the country and around the world who have made Houston their home. It was once said that Houston had a “can do, cowboy capitalism attitude.”
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