Today we’d like to introduce you to Lacey Lechner.
Lacey, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in NJ close to NYC and then went to art school in Philadelphia. I graduated in 2005 after earning an interdisciplinary BFA degree from UARTS… which is one of the oldest schools of art and music in the US. I say “interdisciplinary” because I was that painting major taking street tap classes as electives and also minored in typography. I would sleep on the floor of my studio after painting all night and then would clean myself up to intern at a local gallery in old city. I loved college, but real life happened and I decided that I was moving to NYC three days before graduation. I landed an apartment quickly, but was jobless so I had to hustle pretty hardcore to figure it all out. Like living off of $20 a week style. You learn real quick what is important and what is not.
That’s how I navigate life and that’s how DKMR ultimately started. I left my last full-time gig at MASHstudios in March of 2018 and decided it was time to run my own show so I just figured out a base plan and took action. DKMR is an independent brand management firm representing high design furniture for commercial settings. I had some money saved, but it was humble beginnings and many long days and nights doing everything myself. A past boss recently told me to start hiring people to handle the things that I’m not so great at…I agree! It’s time. DKMR has taken off like fire within the last year and I couldn’t be more proud and grateful.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No! Not at all. Is it really ever? The big struggle right now is restructuring DKMR and navigating this new current reality. I typcially need downtime to evaluate next steps in my business when something isn’t working or could be done better. It’s a lot of tried and true after being in my industry for 15 years, but also a lot of try and fail..that’s the journey and ultimately the discovery.
Please tell us about DKMR Projects.
I would say half of the time people don’t ask me what DKMR means, however when they do..it always brings a genuine smile mixed with some light hearted laughter to that person or group of people. I live for that..to see someone smile in a natural way. It’s an acrynom for Don’t Kill My Rainbow. It’s a little piece of secret joy for many personal reasons. I was pacing around my home fired up about a recent experiance and it just came out. Right now sitting in Q4 of 2020..it means so much more than a company name. LGBT rights, Me Too, Black Lives Matter, Womans rights, all human rights and the current pandemic situation..this list can go on..no one has the right to kill another persons rainbow.
DKMR partners with very design-driven furniture brands and design studios at a global level. I have a pretty diverse resume having weaved in and out of the art world. My design consulting work has been a constant since 2007. I collaborate with many design and architecture firms, the cre community, procurement firms and commercial furniture dealers with my exclusive contracted brands on a wide variety of commercial projects ranging from workplace, hotels, restaurants, public spaces, retail locations and mixed-use buildings. I also run my own projects from time to time. We are hired by local firms to consult on custom millwork and FF&E given our experience and insight on which vendors are best aligned for specific types of projects.
We don’t represent super contract-driven brands and that is also what sets DKMR apart from the rest.
We would rather work on certain types of projects. We can be selective and that matters very much to us. Sustainability is a big part of why we work with our partners. We love slow authentic furniture that lasts a lifetime and not pieces that will end up in a landfill when a lease is up.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I’ve become really good at saying no which also is a differentiator for DKMR. I think you have to say no more often to make space for the right opportunities and partners. I wish I did that a little more in the beginning.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dkmr.co/
- Phone: 917-370-3880
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @dkmrprojects
Image Credit:
Uhuru Design, GRID, Bulo, Tacchini, Fredericia, Mitab, Carl Hansen & Søn, Giles Miller Studio, Anthom Design House and Christopher Basil Fong
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