Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Hudson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I was about 12 years old, I was mesmerized by architecture, and decided that’s what I wanted to do with my life! But then I realized the interior architecture was what truly captured my gaze. Although I love exteriors, it was the interiors and its details that I quickly fell in love with. I was fortunate to go to a high school that offered classes that got me acquainted with the field: mechanical drafting, architecture, engineering. These classes were confirmation that this was the career I wanted. I could easily see myself doing it for the rest of my life. Following High School, I went to college in South Georgia at Valdosta State University. After completing my four-year bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, I moved to Los Angeles to jump-start my career.
I fell in love with Los Angeles and the interior design world immediately. From the furniture and decor, the stunning homes, and how we could make them even more beautiful… I loved every part of it. A lot of people are surprised when I mention this, but my first job wasn’t actually as an interior designer, it was with a design/build construction company. I started off as the assistant to the business owner, and before you know it, I was managing construction projects. I was responsible for creating construction documents, getting building permits, ordering and managing the construction of raw and finished materials, and the list goes on. This is how I discovered that I am truly a builder at heart. There’s something about going into a home, seeing it torn down, and being a part of building something new is a feeling that I still haven’t gotten over. I think of the home as an extension of my client. Each building has its own story and history. I enjoy being able to tell my client’s stories and their families stories while also creating beautiful and safe spaces for them to create new lifelong memories.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Although I loved the opportunities that I was presented with, sometimes life takes a turn and that’s what happened to me. In 2018, I fell extremely sick with a mysterious illness that nearly took my life. It was while on the road to recovery that I needed the flexibility to create my own schedule, and to build a work-life around this new life that was forced upon me. I realized that the only way to have the career of my dream was to build it. Ultimately, this became a catalyst for working for myself. Everything changed again in 2019 and 2020 when the pandemic fully struck and for me, it felt like I was living through another mysterious deadly illness all over again. Life throws us curveballs, but sometimes you have to throw them back! Luckily, I was already used to working around a new schedule based around my health and although there was a lot of uncertainty in that time period, I was able to make it through. I even designed a few home offices here and there to help others to adjust to their work from home, and to make their homes more comfortable in general.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart from a lot of others is my genuine love for the career. I love every aspect of it and can wear many hats. Because I started with construction experience, a lot of people are surprised to realize that I can also get building permits, and clearances, I communicate so well with all of the trades at our sites and genuinely love all the rough and raw parts of the job just as much as I love the glitz and glamor. I’m not afraid of getting dirty, but I enjoy sitting pretty also! I’m so grateful for my construction experience because it’s the marriage between the construction and interior design that makes me work seamlessly with every person on the team. My clients have been known to say that I am very professional and make an otherwise overwhelming process very smooth and easy. My job is simply to make everybody’s lives easier and fabulous at the same time!
One of my favorite aspects of my career is that I also offer educational services. During my recovery process, and especially during the pandemic, I began educating current interior design students, teaching them technical programs that we use in order to create all of our plans and 3d models. I’m very proud to say that I’ve even had students as young as high schoolers, who I’ve written recommendation letters for and helped to enter into college design programs. I currently still teach students as a way of giving back. Please feel free to check out Hudson Homeroom on my website, where you can learn the skills needed to be successful in this field.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
My message to readers is truly to live your dream! It doesn’t matter how much you start out with or what detours happen along the way, life is always working for you even when it doesn’t feel like it. As time goes on, I get more and more projects that I love, meet interesting people from all walks of life, and truly enjoy the freedom of picking and choosing how I get to spend my days. I’m so grateful for spending them doing something I truly love.
Pricing:
- Pricing Varies
- Education $65/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: www.krystal-hudson.com
- Instagram: khdslosangeles
Image Credits
Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, CA
