Exploring Life & Business with Abby Kuskin of Abby Kuskin Interior Design

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Kuskin.

Hi Abby, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my career working in fashion in NYC. I had always thought I wanted to be a fashion designer because I was really excited about styling, getting dressed every day, and the composition of color, texture and pattern. I was the low man on the totem pole, but I very quickly realized that the pace was too fast and I wasn’t fulfilled by the industry or workflow. I started taking a few classes in interior design at night and immediately felt like this was something I could really explore. I ended up studying at Pratt in Brooklyn, where I received my Masters in Interior Design back in 2012.

From there, I started working for an architecture firm in NYC called SHoP Architects that really opened me up to this amazing world of design, social culture, friendships and my future husband! I bounced around to a few other firms for the next several years, and in 2016 started taking on projects with a partner for a boutique real estate developer here in LA. The projects were all based in Cabo, so all of a sudden we were traveling back and forth to Mexico almost weekly! After about a year, the real estate developer (our client) ended up making us an offer to come in-house and exclusively work on projects at the resort he was developing in Cabo. It was truly an incredible offer and the next 5 years of my life were a whirlwind of travel, design, friendships, a baby (!) and some seriously amazing projects.

I decided to part ways with that role 2 years ago to start my own firm here in LA, which has been amazing and so growth-heavy. We’ve taken on several clients that I met through my time in Cabo, from residential to hospitality, and designed projects that I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to get my hands on. Right now, we are focusing on taking care of the people who have entrusted us with their projects and putting forth the best work that we possibly can!

Next up for AKID is the impending opening of our new office and showroom space in our home neighborhood of Westchester LA! We’re in the process of renovating a space that is a total 1950s throwback storefront location in the Westchester Triangle. We’ll be showcasing our custom furniture pieces that we’ve designed for clients over the years, as well as unique art pieces and vintage items we’ve been acquiring on our travels.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think design is EVER a smooth road! I’ve made my share of mistakes in execution and had to pay for them, financially and egotistically. It’s taught me a lot about my attention to detail, what questions to ask and how to build relationships with vendors, partners and clients. I think when you’re working with a client, you ultimately just want them to be happy and to walk away feeling like they had a good, transparent experience with you. Even if there are mistakes along the way, it’s all about how you take accountability and how you remediate the issues.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Abby Kuskin Interior Design?
AKID is a full service interior design firm that specializes in boutique hospitality and high-end residential work. I think what’s the most notable about our projects as a whole is that you are absolutely never getting a cut-and-paste of our previous work. We are all obsessed with design, and go over the top to make sure that our projects are unique, detailed, exploratory, and almost like a cabinet of curiosities when you experience them.

We love to obsess over the details and get our clients to step outside of their comfort zones a bit. One of the best compliments I’ve received (from a very powerful and high-end client) was that he was a little bit uncomfortable at first, but now he was in love with everything in his house! We want to see the pride in our clients eyes when they get to show off their space. We live for this feeling.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’ve always bought into the old saying that luck is when opportunity meets preparation. Throughout my life I’ve been a crazy hard worker, and I’ve made decisions that have put me in opportune places at opportune times. It’s what you do with those moments that counts, and I carry serious regret over the times that I let a “lucky” moment slip through my fingers!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://abbykuskininteriors.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/abbykuskin

Image Credits
Fernando Marroquin