Designer spotlight: Kelly Rogers

The collaboration between designer, homeowner, and kitchen cabinet maker is a critical component of a successful project. We are fortunate to have worked with many great interior designers who each bring their expertise, personal aesthetic, and creativity to a space. One of our favorite designers is Kelly Rogers.

What inspired you to enter the world of interior design?

Unlike many of my designer friends and colleagues, I did not fall in love with design at an early age. In fact, I don’t think I developed a visual language (or even knew what that was) until college when I discovered art history, and then ended up majoring in it. Coming out of college, I worked for 11 years in account management at advertising and marketing agencies. Then, my husband and I had our first child and everything changed! I pivoted to interior design quite unexpectedly, while on maternity leave and quite open to other, more flexible career possibilities. I really enjoyed decorating my son’s nursery – probably way more than the average person would! Family members liked what I had done with my own home and started asking me for help with theirs. But I had no idea how! Not to mention, they were really terrified to do anything – they, too, had young children and were worried that they’d buy nice things that would promptly be destroyed. It got me thinking about how many people were in this exact situation at that very moment, and how there had to be a way to have a ‘grown-up’ house that was also family-friendly. On a whim (like two days before the start of the semester) I signed up for a drafting class at the Boston Architectural College and continued on to earn my certificate in Residential Interiors. 

Tell us about your journey to get where you are.

When I began my journey, I thought I knew where I was going, but I, of course, was wrong! I thought I was just creating a little job for myself where I would work part-time, and increase my hours when my boys (I now have two, aged 8 and 5) were both in school full-time. My business grew faster than I anticipated, and I made the decision to go full-time shortly after my youngest was born. Last year, I hired a full-time designer, and this year we brought on board a full-time project assistant. I love working with a team and really missed that from my previous career. I have learned that, after you have children, life basically gets fully reassessed just about every six months. From ‘balance’ issues to logistics of drop-offs and pick-ups, office hours – not to mention how client projects evolve and change over time. It is challenging, but also wonderful that nothing is static in this business or this life – it keeps us on our toes!

How would you describe your personal style?

My style is really a range from traditional (I love antiques, floral textiles, brown furniture!) to transitional and even a little modern. Part of that range comes from a pure love for and appreciation of the decorative arts of all eras, and my art history background. The other part is really client-driven – the architectural style of their home, how they want to live in it, and what makes them feel happy, comfortable, etc. We especially love the opportunity to renovate and/or decorate a historic home in a way that is sensitive to its period, but also fresh-looking and tailored for the realities of the modern family. Beyond a ‘look,’ what I’m really trying to do is create a feeling – and that transcends style.

When it comes to kitchen design, what are your top 3 most important design elements?

1.) Appliances! Function is the most important thing in design. And don’t forget, functional can also be beautiful. For a recent project, we jazzed up a ‘standard’ suite of Wolf cooking appliances with brass bezels and stainless steel knobs – so chic! In my own kitchen, having a steam oven has truly enhanced my life, and my deep red French range makes me so happy, even a little excited to cook every single time. Don’t make appliances an afterthought – pick them first!

2.) Seating. We encourage our clients to really think about how they use their kitchens – they are not just for eating a meal and leaving. We play games, do homework (and help with homework…), pay bills, maybe watch TV, and throw killer parties in our kitchens. Kitchens are highly social, multi-use spaces. The right answer is not always a straight row of wood counter stools at an island. 

3.) Color. I am a very color-oriented designer. That does not mean that every kitchen I work on is super-colorful, or has non-white cabinets (most of them are white!). But incorporating color in some of the other elements – counter stools, window treatments, backsplash tile, appliances (!), a runner, countertop accessories, etc. – adds personality, uniqueness, and warmth. There are so many ways to be creative even with a white kitchen by adding accents of color. In the end, I want it to look like a comfortable living space like any other in the house – which is exactly what a kitchen should be.

As a designer, what is your favorite part of the process?

I love learning about our client’s preferences, challenges, hopes, and fears, and synthesizing them into inspiration for a design concept that addresses all of them in a way they could have never imagined. To me, nothing is more gratifying than helping a family create a home that feels uniquely ‘them’ and lets them live in it with happiness and relaxation; without stress and anxiety.

If you were moving to a yurt in the woods and could only take one kitchen gadget – what would it be?

Oh wow, a yurt! I must admit – I am not super outdoorsy. I might try glamping, though. 🙂 Assuming that this yurt has basic electrical service, I would bring my toaster oven. It got me through my own kitchen renovation (we renovated a big chunk of our house and didn’t have a kitchen for six months!). Not sexy, but so versatile and vital! Pro-tip: If you or your spouse can’t live without your toaster oven but can’t bear to look at it on the countertop, consider building a counter cabinet into your kitchen. You can hide everything behind closed doors, yet it’s all there right on the counter, without having to move it, to use day-in and day-out.

Kelly Rogers Interiors is based in Newton, Massachusetts. and serves the greater Boston area. Find designer Kelly Rogers online, on Instagram, by phone: 617.233.3725 and by email kelly@kellyrogersinteriors.com

Olivia Lord

JF Content creator and marketing director. Olivia loves beautiful spaces, inside and outside. When she’s not writing and talking about gorgeous kitchens Olivia can be found riding her bicycle around the country.