IDS Member Spotlight: Kristen Mills of Inch Projects

A background in financial services, world traveler, and vintage lover -- meet this month's IDS Member Spotlight, Kristen Mills, founder of Inch Projects! Kristen is located in Charleston, South Carolina and is apart of our newest IDS Chapter! Her company, Inch Projects, is a reflection of her belief that “every inch matters”—a philosophy she brings to life through her seamless fusion of thoughtful design and expert project management. Kristen’s work celebrates individuality, history, and harmony.

Q: Can you share a bit about your background and how you got started in the world of interior design? 

A: I founded Inch Projects to create a seamless, client-centered bridge between thoughtful interior design and construction management.

Previously, I had a successful career in financial services where I led strategic planning initiatives for domestic and international businesses. Project management and open communications were paramount for our success.  All the while, I loved design and took every opportunity to study and dream about and explore design in the different cities I traveled to.  In my free time, I was renovating investment properties with my husband, Steve. My background in project management proved invaluable in helping us take our projects over the line, on time. And I got to make these spaces unique and special by incorporating some the design elements from my travels. We renovated our personal home, and the finished product was everything I imagined and more. I feel so good about our home (to this day!), and I said to Steve, I want to help others feel this way too.

I understand what my clients are looking for and I help them see a path forward. I bring an unmistakable spark to everything I do. Whether adding the pop of color that ties a room together, creating space for personal artifacts that imbue each project with a sense of history and individuality, or seamlessly handling complex logistics, I believe every inch matters, and you feel that when we work together.

Q: What are some of the things that influence you, aside from furniture and décor?  

A: I draw inspiration from my global travels to places like Hong Kong, London, and New York, I understand and appreciate the synergy of art and architecture and their cultural significance, and I bring this appreciation to my work.

I describe my design aesthetic as “perfectly imperfect.” Meaning, I blend new and vintage materials to create inspired, personal spaces emphasizing form, beauty, and visual harmony.

For me, Inch Projects is the realization of my dream to create beautiful, meaningful spaces that endure for generations. I am inspired by my clients and visions and I how I can help them realize them.

Q: What interior design trends are you loving now?

A: I am loving what I always love with new twists… natural woods, bringing the outside in (all the colors and textures from the outdoors) and layering all the textures, neutrals, old and new with surprise pops… the spark that makes it all unique and personal for each client.  One surprise color for me that I have not gravitated to in the past are the deep plums and purples popping up in paints, fabrics and wallpapers - look forward to layering that trend into an upcoming project.

Q: What’s been your career highlight to date?

A: Tough one - while a twist on the question potentially - I would say that a career highlight for each project is the ability to integrate that intentional and personal part of each client into their spaces - whether it’s their business or their home - to me it is a collection of all the personal touches that aggregate into my career highlights!

An example of this is taking almost 50-year-old hand done cross stitch projects a client had dismissed and may have put back into storage or attic… When moving them cross-country to their new home in Charleston, we had them re-stretched and framed to display proudly in their new home.  Respecting the personal and sentimental items and incorporating them into my designs will always be my collection of career highlights.

Q: Are there any personal rituals or habits that contribute to your creative process?

A: Yes!  Foundationally - consistency in taking care of myself is always a goal and still working on it :) exercising, eating well and spending time with my family … always a balance and juggle during different times of the year!  If those are covered - I am always in the best frame of mind to be creative! 

In terms of the creative process - I spend a lot of time truly playing with the many memos, samples, paint colors and inspiration images almost channeling like putting together “cut and paste” collages when I was a little girl.  This drives the creative direction of each of my projects and keeps creative direction consistent throughout the more hectic times as the execution gets underway!  Keeping my library up to date with my favorite sources is key for this to be the most successful and couldn’t do this well without strong partners for all my sources - thankful for them!

Q: What are your “ins and outs” for 2024 (design related)?

A: I typically don’t have ins and outs for any year and really approach each project with a strong sense of individualism and personalization for each client - always with my inch projects fingerprints of course that includes a collection of textures, layers and imperfect luxury. 

Check out more of Kristen's work at inchprojects.com!