S1 EP26 : JENNIFER KRANER

Nicoa invites another amazing LIFE DESIGNER and Role Model to the table to talk all things self awareness around a life she loves and her intentional leadership approach. Jennifer Kraner is one of Nicoa's clients, a friend and her neighbor on the creek! They enjoy a casual conversation over a "wink wink afternoon cup of coffee" while they reflect on her VERY successful companies BIG SKY DESIGN + BIG SKY SHOP AND STUDIO business model in Wilmington, North Carolina. They also talk about her oh so beautiful personal life, her hobbies and also what type of LEGACY she wants to leave behind with her team as she begins to look forward to her third act.  Jenny is still having FUN and knows one thing for sure ...She still LOVES DESIGN and is really happy that she is intentionally feeding her SOUL and THRIVING even under pressure! These two friends joyfully delve into the topic of Work/Life and sacred spaces and how everyone should do what they want to do and OUTSOURCE EVERYTHING they don't want to do!  Jenny's life is based on PASSION with PURPOSE and that foundation will definitely help her to intentionally design her NEXT phase of life! Or as her Daddy always said, "Create Your Own Opportunities"

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BIG SKY  DESIGN and BIG SKY SHOP AND STUDIO

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Transcript

Nicoa Coach: 0:01

Grab your coffee and join me Nicoa For a caffeinated conversation about life I'll be talking to people who have chosen to walk their own paths and just like me, are creating a life by design. I hope it will give you the inspiration you need to do exactly the same. Don't worry, the video isn't us. Hey, Jenny,

JENNIFER KRANER: 0:30

hey, Nicoa,

Nicoa Coach: 0:32

Jennifer Craner my neighbor, my wise woman from the community, the entrepreneur behind big sky designs. You're also a Woman of Achievement. Is that right? Did you nominated for that's true, that is true. This

JENNIFER KRANER: 0:46

woman of the year, you were a woman of the year now? I know. Oh,

Nicoa Coach: 0:49

my Yeah. That's I'll just pause. This bask in the beauty of you. Oh, I love this so much.

JENNIFER KRANER: 0:56

It was a moment. It was a wonderful moment in the grand scheme. So it was it made me happy. But Corley, just keep on doing what we do.

Nicoa Coach: 1:03

Oh, of course, we just keep on doing well. That's what women do. Just keep going. But it does feel good to get recognized like that. And so I interviewed someone just the other day, who was also a Woman of Achievement from the YWCA. And I myself was a woman of achievement. So we're just all attracting each other. Evidently, I like this. And yeah, it was a moment. All right, guys, the reason that I invited Jennifer to be with me, here in my beautiful home, we're doing this interview for the first time in the same space. So I haven't quite mastered that. I don't have a podcast studio, but I want to describe the scene. So Jenny is the first user of SMI of the two Yeti coffee with Nicola mugs. Let's toast Yeah, yes. Let's have a sip. Yeah. Huh. That doesn't taste like coffee. I think. What's in yours? I thought, huh?

JENNIFER KRANER: 1:57

No, but it's really tasty.

Nicoa Coach: 1:58

Very tasty. Yeah, it's in the afternoon, guys. Let's just put that out there for you. So all right, I'm gonna set this down. Jennifer, when I've done these interviews, so far, it's really been about tapping into someone's own perspective on their life and how they designed it. So I would love to start by just asking you, what do you think? Or what is your definition of a life by design?

JENNIFER KRANER: 2:22

Um, I think that my life by design has a lot to do with a mantra that my, my dad and my mom had given me from early on. I know a lot of us are shaped by our parents and our growing up, but for me, it was creating your own opportunities.

Nicoa Coach: 2:42

Yeah, I love that. Yeah, my dad used to say luck was just preparation that met opportunity. Oh, I like so I think that combines nicely creating your own opportunities won't how have you done that?

JENNIFER KRANER: 2:54

Well, I I guess, you know, when you're young and you're thinking about what do you want to do with your, with your life, you kind of go off in one direction, which for me, I was an art major and worked in art galleries for a few years. And, and then I was realizing that I wasn't going to be a slaving artist, and what else could I do? And at the time, I was working in a gallery and the owner said, you know, you'd be good at Interior Design, you should go back to school. And so I did. Um, another. Gosh, it wasn't just a two year program is longer than that. That was just anyway, something that my my dad had overcome, but they did it. All right, I got graduated with a master's in interior design. And so that's been my life by design, kind of ever since just following that path.

Nicoa Coach: 3:41

Well, it seems pretty neat that you were already following a creative path when you went off to school, write something that you loved. And it sounds like your parents supported you in that to begin with, maybe they didn't want you to be in school. 18 years. Every parent is struggles with that. Yeah, but so you're already following your passion, which I think is a cue for someone to be satisfied with their life. Yeah. So how long were you practicing in art and design before you went into interiors,

JENNIFER KRANER: 4:10

just two years, I worked in smart galleries in New York in DC, and then went back to school, but it was it was it was super, you know, at that age to to be in those big cities and kind of have that experience and meet other artists. But what I really realized for me is that I love so much helping people I loved being that interface between people and what they wanted. And so I think that was the nugget that my, my old boss knew and interior design because it kind of combined both of those things for me.

Nicoa Coach: 4:40

Yeah, I love the phrase interior design. I've always been intrigued by interior design. I follow your website and your Instagram account. You know, like, I'm a groupie. I'm like the first one to like, comment, and I every time I've ever thought about that world, it's just been intriguing to me, you know that I love to uh, I love my interiors. She's sitting in a room filled with every thought of creativity I ever had. Probably it's the messiest room in the house. But it's my favorite

JENNIFER KRANER: 5:09

gorgeous, by the way, and there's so many beautiful pieces of art and colors all around, it just captures your personality. It's

Nicoa Coach: 5:16

really my I love it. It does reflect my personality and my history. But I thought about it for a long time. And I even thought maybe I would go and take some courses in interior design. And then someone said to me one day, you know, Nicoa, that's what you do. I was like, What do you mean, they're like, You're a life designer, you're a coach, you are an interior designer, you are helping people design their interiors, in order for them to live their best lives. So you actually took this phrase life by design and, or your by design theme, and you've leveraged it a lot in your business. Tell us about your business and how you've done that.

JENNIFER KRANER: 5:53

Well, for me, and for everybody at Big Sky design, you know, interior design is not about us. It's about other people. And so we love being the the the method, though, the way that people can kind of, we love being able to help people see how all of these beautiful fabrics and furnishings and just spatial designs and function can all of a sudden create this unique experience that expresses who they are.

Nicoa Coach: 6:26

And you do it rather creatively. And it's an intense in depth endeavor since you've moved. So maybe let's back up because I would love to talk about where you are now. Let's go all the way back to prior to launching your own business. Yeah, because you clearly got the degree and then what happened from there.

JENNIFER KRANER: 6:45

Well found Wilmington loved it. And I grew up on Long Island, a little tiny town Bellport on the south bay there Great South Bay and found Wilmington as a big a big little town. Fell in love with the water and I'm such a beach bum you know that? Yep, she goes

Nicoa Coach: 7:02

out in her boat. By the way. She's also my neighbor. Did I even say that? I forgot to say that. So I see her and Tony, her husband and their dogs in Pearl. Yes, your new baby puppy. No, such a sweetie. Going out to Masonboro Island and you guys are just outdoors people and you go out way more than we do. And we go out a lot. every chance we get. So you found Wrightsville Beach or Wilmington. And yeah, and settled in.

JENNIFER KRANER: 7:28

I did and when I did settle in, I worked for some architects in town. So I Oh had the opportunity to work in ligand Flynn's office who was renowned architect for just just a short time before I moved on, then to Katherine Harris architecture, it was another residential firm. And then BMH architects who did commercial. So with all of that said, I was a CAD geek. And so that's what got my foot in the door. None of those firms really wanted an interior designer full time. But with that experience, I was able to learn how you prepare contracts, how you how do you talk with clients? What's the structure of a commercial job? How do you work with contractors, you know, what's required for documentation and all of that. So that was truly the biggest training that I received in terms of starting your own business, I was not a business minor, that would have been a good thing.

Nicoa Coach: 8:21

I highly recommend for those who are interested in this, this industry.

JENNIFER KRANER: 8:25

But um, but that said, I created my own opportunity. Because I realized that in Wilmington at that time, there was not I was I was mostly interested in commercial interior design, because I really wanted to enhance public spaces. You know, there's so so many that are just kind of dismal. You think about going into doctors offices sometimes and, and things like that. So that was my passion. So I realized that there was not a commercial interior design firm here in Wilmington. And so I thought, oh, there's an opportunity, right? Well, should I start a business? Well, of course I should. Of course you should. So I quit my job. I was pregnant. And I bought a house with my husband at the same time. That was my year.

Nicoa Coach: 9:10

You sound a lot like me, I decided to do it all on its own. No matter the stress. Oh my gosh. So what was that like to be you during that year?

JENNIFER KRANER: 9:19

Well, it was fun. It was great. I mean, being having your first baby you know is one have to get over and kind of deal with but I think just provided me the time at home probably that I needed to and maybe the space to kind of create that that business but at that time creating a business was just getting a job. So luckily, I had contacts with architects so I had worked with and that's how I started. Big Sky design. So

Nicoa Coach: 9:44

yeah, I was thinking that that would probably be one not only did you get the skills and the business where with all but the networking and having established yourself as a person of that people knew. Yeah, yeah, I'm sure that's helped. So that's been 27

JENNIFER KRANER: 10:00

I'm 26 years,

Nicoa Coach: 10:00

26 years. Oh my gosh. Well, I remember when I moved back home now we knew you, you ended up falling in love out, you got divorced, you've got two beautiful children fell in love with our neighbor. And we're like, What's her name again? Who's the girl that Tony's hanging out? Right? And then we realized that you had your business in your office at the end of the street. How long had you been down here? Off? Masonboro?

JENNIFER KRANER: 10:26

So that was I spent three years I think, with babies working out of the house, maybe? Maybe, yeah, I think about three years and started to walk and get into things. I thought, Okay, I need an office. Right at that time that building was being constructed. Oh, wow. So it was really super cool. I was one of the first people in the building. So I got to design our space. And it was just a 25 by 50 foot end of the building. And then over time, we expanded and then we contracted during Oh, eight, and then we expanded, but our landlord was super nice. And let us do that. But um, so we were there about 20 years.

Nicoa Coach: 11:04

Wow. Yeah, I remember when you all of a sudden said, Guess what? And it seemed like the move just isn't been? Yeah, five years ago? Well,

JENNIFER KRANER: 11:13

it was for three years. We're into our third year being there, but add a year for planning.

Nicoa Coach: 11:17

That's right. So you were preparing for it. That seemed like your big win. Like it seemed like this big explosion of the business model? Did it feel like Had that been something you had been designing in your mind's eye forever? Or did it just happen to present itself.

JENNIFER KRANER: 12:37

We had been just, you know, bursting out at the seams in our old space. And we had already maxed it out in our team had amazing synergy. And we just knew that we wanted more. Part of what we had been doing was having our boutique in the front of our space, we had 800 square feet. And having even just a little bit of product on the floor was was wonderful, and really a game changer for a lot of our residential projects. And it made a lot of people happy. The folks that knew we were there. Because you know, we're off the beaten path. I always thought it was a little bit of a boutique, you know, destination, or Masonboro. I don't know if anybody else felt that way. I

Nicoa Coach: 13:16

felt that way. I rode my bike down there just to look to see what y'all have.

JENNIFER KRANER: 13:21

So anyway, that's how we kind of felt. And then we thought, if we really want to do this, we need to do this. Yeah. So there it was. And Bradley Creek Station was going up. And for those of you who are not in Wilmington haven't seen this beautiful building, it was a really, Oleander drive is our one of our main drags in this building was is modern, and it had a great presence and had retail on the bottom floor that didn't have all dark glass.

Nicoa Coach: 13:48

Right. So you could very fresh and bright there.

JENNIFER KRANER: 13:52

Yeah. And that's, you know, we think about it, you go and you see other retail spaces sometimes. I don't know if developers just don't think about that. Yeah. But anyway, so it looks so it looked like a great opportunity for us to expand into retail on the ground floor, and then have our offices there also, which is what we did. And so our design offices are on the second floor. Yeah, I

Nicoa Coach: 14:12

love it so much. And I had the privilege of coming in and working with your team. At one point, we talked about energy leadership. And your team does have a beautiful synergy and the way in which they really respect each other. And at the time, I mean, your your majority female dominant business model as well. I mean, your team, and I loved that dynamic. Not that that's good or bad. But it's a different energy than some of the teams that I've stepped into. So it was very open. I'm curious, though, you know, when people listen to these interviews, they're like, Oh, well, that just sounds really easy for that person. Oh, my God. Like, okay, well, she seems to have a lot of compute. Yes, of course, I'll just go do it. Well, talk to us a little bit about what it felt like to be you, during all these times. Like, do you get anxious and scared and wake up at 3am? Or, and how do you cope when you're having those experiences? You know, I

JENNIFER KRANER: 15:04

don't sleep all the time, Nicola. Well,

Nicoa Coach: 15:06

I can see your lights on. No, I'm just kidding.

JENNIFER KRANER: 15:10

You know, it's exciting. And I'm always driven by the possibilities and what we can do and, and with my team, they help me see that every single day. So and I am in general, a very positive person. And so and the other thing I think I've been blessed with is the positive results that come out of all of that hard work. Yeah. And so over the years, I have put in a lot of hard work. I have burned the midnight oil even over here when we were off of Masonboro you know, and CAD drawings are due I would put my babies to bed, I'm sure you can relate to this, and then go back to the office and finish up the drawing so that I could get you know, meet everybody's approval and the next morning and that kind of thing. And while I'm working on projects, I'm also managing my staff and making sure that everybody has There's work to do, and that, you know, all the processes that we follow are, are being followed and, and basically just making sure that all of the designs are elevated and amazing and which is easy when you hire a great, a great team.

Nicoa Coach: 16:18

That's right. So you put a really good team around you, who else is around you to help you cope through all those times. I mean, you and I have something similar. We both had divorce in our history. And that's unfortunate. And we have to have people around us to keep us going, because it got to keep going to work. You got to take care of the babies. You can't just pause. And it's not like when Sarah Jessica Parker goes off and cries and all her friends come and cater to her during her divorce. I'm so jealous of that. I was like, No, I had to keep going. Who else is around you to support you during all those times?

JENNIFER KRANER: 16:52

Well, just the love of your family, really, and friends. But for me, I mean, when I was going through the divorce and mentoring my team, my kids for everything. And as a single parent, they were everything and all of my extra time went to them. But what an amazing reward is that, you know, sure. So

Nicoa Coach: 17:11

yeah, it's like, that's the only focus sometimes I look back on those years. And I really, I'm quite shocked when I did it. But it's because we stayed focused. Yeah, you just got up every day. You just kept going.

JENNIFER KRANER: 17:21

Yeah, you know, but then there's the love of that band, you know. So when I met Tony, that was really wonderful. And we dated for a long time. And yeah, we were both single parents. And we were both responsible for our kids. And so we automatically had that connection. And then of course, we got married and I got to be your neighbor. Yes. So that is huge to have that framework and know that you have that support.

Nicoa Coach: 17:44

Yeah, for sure. And you guys were role modeling for us, you were just ahead of us. So yeah, you've combined with four kids. And we've combined with three and three. So we watched you guys, and I love your love story and how you travel and spend so much time together as a family, you seem very, very happy. And we're very happy to so it's really so for those people who are going through the struggles right now there is peace and thriving on the other side, when you might feel like you're just striving to survive. And sometimes I'm sure it felt like that for you as well as it did for me.

JENNIFER KRANER: 18:20

Yeah. It was difficult. I remember one time, right when the divorce happened. And it was like I was there was a fog, like literally, in my head. And I relied so much on my staff at that point. I just wasn't myself for a little while.

Nicoa Coach: 18:35

Yeah, yeah, it's hard to stay clear. Yeah. Well, that's because so much is happening. Right? Yeah, you're bombarded. Well talk to me a little bit about your self awareness around that fog and your way of being, if you will, maybe share any stories of self awareness or any aha moments over the years? And how you've, you know, come to be this beautiful woman of the year that you are,

JENNIFER KRANER: 18:59

oh, well, that was a few years ago.

Nicoa Coach: 19:01

Oh, well, I think when you're just, you're just a winner, you're just the Woman of the Year. And finial.

JENNIFER KRANER: 19:08

Very nice. I feel probably like everybody, you it's one day at a time. You know, and I'm, I am so lucky to have so much to be proud of in terms of the longevity of the company. But it is still hard work every single day. Yeah. And, and so today, I am relying on my team as well. And I'm so happy that my team has evolved to be to help me in some of the leadership roles, you know, as well as the design that we do. So.

Nicoa Coach: 19:42

So yeah, who are you? Who is that being? And you know, over the years who who is Ginni?

JENNIFER KRANER: 19:49

Yeah. So, I feel like I have become a obviously a leader, and a mentor. So, you know, the older you get the younger everybody else. No kidding.

Nicoa Coach: 20:03

Do you see those 12 year olds driving cars?

JENNIFER KRANER: 20:07

I feel it's really wonderful. I can at least you know, I, I am learning to let everybody do what they need to do. And I am. Hopefully they see me in the same way. I don't know. But I am trying to impart what I've learned in terms of processes in terms of how to work with people, how to communicate, you know, what, what the deliverables are that we need to do and that kind of thing, but just try to have help mentor people in their professional life. And then I think what my team has helped me with the most is to remember to have fun. So is that difficult for you to have fun along the way? No, but I can get pretty intense with the things that need to happen. Sure. So the remembering to have fun part and I love to have fun. Sure, but I just you know, I guess I am a little bit of a taskmaster to

Nicoa Coach: 20:56

well, you know, what needs to get done in order to survive and thrive. Right so well, you know, I think that being leave Are we we can tap into what is the legacy we want to leave behind to write and sounds like mentoring and enabling others to be successful around you, has been kind of your strength over the last few years. What are you most proud of about this whole endeavor?

JENNIFER KRANER: 21:25

I think on a day to day level, it's the synergy again, I go back to that, you know, what is work life about and the fact that we, we are all doing what we love to do at Big Sky, I'm empowering interior designers to follow their dream and to meet with clients and develop these wonderful relationships and these fabulous projects. And that's like, amazing, you know, everybody loves that. And

Nicoa Coach: 21:48

everybody loves the process. You have fun thing. So that makes it easier,

JENNIFER KRANER: 21:52

I'm sure. Yeah. Over the years, I think I've been able to let go a little bit more and empower people who want to help me with more of the business side of my practice. I've gone from I still have, I've hired professionals to help me with my accounting, I hired a business coach early on, which is I would recommend to anybody who is feeling like, I want to start a business and then you start when it gets off and running. And all of a sudden, you're like, oh, shoot, I've got to do what?

Nicoa Coach: 22:20

You gotta pay taxes. Why? No. Why do you have to have a license? What are you talking about? Yeah.

JENNIFER KRANER: 22:26

Well, and I realized that for you know, I, this was really tricky for me. But I forgot about this part when I went and decided to go and follow this dream of mine, that I really am an introvert. I know you are. So yeah, the heck,

Nicoa Coach: 22:42

what are you doing? Oh, my gosh. So that, what does that feel like to be an introvert in a world where you have to be in the forefront? Almost all the time? Yeah. Well, it

JENNIFER KRANER: 22:56

causes me to be a little schizophrenic in a good way. No, it's good. It really it taught. It taught me a lot in terms of what I need to do when I'm client facing and you know, and then also, just in terms of my relationships with my with my team. Yeah.

Nicoa Coach: 23:12

Well, was there a moment where you realized I can't do what I naturally want to do in this moment? Maybe even back in school? I'm like, how do you learn that? Oh, crap. I have to speak up if I want this to happen. Yeah.

JENNIFER KRANER: 23:27

Yeah, no, definitely. I think time management is so huge. And I want to, you know, I want to do everything.

Nicoa Coach: 23:34

Well, yeah, that is a challenge for most leaders, you know, I want to do everything and, and you can't do you're right, you just can't, you have to have the strength of the people around you and trust them exactly, to do their own

JENNIFER KRANER: 23:47

thing. So I think I'm at this stage in the game, I am most proud of my team right now. Because I have leaders, and they are, they are leaders in the company. I've let things go. I've got creative director in the shop, right? In Hanna helping me with business operations. And so it's been really, really fun to, to watch everybody kind of grow within their own positions.

Nicoa Coach: 24:13

Yeah, we actually created a metric. This is a real HR metric. There's a lot of metrics out there in the corporate world. But this is the most powerful HR metric that I remember us implementing. And it was we measured leaders success, a portion of their success and their bonus every year by how many people they promoted and shared from within their division into other divisions. Because we were recognizing that a lot of leaders like to hoard their talent, and they like to micromanage them and hold them tight. And we're like, that's not what this is about. It's about growing your people and having them surpass you. Yeah. You know, I mean, what great thing to look at and say, look, she used to be the intern that was organizing the swatches, you know, and now look at her, she's running her own design studio. Excellent, you know, and that's when you know, you can you can kind of I would say that's a legacy that I'm sure you're gonna be proud of. As you watch this team grow.

JENNIFER KRANER: 25:10

Definitely. Yeah, I know, I've already felt that I sometimes again, back to the age thing I see people, you know, she's 89.

Nicoa Coach: 25:18

Anyone wonder she's so old, right? I don't even know how old you are. But it's, you're not 89 You're 34. I know. But there have

JENNIFER KRANER: 25:26

been a lot of people that have been through the Big Sky doors, and I am proud of everybody that's been there and are off and doing their own thing. Now, whether it's an interior design or something else. I mean, I appreciate that what they brought to the company and I am excited that they're doing their own thing. And of course, the team that I you know that where I am right now, I couldn't be more happy about

Nicoa Coach: 25:47

Yeah. What advice would you give people about their life by design? I mean, when you look back, are there any, like really big lessons learned that you had or any regrets?

JENNIFER KRANER: 26:00

Well, I In terms of lessons learned, I would say just trying to empower, empower others and give them those opportunities to be independent in what they're doing. And probably trying not to micromanage everything, because that's a big one. And then I guess I've realized that owning a business, there's management, and then there's still my love of design. And so what makes me happy is when I have those, those projects, I'm still able to take client projects and be the designer, okay, which is important to me. So those things are, it's interesting, when I think about my percentage of time of what I do, it's less projects, and, and, or maybe less projects maybe than management sometimes. And sometimes it's the ebb and flow of what's going on. But anyway, that said, I think I am happy that I've still been able to carve out the importance of feeding my soul. With design projects.

Nicoa Coach: 27:04

Well, you feed your soul outside of the workplace as well, yeah. So that makes sense that you would gravitate to that. And that is kind of the power and just as to put a bow on that note, the power of starting your own business. And being the leader is that over time, it when you learn how to let go, then you can go do the fun stuff, you can go do exactly the part that you want. And you can say, No, I'm not going to do that, like I outsource just about everything, I don't do my accounting, I don't do my invoice, none of that. I don't like doing that. So outsource it spin the money spin the investment in developing somebody else. So awesome. Because that really, that's really how I think you know, when you've made it, and you're the top dog getting to choose and pick and choose. But you I forgot until just then you actually create quite a bit of space in your own home for your creative endeavors. You've got a pottery studio or art studio. So now tell us about that beautiful sacred space of your

JENNIFER KRANER: 28:05

no. Well, when Tony and I got together, we had to create a space for ourselves. And in doing so we created other little pockets of space. And one of those is my pottery studio. So I do love spending time in there with other creative endeavors. And I don't do it enough. But I do love it. And gardening is another just being here. And being outside is wonderful. I love how our gardens have developed over two

Nicoa Coach: 28:32

to four. It looks beautiful. Yeah, thank you.

JENNIFER KRANER: 28:34

And then, you know, what I really love is just spending any amount of time on the water too. But I think to answer your question, I think that where I am right now, in our lives, were pre pre retirement, you know? So I'm going to be 57 Oh my gosh, I know, like in a couple of weeks.

Nicoa Coach: 28:56

Oh, good. We'll have to have a party. Okay, okay.

JENNIFER KRANER: 28:59

But I'm not ready to retire. But I am ready to, to think about creating even more space and more time for myself and for my my personal life, you know, with Tony and and maybe that means some travel or just being here a little bit more just a little bit more of a just more time together. Not working. Yeah. So anyway, cats out of the bag. However, I work a lot and I love what I do. So it's really not going to happen anytime. So too soon,

Nicoa Coach: 29:32

we know all of our staff is listening. So not to worry not to fret, but you know, everybody does eventually go on to do something even more exciting in their lives. And, and who knows what Big Sky will do in the long run, it doesn't mean you have to, to let go of it. It just means you might change your role. That's all I know.

JENNIFER KRANER: 29:50

I'm really excited. I don't know what the future holds. But I'm really excited about where we are right in this moment. And, and it is fun to be thinking about that. So

Nicoa Coach: 30:01

you said something beautiful, though I really I think about this a lot. The the concept of space. Yeah, right. So people are often like, I don't have enough time. You know, a lot of my clients don't have time. And even you, you referenced it, I don't do it enough. And that's really where the self care comes in. You know, as a woman, we tend to be the caregiver before we were the self care, right? And we often confuse carrying other people as caring. And the truth is that can be quite depleting. So you have to find these spaces and create them in your own home now and I know not everybody has homes with multiple rooms. Right. So how would you as a designer, right and a creative? Yeah, help someone creatively uncover where those spaces might be for them. Maybe in a small home?

JENNIFER KRANER: 30:52

Oh, that's a really good question. You know, some of the best spaces can be the smallest spaces they can be. You know that That little hallway that leads to an office that you can then turn into a different experience within your home, you can do that simply by adding the most beautiful wallpaper that you know you could never have in the rest of the house. And so you carve out that space for yourself and make it just feel just inspirational to you.

Nicoa Coach: 31:24

Yeah, I think about that, too. Like, even the foyer of a home could be decorated, just to give you that transitionary welcome. Yeah, and back into a new space in your day, you know, when we used to go off to work, or you still get to go off to work, but a lot of people are still working at home. Yeah. So have you been doing a lot of small space work nowadays, when people do in tiny homes? Have you ever done anything like that? You know, I'm just curious.

JENNIFER KRANER: 31:53

We have done a little bit of that. And I will say, you know, all the COVID stuff that happened. It's nice to not think about that as much anymore. But you know, that was a huge wrinkle in the development of, of Big Sky. And yeah, it's all at the same time. Right after you moved. Yeah, yeah. But um, but during that time, people definitely were thinking about those smaller spaces, and how to carve out little niches, and here and there. But I think it's something that we, we always think about, because, you know, even in a large house, we're working on a project right now where the palette is going to be mostly neutral. And that's what the people the clients want. That's what the husband and wife can I agree to. But, you know, where are those personalized spaces. And so when our team gets together, and we think about personalizing design for our clients, we're recognizing that they are interested in beautiful artwork that, you know, or maybe William Morris, or whatever it is. And so we are going to try to pull that back into the design, because we know that it will speak to their soul.

Nicoa Coach: 32:59

Yeah, and that's really it speaking to your soul. Yeah, if you don't have little things, it could be even something on your desk. I mean, I am surrounded by inspirational knickknacks. But you know, there's a picture of my father right now that he's staring at me, I need him this year has his first year after he passed. But so you can use photographs, you can, you know, you can create color, in some way, shape, or form, even if it's the pen you're using, right? There's the pin feel good in your hand. And that can create a special experience for you to feel better. I just think that word space can be created even when there's not space. By doing that kind of creative, you know, artistic way to put nice things around you, or just the material you're wearing. Right? You know,

JENNIFER KRANER: 33:47

I think people you need to indulge in those things. If it's, you know, whatever that is, if it's um, you know, something in your office that you maybe shouldn't spend money on that you know, that chair or should I maybe not repulsor in this expensive fabric? Well, yes, you should. Yeah, sure. That's what speaks to you every day, if that's what you're going to see. And

Nicoa Coach: 34:08

because you're going to see it forever. Yeah. Talk about how you've helped people at least in our community who have come to your your location, you've done this unique turnover every is it every six months or and you create the vignettes tell us about that. I just love that. All right.

JENNIFER KRANER: 34:24

Yeah, it's talking about Big Sky shop and studio. We. So when we launched our retail, right,

Nicoa Coach: 34:29

that was an introverts comment there was like, Oh, good, we can stop talking about me. I've seen this before. All right, yes, let's turn the tides back. But then I'm gonna come back to

JENNIFER KRANER: 34:41

you. Also, the shameless owner of a business course advocate for their business, oh, we're gonna market the heck out of it, you know, all right, because I don't really leave any stone unturned regard. But Big Sky shopping studio has been wonderful. And when we first opened, our idea was to have been yet so we had about 10 vignettes where we could showcase how you can personalize design. And so they were individually designed kind of this hypothetical client situation, which is gorgeous. And really, our goal is to encourage people to think about what inspires them. Okay, and what so we weren't trying to push any design on other people, we were trying to show what people could do within their space, to to feel completely happy and just to know that these spaces reflected themselves. So that was our first way of kind of showing people what they can do since then the shop has evolved. And we still do that in some areas, but we also realize that people really want to see more of the components and and really see maybe them together and so that they can articulate I want this lamp versus that lamp or that kind of

Nicoa Coach: 35:57

I see what you're saying. So the the original reference that she makes is when you walked in to the store. What was the first theme? It wasn't the artist. It was something before that. I can't remember. Do you remember? Yeah. Themes? Yeah.

JENNIFER KRANER: 36:14

So we had a nature by design, we've had travel by design, we've had art by design, conversation by design. That's our first one

Nicoa Coach: 36:23

took the sections of the space. And like you walked into a dining room, that was a conversation about design, or you walked into a living space. And it's a really, it's not the most giant location, but it is big enough that you created these little pockets. Yeah. So yeah. Okay. So what you're hearing now is that that's fun and creative, and we like it. But we want to be able to compare the details.

JENNIFER KRANER: 36:46

So think so yeah. And still and still have, we still have beautiful drapery and fabrics and wallpaper and everything to get people excited about what those pieces are in their, in their, in their home and what they would like. But we're trying to inspire people to work with us to help them, you know, develop those personalized details,

Nicoa Coach: 37:10

what how do you do an intake with a new client? And I know we work together briefly, but just for a minute, just for a hot minute, because I'm probably like, I'm just gonna buy this. Who knows what I was thinking at the time. But I know that you did like beautiful vision boards based on a set of inquiries. Is it a set of questions that everybody asks the clients the same? Or how do you go about that process of helping them

JENNIFER KRANER: 37:35

we start that way, just to kind of get the lay of the land, kind of figure out what people would like. But whether we're working in the shop and studio and our smaller design packages, or if we're working at the Big Sky design, where we're working with clients on some longer term projects, things that are a little bit more involved, we are still asking the same questions were still used. Typically, there's an initial consultation, there's no charge, we go over we talked to them, we really tried to draw out what is important to them, what are they looking for? Where do they draw their inspiration from? So we are just looking for those things that we can then learn we can use to learn more about them. So that when we're designing a space, we're bringing elements to them that all come together in a way that really, again, speak to their soul?

Nicoa Coach: 38:25

Yeah. And I remember some of the questions were, you know, how will you be using this face? What is this face not giving you right now? Right, that it used to? Yeah, I want people to realize you can have an interior designer, people think, Oh, I could never. But you can. I mean, it's not that expensive. And at the end of the day, that free consultation, you share lots of guidance immediately, yes, with the client. So it's kind of like the first time I realized you could have the personal shopper at Nordstrom, and you didn't have to pay anything. I was like, Are you kidding me? And she brought me something to drink. It was like crazy, right? So people don't always realize they can level up their life experience and design it, you know, and an interior designer is not inaccessible?

JENNIFER KRANER: 39:12

Well, I think the other thing that maybe people don't think about what you're getting with an interior designer is such a bank of knowledge of trade resources that you just don't have around town. Yeah, I literally I'll every single person at Big Sky is we know, with hundreds of vendors, we know what they have. We know what's going to hit the mark with your home. We know what price point they're going to be. We know the availability, we know what we can customize what we can't, I mean, literally we are in it. Single Day, so many projects, so many different styles, so many different price points. So that's what you get from an interior designer. So yes, you pay our hourly rate. But with that, we're already not only are we casting a very broad net in terms of what we can do, we're also really consolidating our thought process to fit you based on what we know.

Nicoa Coach: 40:11

Yeah. What we know about you and what what your you know, circumstances are financially personally, you know, timeframes and you go to market, you're the one doing all the work all the footwork all the time. Yeah, yeah.

JENNIFER KRANER: 40:24

So it's kind of like the it's kind of like this. Yeah, we're talking to each other. We're like talking about different things. But when we talk with a client, we're talking with them and all of a sudden, these little light bulbs go off. Oh, yeah. Oh, it's this fabric. Oh, it's this and oh, they like texture we want to bring into light fixture. And so we're as we're speaking to people, we're already beginning to see how these elements come together. And so that's why we get so excited about each and every project. It doesn't matter how big or how small, but we know we're going to make people happy with what we can bring to them. Because for us, we're trying to, you know where it's not about us. It's about it's about our clients.

Nicoa Coach: 40:59

That's right. You're there to serve. Yeah, you do that beautifully. You got Is are phenomenal. I'd love for you to share with us that before we wrap up and I know that we could talk forever. But why don't we do this let's take a quick coffee break or cough, cough, whatever's in this Yeti mug. And then when we come back, we'll talk more about how your life by design is serving you. Okay?

Unknown: 41:23

We hope you're enjoying listening to this episode of Coffee with Nicola. Make sure to subscribe so that you never miss an episode and follow Coffee with Nicoa on Instagram to find inspiring content that will help you begin creating your life by design.

Nicoa Coach: 41:39

Okay, we're back. We are back. So I've been trying to be consistent with the question, you know, first, how does this individual interviewing, design define their life by design? And then ultimately bringing it full circle to say, Well, okay, well, you design this life, you're going to be 57 You're about to hit your third act. Right? So two questions. How has the life you've designed so far served you? And then let's talk about that third act.

JENNIFER KRANER: 42:07

Oh, no.

Nicoa Coach: 42:11

I'm just trying to sound like Julia Louis Dreyfus in her podcast. She sounds so cool. So anyway, y'all should all go check it wiser than me. She interviewed all these women like Jane Fonda and, and Isabel Allende. Oh my god, I'm in love with all these women. So I do want to talk about that part. But let's just talk about how this Wi Fi design has served you.

JENNIFER KRANER: 42:32

Well, I guess I've talked a lot about why love to do interiors, and what you know, I talked about feeding people's souls, I think, for me as a person, I just makes me so happy deep down inside to know that I've helped people and I, and I've given them that vision and that they love it. And it's exceeded their expectations. And to see the transformation that each and every project takes and whether it is again commercial my you know, my initial first love, I still love doing commercial projects. Or if it's somebody's home, I mean for me. Those wins. We call them at the office those wins. Yeah, to see other beat, being able to bring change into somebody's life. Yes, positive that they get to live with. And that expresses them brings me great joy.

Nicoa Coach: 43:22

Do you have a favorite one? Like one that?

JENNIFER KRANER: 43:26

I can't answer that.

Nicoa Coach: 43:29

Oh, we have to check real quick. Excuse us. We're checking the phone. Is it good? Are you good? Okay, great. So part of her life by design is let's have that guy come wash my car in my driveway. Are you embarrassed now?

JENNIFER KRANER: 43:42

No, I got so lucky. For those of you who know me, I don't take the time to do that for myself, either. And at first, I am working working women. And they're lo and behold, in our parking lot at the office, there was somebody was doing detailing there. I've seen them there before. And so I did i i took a leap and I went and I said can you do my car? Yes. So yeah, they're working on my car. Oh my gosh, it's the best,

Nicoa Coach: 44:05

I had to highlight it. Because that's the kind of thing that some people think is that's just not available to me. And it is it's probably $5 $10 More than if you driven over to you know, cruisers and driven it through the thing yourself. I mean, my goodness, women, especially outsource those types of services, so you can spend more time serving those that you love and are committed to and so it's also I think the decisions you've made over the years have served your freedom to be creative. They've sure served your freedom to go out in the boat. Yeah. And, and allow you to do big projects like restore your daddy's boat. Yes, yes, things that matter to you. And do your pottery, and oh my gosh, and if you're listening to this, and you haven't tapped into your own creativity, and I will tell you, I was that person for a long time. I would, and I've talked about it before, but you know, Friday night, 567 o'clock, if you know, my first husband and the kids were out of town, I didn't know what to do with myself. I didn't have hobbies. I didn't have a creative outlet. And I wouldn't even say that I have a massive one. Now, I have a lot of little ones. Yeah, mainly I love to read. But I like to color but I don't have big art projects, but but my work sometimes is so fun that it becomes the project. So I make my creative choices like this. And I would encourage you to either. First identify what is creative in the work you do every day, right? If you've never really looked for it, but then also go start fostering something outside of the work that you do. Because, you know, watch the segue. Thinking of the third act. We're not always working full time and there's gonna be a lot of time. Yeah. What do you really want to do with it and how can you design that third act in a way that is fulfilling and not cause you to sit in anxiety because I think the biggest fear people have is sitting alone with their own thoughts and not working. Who are they when they are not working? Who will you be when you're not going into big sky every day?

JENNIFER KRANER: 46:18

That's a really good question. And nobody really knows the answer, including myself, right? But I think, you know, really, that's where maybe it's my nature, maybe it's my true introverted nature is going to come back into play. I mean, I love nothing more than to just go out on the boat with Tony and the dogs. And to be you know, just just simple in nature, nature and just, just really, yeah, just enjoying, enjoying the time more slowly. You know, so I'm really looking forward to that. I don't know exactly what that means. And I think, if anything, I think I might follow the path of those of us who retire and they maybe go back to those other artistic endeavors that they used to do before, ya know, the, the before the passion became the job.

Nicoa Coach: 47:08

Right. Right. And who knows? Who knows what it could be? Yeah, you could be, you could be doing anything. It could be a boat restore.

JENNIFER KRANER: 47:18

Okay, so for those of you who don't know, my father taught me the art of fiberglass, and he bought he, he built a wooden boat for me, which he then knew he had also given me a curse, but for me, it's not a curse at all, because every single time I'm working with epoxy and fiberglass and sending it back and painting, all I can do is think about my dad. Oh, yeah. So

Nicoa Coach: 47:40

I think my dad spent more time restoring the wooden sailboat that we had then he did sailing it and all he did was sand and varnish, sand and varnish, it seems like that's all you do on a wooden boat.

JENNIFER KRANER: 47:51

Therapy, though, right there is yeah, actually varnishing, you know, because you do you have to sand it down. And then the varnishing part is just like, Oh, it's just beautiful.

Nicoa Coach: 48:01

On our boat. Now on sounder, we have two strips of teak. And that's it on the exterior and David, David Cooper, I think his name he's busy making that up to par again for us. Thank goodness, I had to outsource just the two. I couldn't even do what you do. But now I know who to call. Yeah, I need some help. Definitely let me know. You can compete with David and your third. Restore.

JENNIFER KRANER: 48:27

I do love it. I love getting my hands wet and are dirty and doing all of that. So it's fun.

Nicoa Coach: 48:33

Well, I can't wait to see that next stage. I'm enjoying vicariously living your life with you as your friend and neighbor and I just I'm your biggest fan at the at the store and I'm always sending people your way. So thank you for coming over and hanging out with me and joining me on coffee with Nicola.

JENNIFER KRANER: 48:54

Oh, thank you, Nicola. This is really been fun. And you're so nice asked me to do a course.

Nicoa Coach: 48:59

Well, we're going to check back in a few years. See what that third act turned into. Okay. And happy almost birthday. Thank you. Yay. We love you. All right, love you too.

Unknown: 49:13

Thanks for joining us for a caffeinated conversation. Subscribe to Coffee with Nicoa for more stories from people living a life by design. You can also find inspiration on Instagram. Just follow Coffee with Nicoa and check out our website Coffee with nicoa.com and that's Nicoa N IC O A. We look forward to talking with you soon. And enjoy your coffee between now and then the same way