Meet Alison Thain | Interior Designer & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alison Thain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alison, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Kolea Interiors was started out of my love for interior design and my unique sense of style mixing tropical and beach aesthetics for a luxury market. I grew up in Hawaii so there’s a lot of indoor outdoor influence and I draw much of my inspiration from other tropical locations such as Australia, Africa, and Mexico. The idea for starting my own business came from a deep desire to be my own boss and to have the ability to watch my ideas become reality.

What should our readers know about your business?
As a small design firm Kolea Interiors focuses on exceptional quality and a unique and authentic design style over mass production. The design process is very personal, clients can expect to be heard and their needs attended to. Each project is filled with unique pieces and one of a kind design. The business grew very organically, mostly through referrals, as we let the work speak for itself. The biggest lesson I’ve learned through this process is the who is more important than the how . Relationships are what create a thriving business, and I couldn’t have done this without my team, my clients, or the community at large. Nothing is more important than people and at Kolea Interiors we try to focus on building strong relationships both with our clients and with our team.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d spend a Saturday morning at Little Italy’s farmer’s market, take them for coffee and croissants at La Clochette Du Coin, and spend a day beaching and surfing Encinitas followed by the classic California burrito from the Taco Stand.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My success is in many ways owed to my amazing clients who have believed in my work and supported me from the beginning allowing me to transform their homes, and trusting me with their most sacred spaces. I really wouldn’t be here running a business if it was not for the support of the community, my family, and my friends. Each person in a community plays such a important role in every business success and it’s an honor to be able to do what I love and be a part of this one.

Website: www.koleainteriors.com

Instagram: @koleainteriors

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-thain-63aaa91a3/

Image Credits
Photos by @esthercanon and Ethan Tweedie