Hello and welcome to episode 20 of design curious podcast.
I'm your host and Mentor, Rebecca Ward.
And today we have a great interview with krisha Palmer.
She is just as another wonderful nature going to want to hear
about. Let me tell you a little bit
about her before we get into the episode.
Krisha is a doctor turned designer who left clinical
medicine to pursue her interior design degree through her
business house calls for Physicians.
She now helps other Izzy, women Physicians create inspiring
mindful homes so they can kick back, relax and enjoy life's
moments in them. You'll hear in today's episode
that her Niche is just really fun plus here from krisha.
You're now listening to design, curious a place where you
creative one are here to learn about what it really is.
Like, to be an interior designer and I'm your host and Mentor
Rebecca, Ward, if you're worried about how to succeed in a
creative career, if you're ready to learn your next steps to
become an Interior Designer. And if you want the satisfaction
of doing something you love every day, you are in the right
place. Grab a coffee, a notebook.
And Let's dig into today's episode.
Hi krisha, welcome to design curious podcast.
So glad you're here. It's great to be here.
Thanks for having me. Yeah.
So why don't you tell our listeners a little bit about
your company and where you're located and all those good
details? I'm sure.
So my design business is called house calls for Physicians and I
do Residential interior design for other women Physicians,
around the country. And I also have a course where I
I teach women Physicians, how to be their own designer and how to
design for themselves. I'm located in Little Rock
Arkansas, which you can probably tell by my Southern accent.
I love it. And interestingly my, this is my
second career. My first career was as a
physician. Okay.
Alright, well, let's talk a little bit about that.
Let's start there. So, how long were you a
physician? So I finished training, I did a
residency in Pediatrics and then I did a fellowship in allergy
and Knology. And I practiced for about two
years before I made the decision to leave medicine to stay at
home with my kids who were really young at the time and
then decided to go back and get my interior design degree.
Okay. Did you always have an drawing
towards interior design or decorating and those things?
Like as you were growing up or I did and I did and it's
interesting that you ask that because growing up I was always
very Very artistic and creative. I was into dance and theater.
And so when I decided to go into medicine, people were really
surprised, they're like oh we thought you would, you know, at
one point I wanted to be a dancer on Broadway and music
video. So it was like a big kind of
switch for me, but looking back, I do remember, as a child, I
have a specific memories of being in my room and getting
graph paper and like drawing out my own dream house plan.
Yes, and I also remember like my favorite game to play with my
neighbor was we called it a little people and, you know,
those little, you know, the little people, they look
different but they used to be a little wooden figures.
Oh yeah. Had this big drawer full of
little people and all the furniture and just whatever we
could find. And we would I would spend hours
creating floor plans, like, using rocks to outline their
rooms, and filling in the furniture, things like that,
that I look back and I'm like, oh, no, wonder I But really I
wasn't really exposed to Interior Design.
I didn't even realize it was a thing at that age and it wasn't
until I was really a medical school and that show Trading
Spaces, came out on HGTV. Wow, that's what I want to do.
And I'm so my passion, you know, it was just like I could put a
name to it. So it wasn't until medical
school that I really started. Kind of fantasizing about going
and In that because I wasn't really happy where I was and it
took a while, but I finally, you know, switch courses and then on
that path sense. What made you want to go to
medical school? If you're so artistically?
Been yeah, well, I had a high school, biology teacher, who was
wonderful and ended up. I took Biology, one, two, and
three from her in high school and really enjoyed.
It was the first time that I think a teacher had made science
and biology interesting to me. Me.
Yeah, and it made sense. And so, you know, I did well in
it and she would repeatedly tell me.
You need to go to med school. You need to go to med school,
you know, I think that when you're 18, you don't know what
you want. You should know what you want
and I was like, well I'll do that.
Yeah, and I didn't get in that path and here.
So heavily invested with time and money and education that
it's difficult to make the decision to, you know, turn to a
different path. Hmm.
I still then you decided after a couple of years you stay at home
with your kids and then you wanted to do a design degree.
So did you do a four-year or two-year or just some?
Yeah, I went back and did a four-year program.
I just chose the university. That was closest to me that
offered that had an accredited program.
Hmm. And my kids like I said they
were about three and very, you know new board the time.
Yeah. So I wit very Lee.
I took one or two classes, a semester.
Okay. Yeah, it took me a long time to
complete it but you know it ended up taking me longer to
complete my design degree than it.
Did to go to med school just because of spacing.
Yeah. Yeah, you know, that's good.
You put family as a priority as well.
So yeah, exactly. Yeah.
I mean also partly probably why you are doing this because you
wanted to make sure you're following your passion, and
being happy and not frustrated with life so that you could be A
better Mom home. Exactly.
Yeah, for sure. So, once you graduated with your
degree, what did you start doing?
So for my internship, I worked with a designer here in Little
Rock Toby. Fairly I did my internship with
her nice, and totally loved it. Learned just as much, or more
than I did as I went through school.
Yeah. And stayed on is one of her
designers, for almost two years, okay?
That, with the knowledge that I knew I wanted to To, you know,
be my own boss and have my own business.
Hmm, and then after a couple years, I decided, you know,
create house calls for Physicians, which is my current
business. Nice.
Yeah. So when you are going into
working with Toby, did you let her know that your intention was
to open your own company someday?
And then I did start asking her questions about like, what it's
like yeah. So I did I was lucky to
eventually I want to do my own thing.
But for now, I think that this, you know, I had so much to learn
and, you know, she was, she's been an amazing mentor to me.
And so, even just, you know, of course, I we talked all the time
about her business and I would ask her questions, but just
being there and getting the experience of, you know, this is
what residential design kind of the traditional model of
residential design. Looks like, you know, what's
not? Because I didn't know anything
about, you know, all the purchasing and the installing
and all of that which is more. Of kind of the the left-brained,
what I left for a part of design.
Whereas I had always been focused and really enamored with
the right brain, creative, artistic sigh.
So I got to really see what it was like, which was invaluable,
I think. Yeah.
And you still enjoyed it though. Like you once your eyes are open
to what it was. The career was really like he
still found that enjoyable. Yes.
And no, honestly, it's interesting because I love the
creative side. Yeah, the Design work.
But the part that I realized, I did not really care for was the
ordering products, tracking product.
Yeah. Procuring.
Installations are fun. Of course, that was all that in
between all the logistics of it. Yeah.
And so when I went out and created my own business, I
decided that I would not do that part.
So I only do the Creative part of design for my client.
So I put everything together and they give them sources.
Has and links where they can purchase the products themselves
and then they do all the rest. Yeah.
Is that challenging at all for getting portfolio photos?
Or is that a concern of yours at all?
It can be but I'm about. So it's funny because I thought
it was going to be more of a challenge that it's ending up
being because I'm not, you know, almost all my projects are, you
know, I've never been there. It's there like all over the
country here and so a lot of those, you know, the end result
is 2. And then on them, you know,
getting everything in and executing the design.
Exactly. You know how I envisioned, which
does it always happen. Usually, it does now that I'm
several years into business and a lot of these remodels and
projects take time. The photos are starting to roll
in okay, though. Yes, it.
It's kind of a trade-off. I can't, you know, it's not
something that necessarily I have a lot of control over, but
the feedback and now the photos that are coming in are I mean,
they're amazing. Yeah.
So it is something where if I wanted to go photograph, it
professionally for my portfolio. I could I was right?
Yeah. So then after a couple of years,
you turn your focus towards this course.
So tell us more about how this course came into being and why
you're hated it. Yeah.
So there is a really large tightly-knit, Facebook community
of women, Physicians, and a lot of them.
There are two different Facebook groups, For just design and
decor and so I realized there was like a big interest there
and a lot of, you know, they post questions, you know what
kind of sofa should I put in this room and so there's a lot
of kind of back and forth dialogue about that.
And I thought, well, you know, why can't I just sort of take
what I learned about residential interior design.
As I went through school and kind of condense that down into
like this is what what's going to be high yield.
This is what's going to help you the most.
And create a course. So that, you know, there are a
lot of people in general that want to hire a designer, they
either don't have the time or the interest to do it
themselves, but there are a lot of people that enjoy it and they
want to be able to do it themselves.
Hmm. So I thought, well, you know,
I'll teach the women that want to be their own designer.
That what I learned those skills themselves, I'll teach them how
to do it and so I created this course called Design Academy.
It's a 12-week online course and it basically leads you through,
you know, the elements and principles Bulls of design, the
design process, they get feedback Forum a and basically
you know, learn those skills themselves.
Okay. So is this Design Academy?
I know you focus it towards the medical community, but could
anybody take this course right now?
It's just for women Physicians. But you know, with I've had
other people reach out to me and really want to take the course.
And so I'm like, of course. Yeah.
Yeah.
You can take it. Okay.
Interesting. Okay.
And so then you are like helping these ladies learn how to design
their own house and then I have some of them.
Oh, I actually want to do a little more than just my own
house. Like this is something I could
get into and maybe even pursue as a second career.
So have you had that experience to have?
Yeah I've had since I started my business.
I've probably had at least 10 to 15 people, reach out to me and
said, you know, can you talk to me about, you know, I'm
interested in. Enter either in transitioning
out of medicine or I really like this and I'm thinking about
doing it as a side gig, like, do I need to go back to school?
Do I not like how do I, what should I think about?
So I get asked that question a lot.
Yeah. What do you tell them if they
need to go back because I know you did.
Yeah. So what I tell them my main two
pieces of advice or number one your actions are going to depend
on whether or not you do want to do it full time.
Time and try to replace your income versus a side gig or more
just for the enjoyment of it. Because I think, you know, it's
different when you're doing something for fun versus, if
you're really trying to make money and you're running a
business. So that's one thing to consider
and I tell them, you know, for residential interior design, if
that's your main focus, you don't have to go back and get a
degree, you can totally depending, you know, I chose to.
But you don't have to, like, you could learn design, there's all
sorts of Horses. There's lot, of course, there's
a lot of amazing designers that are self-taught, so that kind of
opens up the flexibility because I think with the, my tribe that
I work with women Physicians, they're all like, I got to go
get the degree like right? Yeah.
You don't have to you. Don't you really don't have to.
You can be totally successful without it.
Yeah, so that's one big thing that I tell them the other thing
is I tell them just start doing it.
Ask a family member, ask a friend and just get your feet
wet, you can charge them, not charge them, it doesn't matter.
But actually start going through the process and doing it and see
if you really like it, you know, because I think that a lot of
people sort of glamorized the designer job you know.
And it sure seems like glamorous and fun and games and a lot of
it is but a lot of it's not just like with any job there's a lot
you know, there's always that other side of So I think the
only way you can really know is just by getting your feet wet
and taking action and just start designing for your friends.
Yeah, good advice. So those women that you do, give
this advice to have, they come back and then decided maybe not
to pursue design or have they decided like yeah, this is for
me. I want to go all-in.
I've only, I've heard back from some of them and so I do know of
several who are have actually started their own.
It's like a local agent hunting for people locally because I see
her post on. Okay, sir, Graham and sharing
her designs and she's just what she didn't go back to school.
She self-taught, she just said, you know, this is what I want to
do and she just started doing it.
So it's really cool to see that. I don't think I've had anybody
that has decided to go back and get a degree but I do have those
that are still kind of thinking about it.
Mmm. Yeah.
I don't know of any that have decided to go back to school and
get a degree. Most of them are kind of testing
the waters. Earth right now.
Okay? And have you created any kind of
community for these women that are reaching out to you, as I've
been only women or is it? Women focused or is it just any
equipment? Yeah, just my house calls for
Physicians. I have not actually.
I thought about it because I keep getting people reaching
out. So, most of the time, it's just
one-on-one, quick zooms or phone calls and and they'll pick my
brain and then maybe a few follow-up emails, but Right now,
I don't have any specific resources for the yeah, I just
thought it could be it, you know, an Avenue for you.
Because a lot of these women already connected via those
Facebook groups that were so tight, knit.
And that if you had one, perhaps for position to turn.
Yeah, there's, you know, I could also support.
Absolutely. No, that's like a great great.
We understand each other's challenges.
So your business house calls for Physicians.
Tell me a little bit. How Specifically speak to your
client's needs. Is this?
Because you have were physician yourself.
So you understand, their lifestyle is there any specific
things they can just kind of mention that Physicians actually
need in their homes that other designers might not be aware of
bright. That's a great question.
A lot of people ask me like well what is it like is it different
like designing for Physicians? And the bottom one is not, not a
lot different. I think that most of it comes in
is having Designer that understands kind of your
lifestyle. Because I do think that that
high stress, you know, I mean, it is stressful and busy,
especially with the culture of medicine.
There's like, it is today. There's a lot of burnout.
There's a lot of decision fatigue, so, because I've walked
that path, I get it. And I also make myself
available, you know, if it's a Friday night at 7 p.m. and
that's the only time you can meet with me for your consult, I
will do that because I totally get it.
I've been there. That's nice.
That's a big part of it but also I think it's kind of my way of
being involved. I guess indirectly involved in
medicine because I feel like that so many women Physicians
are burned out. There's a really, you know, the
suicide rate among Physicians is higher.
And so, you know, I'm not seeing patients in a clinic but I'm
helping nurture those women physicians in creating a home
that when they come home, they can really Relax in that can
recharge they can connect with their family, which is a big
part of physician Wellness. Yeah.
And that's really a big part of anybody's Wellness, right?
But you know, I'm not seeing patients in clinic anymore but I
can give back indirectly through serving, those Physicians that
are seeing patients in clinic and in terms of you know design
differences there are some things, you know, my husband is
an emergency medicine physician and he works almost all night
shifts. So I see women that Either work
night shifts or need do Radiology telemedicine.
So they need a workspace from home.
That's completely blacked out. Okay.
So, you know, they sleeping and creating a bedroom that's you're
not going to wake up. If you hear your kid down the,
they'll mock hallway and it's completely conducive to good
sleep. Those are a few things that are
I think come into play that are a little bit different for a
physician, you know, certain groups of Physicians than like
the general population. Yeah.
So, Did you use your own home as like testing ground for again
different product and you know Cal my gosh.
So yeah and he's you know, he's always worked almost all night
shift so this was even back before I went back and got my
design degree and I started studying design so we tried
everything. Yeah.
So we've been through all these, you know, and now I've got, you
know, really good recommendations in terms of how
to you know soundproof and like proof your room that have
evolved over the Years and things like that.
Yeah, gosh, yes. Oh, so many details there.
That's great. So any other advice you have for
someone who wants to transition to their second career and build
their business that later in life?
Yeah. So I think one thing I would say
is that it and I truly believe this like it's never too late to
change paths. Yeah.
Never too. Old is so you know I feel like
I'm almost 50 and I'm just getting started because you
know, I did spend And you know, my priority, my kids are about
to leave for college now, but it was family and now it's time for
me to really work on my business.
So it's never too late. And the other thing is that I
think we often get wrapped up in thinking like there's one right
path or one, right way to do things or a certain order like I
do. I create my LLC, do I get my
business, you know, all those little steps and create,
especially if you're someone that's not, that's never I was
completely from a non business background, I had no clue, I was
doing, but I think we often think like there's a right way
and I think that realizing that there's no set path that you
have to find you create your own path.
And the most important thing is just to continue taking action.
Mmm. Yeah.
Just what is the next? Because I always ask myself,
like, when creating my business, like, what's the next thing I
need to do? Hmm.
What's the next thing? Like, there's not a right or
wrong way? It's Just creating and finding
out what works for you. Yeah, I like that approach then
mindset like continuing to grow and expand and and, you know,
maybe pivoting your business to work for you or adding on
different revenue streams like the course.
Right. So, what's the next thing for
you and your business? Yeah.
So the next thing is I'm going to launch a podcast.
Awesome, yeah, coming soon. Call the design doctor.
Oh, I love it. And that's we will be talking
about. I'm actually a certified life
coach from the life coach school also.
So we're going to be talking about a lot about the drama that
comes up. When you go to renovate a space
and build a new house, even if you're just doing something as
simple as just giving your room a facelift.
A lot of people. Get stuck with decision, fatigue
and Analysis, paralysis like, there's so much to choose from.
Where do I start? And so, I Feel like there's a
lot of middle drama that comes up, so we're going to talk
through a lot of those types of things gasps oh that's
wonderful. I'm going to be listening to
that for sure. Yeah I mean I just had an
inquiry from a client the other day and on her form she wrote
help I have analysis paralysis. I can't move forward with my
project. So yeah, that comes up all the
time. I'm sure everyone will be
wanting to listen to the design doctors.
That's right. I love that will definitely post
the links for your website. Then, so when the podcast is
launched, people can find that there.
And also for your course, if anyone listening is interested
in taking that, I'll be great. So, okay, great.
And how can where do we find you on socials?
And yeah. So you can probably my website
is house calls for Physicians.com.
You can follow me on Instagram at krisha Palmer, MD on
Facebook. If you happen to be a woman
physician listening to this you can find my Facebook group house
calls for Physicians. Okay, great.
Well, thank you so much. Chris has a pleasure to talk
with you. Yeah, thanks, it's been great.
Thank you for having me. Yeah, we'll talk to you later.
I think Chris is Niche is so fun, and it just shows you how
your own personal experiences can really help you Niche down
into speak authentically to the market that you can reach on a
personal level. I mean, really understanding the
needs of her clients because of her own experiences and so
awesome. You're also going to check her
out. I've been watching her on
Tick-Tock, she has some great tick-tocks that you can check
her out and so will put all of her.
Information in our show notes, you can find that at our war
design.com forward slash podcast.
Don't forget to leave me a five star rating and review.
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So stay tuned for next week, another great.
Episode on design, curious next week, we're talking about the
pros and cons of residential design.
And so, you might want to stick around for that to discover.
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