Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Khouri.
Hi Amanda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to today?
It’s hard to know where to start, but I grew up in Louisville, KY. During and after school at UVA, I gravitated toward the political realm and had great mentors who taught me a lot about being in the professional world. I worked on Capitol Hill for four years and became a lobbyist for large tech companies. In many ways, I loved that chapter of my life. I met many fascinating and intelligent people, and I feel that it was a crucial part of my journey. Ultimately though, I couldn’t envision myself remaining in the policy and advocacy space for the rest of my career. I had always felt a pull toward creative work, but I didn’t consider it an option for a very long time. It felt too risky to me. As time went on, though, I realized how much time I had ahead of me and that it wasn’t sustainable to try and remain in a career that wasn’t fulfilling to me. By that time, I also had what I felt was a rare clarity about what I did want to do. I’m oversimplifying here, but after renovating my apartment, I was hooked on the design process and couldn’t get a career change out of my head. I loved that there was an end product after all the hard work in design (not always the case in lobbying!). Designers take all kinds of paths in the industry – I considered going to school and would have loved to, but it felt essential for me to jump in at 30 and start building experience. I have since taken drawing classes and picked up technical skills. My business partner Mary Catherine (another political transplant into the design world) and I teamed up and were fortunate to have a handful of clients that we’d known from our previous lives who trusted us and gave us a chance at the very beginning. Things have continued to build from there, and we’re happy to have a business we love that continues to grow. It hasn’t been without its challenges, that’s for sure – but I feel very fortunate to be doing what I love.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with most journeys, it has been far from smooth. The decision to leave an incredibly stable, well-paying job with fantastic benefits to start a business from scratch gives me hives to this day just thinking about it. Thankfully that jump only has to be made once because I’m not sure I could do it again. But I remember waking up the following day, then the next week, and then the next month, and realizing that I was still alive and ok! We felt very confident in our ability to execute creative work. Still, there was a steep learning curve for setting up the business, getting the appropriate licensing and processes in place, etc. We wanted things to feel very professional for our clients initially, so we thought about that. I can’t overstate how fortunate we were to have trusting clients who allowed us to build a portfolio. No one avoids all mistakes, but we are conscious (and remain so!) of what we don’t know, and we ask a lot of questions and outsource the parts of the job where we do not have expertise. I think that mindset has helped us tremendously.
Like everyone else, we’ve also weathered the effects of Covid. In my case, my husband and I began planning a move to Nashville in December of 2019. I was energized at the thought of coming to a new city, meeting people, and building a book of business here – but we closed on our house on March 16, 2020 – essentially day one of the pandemic. That brought any thoughts of picking up a few Nashville clients quickly to a halt. We were intentional about getting out and meeting people once the pandemic ended and the calls started coming. I’m grateful for every single one! There were (and are!) ups and downs every day, but we try to remain level-headed and keep pushing forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us more about your work?
I am one half of Murray Khouri, a Nashville and Washington DC-based residential interior design firm. Our work is rooted in classicism, but we love to add elements of the unexpected to our spaces. We are collectors, so many of the furnishings and accessories in our work are one of a kind. While I’m not sure we’re known for anything yet, I’d like to be known as a thoughtful, collaborative designer creating spaces with depth, but that doesn’t feel over-done. My goal is for our rooms to feel as relevant in 30 years as they do today.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Though I mentioned that the initial risk I took in making a career change was terrifying, I’d have to say that becoming more comfortable with taking calculated risks is essential for any business owner. It can be nerve-wracking, but I believe it has served me well. Earlier this year, my business partner and I were allowed to design a room in the Southeastern Showhouse. Choosing to participate was a big decision, and it was a risk given the financial and time commitment that is required. Something in me says “just go for it” when presented with opportunities like that, and I’m grateful for that characteristic. It keeps things interesting, and in general, I think that when you say yes to one opportunity, others tend to follow. That, and be kind to absolutely everyone!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.murraykhouri.com
- Instagram: @murraykhouri
Image Credits
Stacy Zarin Goldberg Ben Rose Photography Heidi Harris Photography
