Kristin Harrison is the founder and principal designer of Georgia & Hunt Design House, a D.C.-based firm approaching each project the way we would any relationship: with care, dedication, curiosity and the genuine desire to get to know people as human beings. Every job is a new opportunity to grow creatively and a chance to cultivate long-lasting friendships through a carefully crafted process. Kristin prides herself on being thorough and detailed, but also relaxed and fun, creating beautiful, personalized, livable spaces that reflect those who reside in them. Specializing in new construction and full-home renovations, Georgia & Hunt focuses on sustainability, functionality and making things feel lived-in, yet fresh. Learn more about Kristin and her designs in today’s Designer Friday.
Andrew Joseph: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a designer?
Kristin Harrison: To know your worth. The internet and AI create an environment where most people believe that they can do it all themselves. Although some people can and will try, the majority of the population cannot. We are here to provide a luxury service that takes any and all stress off the plates of the homeowner, and to create a beautiful space that they love. We are worth our cost, and for good reason. Their happiness is our number one priority.
AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
KH: Traveling. Experiencing different places, cultures and architecture is the best way for me to get outside of my brain a bit and start looking at things differently. Sometimes it’s just the use of a certain color or material, and other times it may be fully inspired by nature and what’s surrounding me there.
AJ: How do you stay organized while working on multiple projects?
KH: This is a great question, and I’m sure a lot of designers will answer it differently, but primarily, we use Click-up for our team to track tasks and timelines, but we also have Gantt Charts for every single project so that we have as much accountability as the client to stay on track. With so many different projects and deadlines floating around, it is truly the only thing we’ve found that works for us. I think sharing the Gantt chart in the beginning with the client also puts them at ease by showing that we have a plan, and we go to great lengths to stick to it as best as possible.
AJ: What is the most important skill for a successful designer?
KH: Controversial, maybe, but I think adaptability and humility. There are a ton of very, very talented designers out there. I try to remember that designing a home/building a house can be a very stressful time in someone’s life, regardless of how much you are taking off their plate. I always tell clients that inevitably, something will go wrong. Whether it’s a nail popping out of a wall or a measurement that is an inch off, it’ll happen. That being said, we will always make it right, and they know that. Additionally, we may have an amazing vision in our head for a space, but sometimes the client just can’t get into it, no matter what we try to convey. Being able to take a step back, reimagine it with their commentary, and take another stab at it does wonders for the relationship and for their happiness in the end.
AJ: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
KH: I would absolutely love to work on a mountain house in Montana. It’s one of my favorite places on earth, and being able to incorporate a stunning backdrop into a home would be a dream come true for me.
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