"While there is some overlap in interior design and interior decorating, they are fundamentally different. Interior design is the art and science of understanding people’s behavior to create functional spaces within a building, while interior decorating is the furnishing or adorning of a space with decorative elements to achieve a certain aesthetic. In short, interior designers may decorate, but decorators do not design."
Kellie Clements
Owner / PRINCIPAL DESIGNER
Coming from a family of artists made choosing Interior Design as my college major an easy choice. I have two incredibly creative parents and although my education and experience have played a key role in the success of my career, I believe that my authentic creativity is hereditary. I was never discouraged from dabbling in the art studio at my childhood home and seeing one (or both) of my parents in paint smeared jeans was the norm. For my 13th birthday my mom surprised me with a bedroom makeover that included splatter painted walls in all my favorite colors. I remember this as a defining moment in realizing my passion for design. The room made me feel both electrified and comfortable because of how well it represented who I was. I have built my career on a commitment to giving my clients a similar experience.
I graduated from The University of Central Arkansas (GO BEARS!) with a Bachelor of Science in Interior
Design. Moving to Oklahoma was not something I had considered until I met the man who would become my husband. I have joked that it's his fault that I live here but in all sincerity, I am thrilled with how Oklahoma and I have embraced one another. I love all aspects of design, especially COLOR! Over the years our team has created quite a reputation for our fearless approach to color and how fun the design experience can be. I would call my personal style warm, modern, eclectic. I have always felt that curated spaces with items that look like they were collected over time, are much more inviting than rooms transplanted from a showroom. The “modern” part of my style can be seen through the use of clean lines and a "less is more approach". The “eclectic” aspect is where my personality can be seen. I enjoy finding ways to incorporate quirky, unique items that make people smile and want to ask “where did you get that?”. Sometimes people fall victim to chasing current trends but truth be told, everyone values authenticity. It's important that our clients be represented in their space. For this reason, finding ways to incorporate authentic elements in to each design is a key component of my creative process. The love I have for design goes much deeper than paint on the walls. The passion I have for the people that live and work inside those walls is what makes what we do so special.
My design journey began in 2011 when I enrolled in the Interior Design program at the University of Central Oklahoma. It wasn’t until I started the program that I realized there had been a designer in me waiting to be discovered since I was a child. Growing up, I would spend hours rearranging my bedroom furniture and drawing out my first space plans. I constantly wanted to repaint furniture around our house and would insist that my parents use specific paint colors on the walls in our home. My parents owned a small but successful jewelry store in OKC for many years, where I began working at age 13 on weekends. Growing up in that environment instilled a strong sense of integrity in me and demonstrated the importance of choosing a career path that I love and enjoy. While finishing up my design degree at UCO, I started on that career path as a design assistant for Modern Whimsy. After lots of hard work juggling school and a full-time job, I earned my Bachelors degree in Interior Design and was able to transition into focusing solely on designing full time as part of the MW team.
Establishing a color palette is typically the first aspect of my creative process and where I find inspiration. Modern Whimsy is a perfect match for my love of color! My personal style is eclectic and fun, with a mix of modern and vintage attributes. But, as a designer, I love working with lots of different styles. I enjoy working with clients to create a comfortable and happy space that they can enjoy. I can’t wait to work with many more clients and continue to learn something new with every project.
Growing up I was always interested in creative activities, but my passion for interior design was overwhelmingly evident from the countless hours of my childhood spent playing The Sims. It allowed me to design, build, and decorate an infinite number of houses for each unique family. I spent more time building elaborate houses than I did playing the rest of the game.
I began studying interior architecture at Oklahoma Christian University in 2017. During my senior year, I started as an intern with Modern Whimsy Interiors. After completing my required internship hours, I was given the opportunity to continue working part-time while I finished my last semester before graduating. In May of 2021, I earned my BFA in Interior Architecture and jumped head-first into designing full-time with Kellie and the rest of her team. My personal style is ever-changing. I have learned so much over the past couple of years, and the more I learned about design, the more my style evolves. I think that most people's style preferences are
fluid. I love that as a designer I can help others discover their current style and the ways that it can change and grow with them.