When entrepreneur Kathryn Kinney’s career first began it was quite different than what it has become today.
The Clarkston resident had pursued figure skating since she was five-years-old. But while auditioning for the Ice Capades in Los Angeles in 1986, the then 36-year-old had a career-ending accident on the ice with a fellow skater.
Kinney did not know what she’d do next. ‘I needed a new thing,? she remembers.
A friend invited her to move to Florida and offered her a job with Boca Raton Millworks. There, as a contract design coordinator, she was responsible for coordination of all companies involved in production and finalization of construction design detailing. Through Millworks, Kinney was sent to Nassau, Bahamas to coordinate construction of several floors of the Carnival Cruise Crystal Palace hotel.
So began her new career, which would take her through 13 years in design supervision for high rise and estate home construction.
Most recently, Kinney was the assistant superintendent in the construction design of a 30,000 square foot lobby area for the Montenero Pelican Bay, a multi-level luxury condominium complex in Naples, Fla.
But, for a number of reasons, Kinney resigned from the firm where she was employed. Mainly because she had the sudden urge she was needed back in Clarkston.
Kinney — who grew up in Sault St. Marie, but whose family had a cabin on Walters Lake in Clarkston — made the decision to drive back to Michigan to be with her mother who had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure.
Five hours after Kinney arrived in Clarkston, her mother suffered a heart attack. It was the first of three heart attacks and eight visits to the emergency room.
For the next 18 months, Kinney would care for her mother, before she passed away in October 2002.
Now, her brother, Daniel, has also contracted the disease, and Kinney is caring her him.
‘I’m supposed to be here,? she said.
But Kinney said she does have time to leave the home for several hours of the day to work. So she decided to launch Space Creations, an interior design company.
It’s a bit different than your typical interior design business. Kinney explained she uses materials the residents already have in their home, but does a creative redo.
Kinney — whose business card reads ‘Creating beautiful spaces, with an eye for design and a hand for sewing? — rummages through a homeowner’s basement, shed or garage to find anything useful for remodeling.
‘You can find phenomenal things,? she said.
Kinney said her business is geared towards people who just don’t have that designer’s touch.
‘A lot of people don’t know how to put things together.?
And that’s were Kinney’s expertise comes in.
? I always wanted to do this really,? she said, adding her services are great for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Since returning to Michigan, Kinney has worked on design projects at a farm house in Kalamazoo, a home in Brimley and a retailer, The Sweater Shop, in Frankenmuth.
Kinney hopes to now make it a go here in Clarkston, and invites readers to give her a try.
To set up a consultation, call Kathryn Kinney at (248) 212-8023.