Courtney Foster Shearer was selected as one of the 30 Under 30: Exceptional Young Kitchen & Bath Professionals, by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. This award carefully selects professionals in the kitchen & bath design industry to acknowledging their success and give them opportunities to speak on trends, the next generation of Universal Design, research showrooms of the future, and to give input on the overall direction of the kitchen and bath industry.
This is Courtney’s second award with NKBA. In 2011 she and Jim Meloy won a design award for the Large Kitchens category.
D.J. Sjoerdsma our Georgia Territory Manager recently sat down with Courtney Foster Shearer of Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios to find out a little more about her…….
School & place of work or past employment or any jobs that got you ready for this honor.
I attended The University of Georgia and graduated with a degree in Furnishings and Interiors. I am a Senior Designer for
Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios. She designs kitchens, baths, and custom cabinets for area homebuilders, architects, remodelers, and homeowners.
What professional organizations are you a member of and what role do you play in each?
Vice President of Academic Relations, NKBA Georgia Chapter,
Designing Dawgs member.
What is the one thing that you were taught or told that has inspired you the most and you believe would help others who also are pursuing a profession in this industry? My current employer, Mike Bell once told me “Only those who do nothing, don’t make mistakes.” I think this is a great piece of advice because in this industry it’s all about trusting your gut, trying new things and learning from your mistakes. I believe the most successful designers are those who are relatable. It’s all about treating people the way you wish to be treated and explaining ideas, issues and solutions in a way that people can relate to and understand.
So what are your goals for 2014 and the future?
My goals for 2014 are the same as every year, I hope to grow professionally and become more efficient, proficient and more involved than the year before. My goal is to enter more design contests and hopefully win awards for some of the projects I have worked on.
What other interesting projects are you involved in, won and important to you?
I started a design blog, The Cow Spot in 2011. I write weekly posts detailing current and upcoming projects, trends and design concepts.
In 2012 I was a finalist for “Best New Design Blog” for the 2012 Designers Hall of Fame and was recently nominated for a “Homie” award by
Apartment Therapy. In 2011 I won the NKBA Georgia’s Calla Award for Large Kitchen with Jim Meloy. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband, Brent as well as our family and friends.
Congratulations Courtney on this great honor and thank you for taking the time to talk with us!!! You are the road to Great Things!
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