Co-Founder & Co-Lead Designer For We Three Design, Kirsten Grove
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your brand!
My name is Kirsten Grove. I'm the co-founder and co-lead designer for We Three Design. My business partner Sam Salinas and I started our business three years ago after separately working in the design world for over a decade. We offer both full residential and commercial designs.
We are based in Boise, Idaho, with clients all over the nation. I've been in the design world for fourteen years. I started as a design blogger and then began to take on design clients. I'm self-taught with an emphasis on hard work; it has taken me years of hard work to get where I'm at. I wouldn't trade my journey for anything! My husband and I also LOVE renovating our personal homes. We bought a full gut job last year and have been slowly making it a beautiful space for the family.
Who/what are your biggest motivators?
My family! I'm married to the man of my dreams and have a seventeen-year-old son and an almost sixteen-year-old daughter. We are a very close family. They inspire me to work harder and smarter. They have cheered me on since day one and vice versa.
How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?
I'm an expert at turning the work gear off at 5 pm every day. Nights and weekends are completely focused on my family and friends. It's important to never bring work home! I only have two more years with my son being at home so it is non-negotiable for me.
How long do your renovation projects usually last?
Renovating a home in 2021-2022 is a whole new ballgame! Between material shortages, price inflation, and shipping delays, if you're not patient, you shouldn't renovate your house. If a renovation took six months before 2020, it now takes 9-12 months. That being said, our current renovation took fourteen months! Four and a half of those months were spent waiting for permits, a few months waiting for materials, and a few more months waiting for subs to show up. Good times!
What part of a house do you enjoy renovating most?
The kitchen! It's the heart of the home and can make or break its design. My kitchen is all about mixed metals, unexpected patterns, juxtaposed designs, and great lighting. It's gonna be good!
What do you find most challenging about being an entrepreneur?
If things go south, there's no one else to save you but yourself. You are your own boss and if you can't handle the stress and pressure, it might not be the right fit. I wouldn't trade it for the world! It works for me and my business partner, and that's something else to note. Find yourself an amazing business partner and you can do anything you put your mind to! □
Article Credits
Kirsten’s Website: We Three Design
Kirsten’s Personal Instagram: @simplygrove
We Three Design’s Instagram: @wethreedesign
Cover Photo Credits: @amanda.cherie
