Meet the Team.
Kara Childress
Principal / Founder
Kara Childress is renowned for her ability to blend Old World European elegance with modern, livable design, creating interiors that are both timeless and deeply personalized to her clients' lives. Her designs are a harmonious marriage of tradition and innovation, resulting in spaces that are not only beautiful but also reflective of her clients' unique stories.
Kara's collaborations with top architects, builders, and vendors ensure that every aspect of her design is executed to the highest standard. Her residential projects often evolve into lasting relationships, extending beyond the home to include commercial office spaces, second homes, and even event styling at clients' residences after the design work is complete.
In addition to high-end residential interiors, Kara's profile spans private jet interiors and luxury properties in Texas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hamptons, Montana, Wyoming, Bahamas and Puerto Rico. Based in Houston, Texas, Kara lives with her husband, Ray Childress, where they raised their four children-- Wells, Sloan, Ford, and Knox-- alongside their three beloved Labradors. She now treasures her role as a grandmother, finding joy in every moment spent with her two grandchildren.
Caroline Wallace
Senior Interior Designer
Caroline studied Design at The University of Texas in Austin where she also interned with several local residential design firms. Each experience deepened her interest for design and eventually led her to New York City where she pursued an MFA from the New York School of Interior Design. While in NYC, she had the incredible opportunity to intern with McAlpine, working on projects in the city and in upstate New York. Upon graduation, Caroline moved to Washington, D.C. where she spent four years honing in on her craft and working on projects nationwide with Darryl Carter, Inc. At the beginning of 2022, Caroline returned to her hometown of Houston to continue her career in the great state of Texas.
Hannah Hayes
Senior Interior Designer, Team Lead
A native Houstonian, Hannah has always had a passion for interiors. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in finance, Hannah moved back to Houston to begin her career in banking. After working at Frost Bank for over 3 years, she was being called to a more creative pursuit and began her career in interior design. She joined KCI in 2021 where she continues to learn the ins and outs of everything interior design. Outside of the office, Hannah loves exploring the Houston restaurant scene and spending time with her Sheepadoodle, Banks.
Natalia Vazquez
Senior Interior Designer
Natalia, a Mexican national, graduated from Baylor University where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design. Natalia's passion for continued education and professional growth led her to become a Registered Interior Designer in the State of Texas where her career as a luxury residential designer flourished. Natalia's love for all things beautiful likes to curate elevated spaces that are functional and memorable. When Natalia is not in the office you can find her in art museums or hiking trails with her dogs.
Lauren Panus
Associate Designer
Growing up in Houston, Lauren has a true passion for art and architecture and has always gravitated towards creative interests. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2020 with a degree in Corporate Communications and a minor in Interior Design, providing her with a solid foundation for effective communication and a keen eye for design. Prior to joining the KCI team in 2022, Lauren supported design teams in the Houston and Austin areas. When she’s not in the office, Lauren enjoys watching documentaries, going to concerts with friends, and cheering on the Houston Astros!
Julia Leader
Associate Designer
Julia, from Bedford, NY, has always been surrounded by people with an appreciation for beautiful interiors. With her mom being an interior designer, Julia naturally found a love for it herself. After graduating from Providence College with her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, Julia went on to work for Charlotte Barnes Interior Design where she gained even more experience and understanding of design. Having been a fan of Kara's work for years, Julia moved to Houston, TX to continue expanding her knowledge and love for Interior Design at KCI.
Mary Jane Stevens
Office Manager
Mary Jane was born and raised in Houston and has always had an interest in interior design. After graduating from The University of Mississippi with a master’s in education she moved back to Houston where she taught special education for five years. In 2016, she decided to make a career change and began working in interior design as an office manager. When she is not in the office, you can find her spending time with her husband, son, and two dogs.
Avery Edens
Marketing, Social Media Director
Born and raised in Houston, Avery has always had a passion for creative direction. She studied Marketing and Entrepreneurship at the University of Houston, where she developed a solid foundation in strategic thinking and creative problem-solving. After graduating, she joined the KCI team to further develop her design and marketing expertise. When Avery is not in the office, she loves spending time with her dog, Butter, exploring Houston's diverse culinary scene, and spending time with her friends and family. .
Carlos Sotelo
Logistics
Having worked for the company for over two decades, Carlos is the longest-standing KCI team member. He serves as the firm’s logistics coordinator and provides outstanding support within every facet of KCI operations, including office oversight and facility management while also ensuring a positive experience for each employee. Whether it’s a technological need or the need for general supplies, Carlos makes sure that the design team is fully equipped to provide superior service and exceed every client expectation.
Wells Childress
Ops & Business Development
Wells, a Houston native, is passionate about the intersection of elevated design and technology. After graduating cum laude from Columbia University, Wells began his career in investment banking, specializing in mergers & acquisitions. Having grown up seeing the world through the eyes of his interior designer mother, Kara, Wells had a constant curiosity for improving and optimizing the end-to-end customer experience for home design. Wells is the Founder of Kermit Labs, a 3D visualization platform leveraging computer-generated imagery to allow customers to visualize and customize their products in real time.
INTERIOR ATELIER
5773 Woodway Drive,
Suite 401
Houston TX
77057