Startup Story
Kim Williams is an award-winning top interior designer and behaviour strategist based in Cape Town. With a unique approach that blends creative and behavioural strategies, Kim transforms spaces to positively impact people's lives. Her work spans residential and commercial projects, earning international recognition. Kim is also an inspiring public speaker and author, known for her commitment to mindfully design purpose-driven environments that shape lives.
LoA spoke to the inspirational Kim Williams to learn more about her entrepreneurial journey, the growth of her business, and her vision for the future.
When did your start your business?
I founded Kim Williams Design in 2013. Today, we are an extended team of 10 people including our design, marketing, project and site management teams. We subcontract millions rands of work in the industry including electrical, plumbing, glass and aluminium, painting, carpentry, lighting, and flooring that form part of our extended business.
“Our approach to interior design begins with understanding the outcomes and experiences that our clients want to create, whether for a customer, their family, or themselves.”
What does your company do?
Kim Williams is an award-winning top interior designer and behaviour strategist based in Cape Town, South Africa. With a unique approach that blends creative and behavioural strategies, Kim transforms spaces to positively impact people's lives. Her work spans residential and commercial projects, earning international recognition. Kim is also an inspiring public speaker and author, known for her commitment to mindfully design purpose-driven environments that shape lives.
Kim Williams Design Showroom:
Step into the Kim Williams Design Showroom for an immersive journey where interior design is reimagined. Located at 10 Bella Rosa Street, Highstreet, Tygervalley, Cape Town, this vibrant space showcases Kim Williams' exclusive collaborations, including the RAKGADI Interior Range. Visitors can explore bespoke furniture, artisanal lighting, and exquisite fabrics, experiencing how intentional design can transform spaces and positively impact lives.
Kim Williams Design x Molebatsi:
Kim Williams and fashion designer Jessica Jane Molebatsi have teamed up to create the TOILE DU SUD, RAKGADI and NOLUTHANDO Interior Ranges, merging fashion and home décor. This collaboration celebrates Tswana culture and the influential role of women, offering a fresh perspective on interior design with exquisite carpets, placemats, dinnerware, and more.
“It is not just about making a space beautiful or functional. For us, it is how it improves your customer experience or your lifestyle.”
What inspired you to start your company?
My passion for interiors started as a child born with a clubfoot that spent many hours indoors as I struggled with keeping up with the other children's outdoor activities. This made me somewhat of a shy child who began to focus on how when you change things in a room it affects what people do. This began my fascination with behavioural strategy and how our spaces affect us. My first business was a consulting company that offered corporate training and behavioural strategy services before I responded to the true desire of my heart and opened Kim Williams Design.
What makes your business, service or product special?
Our approach to interior design begins with understanding the outcomes and experiences that our clients want to create, whether for a customer, their family, or themselves. It is about what happens in the space and how it supports you to achieve this outcome. It is not just about making a space beautiful or functional. For us, it is how it improves your customer experience or your lifestyle.
Tell us a little about your team.
Our studio team is an all-woman team with designers ranging in age and background. The team skills include corporate experience, photography, visualisation skills, architecture, design, and business degrees.
My team is an incredible group of women who are passionate about what they do. Coming to the studio is a joy, we have an incredibly dynamic and fun environment that spills over into our design process.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I initially started my career in recruitment which was an incredible grounding to understand the business environment before I went on to consulting, specialising in training and behavioural strategy. I finally worked for Deloitte which was one of the highlights of my early career before I was approached by my then partners to join them in a new business venture which finally led to me opening my consulting company. Pure Innovation (Pty) Ltd ran for 13 years before I fell very ill and had to close the business. Kim Williams Design was borne out of a desire to really make an impact on lives through spaces given my own experiences. It felt as though I had come full circle from when I was a little girl.
“My team is an incredible group of women who are passionate about what they do. Coming to the studio is a joy, we have an incredibly dynamic and fun environment that spills over into our design process.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
We recently opened a showroom in High Street, Tygervalley, which was an absolute dream come true. We now have consultants in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and George. This year we want to really grow our showroom and expand into international opportunities. I am also in the process of conceptualising a new book and working on new collaborations that will expand our ranges.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Constantly being able to challenge myself to dream as big as I can.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Don't do something for the sake of just doing something because you are good at it. Make sure whatever you want to start is something you are very passionate about. Being an entrepreneur is not an easy road and to stay the course you must have a fire in your heart that will keep you going during the tough times and inspire you during the good times.
To find out more, visit the Kim Williams website: www.kimwilliams.co.za or follow Kim on social media:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kim-williams-interior-design/
Why LoA loves it…
Finding your USP - Unique Selling Point in business is one of the keys to success, and Kim Williams has certainly achieved that goal with her unique approach that blends creative and behavioural strategies to realise her clients’ interior design dreams. Kim transforms spaces to positively impact people's lives, designing purpose-driven environments that shape the way they live and work. Inspirational! — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa