We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Daugherty and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
There were a few things in play when I thought about starting my own business. I always knew that doing my own thing would work best for me and my family, versus a traditional 9-5. This is because my husband is a firefighter/paramedic, and works 24-48 hours at a time. With three kids, I knew I needed to be able to work around our busy lives.

Second, I knew the design concept I wanted to start was not a “typical” route. I wanted to make design accessible to everyone. I wanted to do what I knew best, which was how to make a house feel like a home, and create a cohesive feel; all while on a budget. I believe design should be accessible and attainable for everyone. It’s amazing what a few cans of paint, some rugs, and curtains can create!

I also knew there is a plethora of design talent in the Charleston area, so I wanted to come up with a way to stand out. I loved the idea of color consulting. I knew the impact that paint can make in a room. But I also know there is so much to understand with undertones, light exposure, and the style of an existing home. I started with taking online courses about color theory. Truly taking a deep dive into the world of color consulting. I use what I learned to help my clients better understand what colors would work in their homes. Just because a client may love the color blue, doesn’t mean they should go and paint their entire home shades of blue. Each color has an undertone, and truly those can make or break a design.

Once I had my concept down, I was ready to start creating my logo, templates, and anything else I needed. I named my business after my two daughters, Palmer and Laney. And I made the logo in a red tone since it’s my son’s favorite color. Having my kids be a part of my business was important because they are my inspiration and my definition of feeling like I am “home,” so it only made sense to have them all a part of me starting this journey.

What should our readers know about your business?
My story is pretty unconventional. When I was 10 years old, Trading Spaces just premiered. My mom and I would watch it religiously. I was fascinated (and sometimes horrified) at what they could do with a room and $500. This led to, luckily, my mom indulging in my constant wanting to paint and rearrange my room.

Fast forward, I graduated Kent State University with a degree in Public Relations. After I had my first baby, who was a premie and in the hospital for the first 3 weeks of his life, I just could not bring myself to go back to work. So my husband and I just figured it out. During that time, we bought four homes over the span of 7 years. I always wanted to make our homes cozy and inviting, but we were on a small budget. Going back to what I knew, I harnessed the power of paint, flea markets, and Facebook Marketplace.

Whenever we would sell a home, I loved getting feedback from the showing and Realtors, about how they loved my designs and the feel of our homes. Friends and family started noticing too; they would ask for my input in their homes. But it wasn’t until my husband (and best cheerleader) gave me the push and confidence I needed to make Palmer Lane a reality. I decided to start with color consulting, but clients would ask if I could also help with design. So, I came up with the concept of product sourcing, mood boards, and curated lists of purchasable items. I thought with helping clients with color selection and product sourcing, I could hand them the blueprint to create that cozy, cohesive feel they were after. But, they could do it on their time and when their budget allowed. To me, a lot of people don’t have the budget for a full blown renovation. I wanted to be able to give them all the tools they needed, but could be done when they were ready.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting for the week, here are some of the musts I would do. First would take them to the beaches. Our favorite is Edisto Beach, because it’s very quiet compared to some of the other beaches. It has a great laidback vibe as well; it’s impossible to not be relaxed while there! Not to mention, the abundance of shark teeth!

Some of the other must see attractions would be walking the Battery, lunch at Griffons for fish and chips, and of course checking out the Downtown Market. I would take them to Cypress Gardens (which is so dreamy), brunch at Shem Creek while hopefully seeing some dolphins come in with the boats. I would end the week in Downtown Summerville, since that’s where we live. Ice House is always a hit, and they have some of the cutest boutiques and home stores; Cotton Down South is a must!

I also think there is beauty in enjoying the peaceful nights at home. We live on an acre of land, and some of our best nights are around a fire, and enjoying the stars (Charleston has some of the best clear nights for star watching)!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This shoutout is dedicated to my husband, kids, mom, and mother and sister-in-law. All of them believed in me, encouraged, and inspired me, and did their best to take away the doubt when I was so nervous to launch.

Instagram: @palmerlane_designs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550019371234

Other: Google Business Page: g.co/kgs/86ucbq2

Image Credits
Headshot- Marly Viviana Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSouthCarolina is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.