Meet Kate Dawson

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Dawson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Well… accidentally. Like a glitter bomb went off in the middle of a financial crisis and suddenly I was covered in throw pillows and purpose. (But let me back up.)

I’m a performer. Always have been, always will be. There’s nothing like the rush of telling a story that connects people to their humanity… to each other… to themselves. So when people used to tell me, “You should be an interior designer!” I’d kind of smile politely like, “oh, no thanks—I’m dedicated to the stage.” But the joke was on me, because storytelling is exactly what design is. It just took me a minute (and a very difficult season) to see it.

We were going through a major financial hurricane – WAIT!! WHOREicane. I needed to bring in some quick cash, so I started selling skincare online… because desperate times, desperate serums. I hosted a party to promo it, and we were living in this little rental I’d zhuzhed up on a serious budget (think TJ Maxx meets Estate Sales meets hope and hot glue). And EVERYONE who walked in was like, “Wait… WHO decorated this place?!”

I was like… me? and uhh… Craig’s List?

That night, a friend pulled me aside and asked if she could hire me to decorate her office. I said yes (because duh, I was looking for income from ANYWHERE… well, almost anywhere)… and it ended up changing everything. I poured myself into that office makeover, posted the before and after pics on Facebook, and suddenly… BOOM… my inbox blew up. People were obsessed. That one job turned into another… and another… and before I knew it, I had a business. I just had to name it something that felt like me: a little irreverent, a lot of fun, and totally unapologetic. And thus, Decor Whore was born.

But here’s the thing… I didn’t realize at first just how meaningful this would be. Clients started telling me they felt happier, lighter, more themselves just by being in their newly designed spaces. That it changed the way they moved through their days. And I felt that too! When life was falling apart, decorating… even on a tight, DIY shoestring… saved me. Creating beauty gave me joy when I was drowning in sadness, stress and uncertainty. And now I get to bring that joy to other people? Every day? As a JOB?! It still feels surreal.

Of course there were plot twists. (Always.) I was terrified to start a business. I didn’t think I was “that kind of person.” I had all these old stories in my head about not being good with money… or not being “professional enough.” But guess what? Those were just stories. So I rewrote them. I devoured books on entrepreneurship… joined women’s business groups… and surrounded myself with brilliant, badass women who cheered me on every step of the way.

And now? My life is this wild, colorful blend of creativity, connection, chaos, and purpose… and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

So how did I find my purpose?

By saying yes when I was scared… by trusting the path even when it didn’t look like a “career”… and by realizing that storytelling doesn’t just happen on stage—it happens in every room I help transWHOREm.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I help people fall back in love with their spaces. Plain and simple. (But also not plain because I’m a “more-is-more” kinda gal… but that being said, it all comes down to WHAT the CLIENT wants – not what I want.)

I run a slightly irreverent (mostly through puns), joyful, a little bit “extra” interior design business called Decor Whore… because let’s be honest… I’ll do anything for great design and great pricing… not to mention a good before-and-after set of pics too! I believe your home should feel like you… like a reflection of your personality, your quirks, your favorite memories, your wildest dreams. Whether I’m reimagining a tired rental, zhuzhing up a soul-sucking office, or fully transWHOREming someone’s forever home, the goal is always the same: bring beauty, love and laughter through the story of the space.

Because design isn’t just about furniture and throw pillows… it’s about feelings. It’s about waking up and saying, “OMG I live here!” It’s about creating beauty—and sometimes that means ripping up floors, and sometimes it means just putting your Grandma’s mirror in a better spot. Whatever it is, I want my clients to feel joy. Every. Single. Day.

The most exciting part of what I do? Watching people shift. Like, actually shift. When the space around you changes—especially when it finally feels aligned with who you really are—it’s like something unlocks. People move through the world differently. That is pure magic.

And speaking of magic… I’ve got some new tricks up my sleeve!

~ I launched a juicy little monthly membership called The Whorehouse (yes, I said what I said), where members get exclusive behind-the-scenes content, design tips, DIY ideas, shoppable mood bWHOREds, and all the secret sauce that goes into my client projects. It’s like having me in your pocket—but less weird.

~ We also recently rolled out new design packages so folks can work with me in all kinds of ways—whether you need the full red carpet treatment or just a “one-night stand” with your living room layout. ; )

So yeah… that’s me. Creating joy. Making homes fab. Turning Craigslist chaos into curated cozy. And reminding everyone that beauty matters… and that design can be soulful, funny, irreverent, and deeply healing.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

First up… organization. I spent 7 years as an executive assistant at a Fortune 500 company, and let me tell you, if you can wrangle a C-suite’s schedule, you can wrangle anything. That job taught me how to manage chaos, how to think ten steps ahead, and how to keep a million plates spinning without letting any crash. Do I still occasionally double-book myself? Sure. (I’m human.) But that foundation of structure and discipline gave me the confidence to run my own business without completely losing my mind.

Second… tenacity. Being an actor and singer is its own entrepreneurial adventure. It’s auditions, rejections, hustling for gigs, networking, constantly learning new skills… rinse, repeat. That world taught me to keep at it and at it… and at it. To listen, to pivot, to show up even when the odds felt impossible. That tenacity? It carried me straight into Decor Whore. Because whether you’re waiting for a callback or waiting for a client to finally decide between two sofas, the lesson is the same: persistence pays off.

And third… self-awareness. Specifically, knowing what I’m not good at. This one is HUGE. Early on I thought I had to do it all… accounting, marketing, social media, client management, bookkeeping… oh, and design. Spoiler alert: I cannot do math and keep my soul intact. So I learned to figure out what I do well—and then hire someone else to do the rest. Delegation is not weakness… it’s freedom. It’s how you create the space to actually focus on your genius instead of drowning in the stuff that drains you.

My advice for folks just starting out?
Learn the basics of organization so you’re not reinventing the wheel every day. Flex your hustle muscle… because showing up consistently, even when it feels like no one’s watching, is the secret sauce. And for the love of all things holy… stop trying to do everything yourself. Hire, barter, outsource, beg a friend… whatever it takes. Because the sooner you let go of the stuff you hate, the sooner you’ll actually have the energy to do the work you love.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

LeukemiUGH. (Yes, that’s what I call it.) I was diagnosed on March 6th… and on August 8th I had a bone marrow transplant. I’m still in recovery… healing at home in what I now call my F-U Cancer Room. I just re-wallpapered it with with a paper covered in hot pink lynxes because if I’m going to stare at these walls, they scream strength, power, and resilience! Every time I walk in, it feels like a battle cry.

My son was my bone marrow donor (talk about a hero), and my husband and our community of friends have been my lifeline. Truly. Keeping it all together in the middle of this storm has been the hardest thing I’ve ever ever ever done… with more hospital stays than I care to count.

And yet—thank goodness—I had already built a great internal team. That has been everything. I’ve had to slow down my workload, which is NOT easy for me (hi, my name is Kate and I’m addicted to decorating)… but Decor Whore is still running. My clients are still being cared for. We’re taking new projects. And the magic is still happening, even if I’m not always physically in the room.

I’m also deeply, overwhelmingly grateful to my body. I have a whole new love and appreciation for her—for all her complexities, and for all that she does without us even thinking. It may sound a little kooky, but I think of my body as a dear friend now… someone I listen to, nurture, support, and thank multiple times a day. This body has fought so hard for me, and I am in awe of it.

And through this, I feel even more passionate about creating beautiful spaces. Now more than ever, I’m experiencing the healing nature of loving my home. It has been a source of comfort during these incredibly difficult months—proof that the spaces we live in really do hold us, soothe us, and help us heal. That truth has always been the heartbeat of Decor Whore… but now, it feels more personal than ever.

So how am I overcoming this challenge? Honestly… one day at a time. Sometimes one hour at a time. By resting when I need to rest, by accepting help when it’s offered, and by surrounding myself with beauty—even if it’s just a vase of flowers by my bed. And through it all, I’m holding on tight to gratitude… for my family, for my team, for my community, and for this incredible body that carries me through.

This journey has taught me that resilience isn’t about being unshakable—it’s about shaking, wobbling, crying, screaming… and then still finding a way to keep going. And trust me, I am going. In hot pink wallpapered style.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.decorwhore.com
• Instagram: @KateTheDecorWhore
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KateTheDecorWh0re

Image Credits

Photos of people: Carley Storm
Other photos: Kate Dawson