Thirty Under 30: Katie Sneed

By Donna Heiderstadt

You could say that Katie Sneed’s design obsession was decades in the making — even though the Owner and Lead Interior Designer at Franklin, TN-based K. Sneed Design is only 27 years old. It all started at age nine when her grandmother gave her an interior design computer game for Christmas. “I spent hours creating floorplans, both in 2D and 3D, and was just fascinated seeing what was in my head come to life on the screen,” she said. Katie also scrapbooked Pottery Barn Teen magazines, mixing different pieces together to create rooms on boards, and reimagined her uncle’s never-been-touched home on the nights she couldn’t fall asleep.

Naturally, Katie decided to pursue a career in design and earned her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Auburn University in 2018. Her first several years in the design world, however, were a bit topsy-turvy, with her initial stints in commercial, residential and hospitality design falling short of expectations. She took the plunge by starting her own residential design business on the side, with her parents and a neighbor as her first two clients. Then the pandemic hit. Amid so much uncertainty, residential remodeling suddenly boomed and K. Sneed Design blossomed. “I had 10 inquiries within 48 hours off my Instagram and word-of-mouth from my neighbor who had posted the kitchen renovation I had just completed,” she recalled. “The wheels started to turn, and I thought that maybe I could actually do this full time.”

By January 2021, Katie had quit her main job as her own projects took off. “I went from three projects, to eight, to 16 and up to 25,” she said. “Doubling my income within the first year and doubling that the next year, I had grown far past what I ever expected.” To date, Katie has worked with more than 50 clients — some are even on their second, third and fourth renovation projects — and she currently has a full-time design assistant.

What’s her secret? Strong relationships with vendors and contractors are at the core, but fulfilling her clients’ wish lists while also challenging her constantly curious designer’s eye is key. “I think each project is challenging me to try new things or pushes me to experiment with color, pattern and textures,” she said. “It’s always my goal for the client’s personality to show through, but to also know instantly that it’s a space that I designed.” 

Outside of work, Katie spends weekends watching Auburn’s sports teams compete and hanging out with her Great Dane puppy, Winston, who outweighed her at seven months old. She also fully envisions one day adding another title to her résumé. “I am thankful that I’ve gotten to hit so many career goals now,” she said, “so that hopefully I can be a mom while still running a successful business.”