Kelly Edwards was working a 9 to 5 job in corporate America when she came to the realization that it was not the place for her. In a spontaneous move, she packed her things and headed west, leaving The Windy City behind for Los Angeles—home to many home improvement and DIY shows.
More than 15 years have passed, and through hard work and persistence, Kelly has become quite the influential design and renovation expert. The crafty power tool maven has shared her knowledge with large audiences—including HGTV and STYLE Network viewers.
Now Kelly has teamed up with The Home Depot to help online celebrities revamp an areas of their home.
To get to know Kelly a little better, we asked her about her passion for interior design and how she learned to use all thosepower tools. Read on and let the design star inspire your next project.
How did you learn your home improvement skills?
My dad taught me a lot of the small stuff, and I also did a lot of crafts and DIY in college. Years later, when I started working on projects behind the scenes for design shows, I made sure to learn the tools as I went. If I didn’t know how to use something, I’d ask someone to show me.
What’s your favorite tool to use?
Nail gun. The first time I used it, it changed my world. I think it’s one of the greatest inventions ever.
What do you say to women who think these tools seem too challenging?
A lot of women assume power tools are difficult to use, but even learning to use a chop saw or table saw can be valuable. Women just need to try a tool once. I recommend starting with the basics: hammer, drill and nail gun. Once you’ve learned how to use them correctly, work up to the bigger tools.
How do you remain inspired with projects?
I like reading blogs and browsing Pinterest. Just looking at ways other designers have done living rooms or bathrooms really inspires me.
Can you share some of your favorite projects?
I live by the beach in a rental, and we have no plans to move any time soon. We redesigned the small kitchen for under $1,000, and now I love it. New countertops were installed and we changed out the floor.
I like projects where I don’t need to spend a lot of money, and instead like to think creatively. My husband and I had a large empty frame, so we decided to go to Home Depot, get a piece of cardboard and paint it with chalkboard paint. Then we took a picture of his sunglasses and placed it in a projector, tracing the image on the board with chalk. The result was art for our dining room that cost us around $10—and we made it together.
What do you love most helping others with home renovations?
I think the biggest way to empower women in the DIY space is with power tools. I love teaching women how to use them—and having them realize, it’s not as hard as they thought it would be.
