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KCK
native hosts design radio show
By JOSHUA SEIDEN
Kansan Contributing Writer
As a young girl living in Kansas City, Kan., Karen Mills
dreamed of a future in interior design.
“That’s what I really wanted to do as a child,” she said.
“It wasn’t on television back then, but I just loved it.
I always knew I wanted to be an interior designer.”
Mills is now an interior designer with her own company,
Interiors by Design, Inc., as well as host of “Living Large,”
a one-hour weekly feature which airs on News Radio 980 KMBZ
at 1 p.m. Sundays and on Classical 1660 KXTR 10:30 a.m.
Saturdays.
Initially slated as a home improvement show, the program
has been tailored to Mills’ expertise, focusing on design
and lifestyle. Since launching in January, the program has
featured a broad array of nationally renowned home improvement
and design experts. Some notable appearances have come courtesy
of HGTV stars Michael Payne of “Designing for the Sexes,”
Sarah Richardson of “Room
Service,” Jennifer Convy of “Awesome Interiors,” Tava Smiley
of “I Want That!
Kitchens,” Angela Chee of “I Want That! Baths,” and interior
design author Chris Madden. Upcoming shows will feature
national celebrities such as Candace Olson of “Divine Design,”
and Christopher Lowell and Constance Ramos, formerly of
“Extreme Make over: Home Edition.”
After graduating from the University of Kansas with a bachelor
of arts degree in radio, television and film with an emphasis
in interior design, Mills designed and staged sets for local
television productions. However, Mills found her way to
the private sector, where she enjoys imparting her own design
wisdom upon others who share the same attention to detail.
“I want to be able to share a lot of my knowledge as a
designer with the public so they can learn to apply it in
their own homes,” Mills said. “There are a lot of secrets
designers use and I would like to share that information.
I’m trying to make design more accessible to the masses.”
So, how can one get the ball rolling on their own redesigns?
“Start with an item that you absolutely love, that is very
special to you, and design around that item,” Mills said.
Having lived in the area, Mills said she still has many
friends in the KCK, noting that design is beginning to “take
off.”
“I just love working with people in Kansas City, Kan.,
because they’re very friendly and down to earth,” she said.
“Everyone’s just very nice and helpful. It’s just a wonderful
environment.”
For aspiring designers, Mills offers some advice.
“Go to an accredited school and learn the basics. Then, get
an internship and just get out there and start doing it,”
she said. “There’s nothing like hands-on experience.” For
more information on “Living Large” visit the multimedia
online newsmagazine at www.entercomkc.com/livinglarge. For
information on Interiors by Design, Inc., visit Interiorsbydesigninc.com
or contact Mills at (913) 764-5915.
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