43. Quin Gwinn: How She Made Her Mark as an African-American Woman Interior Designer https://i0.wp.com/nachesnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/S78043-pin.jpg?fit=740%2C900&ssl=1 740 900 Naché Snow Naché Snow https://i0.wp.com/nachesnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/S78043-pin.jpg?fit=740%2C900&ssl=1 January 28, 2018 August 26, 2026

43. Quin Gwinn: How She Made Her Mark as an African-American Woman Interior Designer

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Quintel Gwinn studied interior design in college and worked for several major furniture and architecture firms before deciding to start her very own residential design company. Her ability to handle technical and conceptual work, as well as creative concepts, sets her apart in her industry and provides her clients with an unmatched experience.

She discusses her initial challenges with learning the business aspects of entrepreneurship and finding cultural resources and support in a field that seemed less diverse than others. Quin also delves into her customer base and how her role as an interior designer extends beyond providing services to high-end clients to filling a need and making interior design accessible for everyone.

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Currently pursuing her master’s in interior architecture
Came from a very technical background in commercial work; worked for a commercial firm focused on community-based spaces
Quin explains the technical and conceptual work aspects of planning spaces
We discuss how cultural differences regarding accepting or rejecting careers in the arts
Worked at large and small architecture firms while in school
Found a black architecture firm to work for in her hometown of Atlanta; discussed how rare it was and is to find a predominantly African-American firm or to hear about black architects being discussed in courses
When she was laid off, she decided to move to Charlotte, NC, and start a residential design business
To get her name out in Charlotte, she did a lot of networking with designers, and she shared her work on Instagram
She discusses the normalcy of her life, saying “she’s a wife with three kids and five younger siblings.”
Instagram and Periscope were instrumental in helping her acquire clients
She discusses the transition of going from going 9- to-5 to a full-time entrepreneur
Things she had to figure out before becoming a full-time entrepreneur were (1) maintaining (2) getting new work (3) handling business; those things included:
- Developing a process for how she worked: onboarding new clients, invoicing, sending updates, emails, putting together good contracts
- How to handle an increase in workload: networking and putting herself out there
85% of her business is new construction builds and renovation
95% of her clients are African-American; her clients are looking for someone to help them develop their style personally and culturally; she feels she’s able to fill a need
The industry (interior design and architecture) struggles with representation
“Design should be for everyone” – Quin
She implemented CEO Mondays
- sends weekly updates to clients
- invoicing
- business-related administrative tasks
- doesn’t schedule appointments for that day
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: client meetings, field visits, site observations, showroom visits, material selection, etc.
Friday: schedule is open; tries not to schedule work and reserves time for family
TIP for introducing color:
- choose a pop of color
- add it in threes (i.e. vase, rug, and a frame)