Meet the Blogger: Getting to Know Rising Star A. Keith Powell (Part 2)

Yesterday, we chatted further with A. Keith Powell of A. Keith Powell Interior, who was recently honored as a Star on the Rise during DCOTA's Stars of Design Awards. Here's more from Keith from our afternoon spent getting to know him better.

GDG: What was your experience like at the Stars of Design awards and being honored as a Star on the Rise?

AKP: I feel quite honored being chosen as a 2006 Design Star and one of the 2012 Stars on the Rise recipients. It's an honor to be recognized by my peers.

GDG: What have you been busy with recently that you have been particularly enjoying?

AKP: One of my favorite projects this past year is a loft apartment I am just finishing up for a lovely German woman. She is terribly sophisticated and wanted, literally, a Faberge egg to live in! So I gave her a completely modern mix of modern elegance with many layers of luxurious textures covering every surface. The results are more spectacular than I could have imagined. I am looking forward to having it photographed this month.

GDG: Can you share a fun fact about yourself?

AKP: I have many collections, most of them in storage as I am living in a much smaller place at the moment. But one thing that I will never give up no matter how small my quarters, are my books. I have hundreds and hundreds of coffee table books on subjects ranging from photography to design, classic cars, architecture, and dogs!

Stay tuned to GoDesignGo for more from DCOTA's Stars on the Rise!

DCOTA ‘Star on the Rise’ A. Keith Powell (Part 1 of 2)

We recently spent some time getting to know a few of the awarded Stars on the Rise from DCOTA's Stars of Design Awards, and Alexander Keith Powell, who goes by Keith, is first up. Keith’s company, A. Keith Powell Interior, of Miami, is what keeps him busy these days, but Alexander has been in the design industry for more than 18 years. In all that time, he has made sure that his boutique firm is a success.

A native of Los Angeles, Keith grew up with an exaggerated imagination of the real world. His mother, an animation director at Disney Studios in Burbank, would bring Keith to work with her on the weekends. This allowed him to live in the reality of having Snow White and Goofy as babysitters.

Keith moved to Fort Lauderdale to study marine biology at a local university. After realizing he was more of the creative sort, he took a job working for Ralph Lauren in the display department.

On his career switch, Keith noted: “I found I had a real talent for putting things together.” Within two years, he started his own display company and soon after acquired Ralph Lauren as his first freelance client at the request of the company president.

Over a short period of time, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Calvin Klein, and Gianfranco Ferré followed as clients.

Stay tuned to GoDesignGo tomorrow to learn what Keith’s design mantra is and how his company eventually got started.

Save the Date: Making a Man's Den

International Design@DCOTA isn't forgetting the men's needs this Summer. Every man needs a retreat, and this seminar will help with all the things necessary for the ultimate gentleman's den.

DCOTA Design Services Director Alex Matamoros and A. Keith Powell of A. Keith Powell Interiors bring you the latest trends in the gentelmen’s den. Learn a new twist on the bachelor pad for the high roller that appreciates all the big boy toys.

A reception to immediately follow at Judith Norman in Suite A-250

The event takes place July 20 at 11:00 a.m. at the DCOTA's B Atrium. For more information visit http://www.dcota.com/#/special-events/.