When Jen and I talk about Cultural Entrepreneurship we define it as where Arts & Culture, Business & Technology and Social Impact overlap. Through this platform of 100 Conversations we often seek out the artists and nonprofit organizations that are helping to change and shape conversations, but just as important are the for-profit small businesses in the creative industries. Enter Artistic Environments where co-founder and interior designer Janet Carpenter will refreshingly say, “anything for a buck design” with a smile and a laugh.
Growing up in a creative household seems to be a shared experience for many of the artists I talk with and Janet is no different. Her mother was a design scout for interior design magazines. Janet grew up helping on photo shoots for Better Homes and Gardens, and other interior design publications. Seeing first hand the technical and artistic skills of the photographer and photo stylist (a.k.a. Mom), and the need to focus on budget for the paying client, the magazine.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Janet attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA. She got her first job working for a family-owned interior design business. While she learned a ton about interior designing in the real world, she saw that there was a limit to how far she could advance in a family owned company. Janet saw a potential to work for clients that were too small for her present employer, so she and a colleague, Kathy Weber, took the jump and launched their own interior design business focusing on these smaller clients. With the blessing, referrals, contacts and good working relationship with their former employer they launched Artistic Environments 32 years ago.
In order to diversify their revenue streams as well as highlight the wildly different but wildly complementary skill sets of the two partners, they concentrate on both commercial and residential clients. As Janet explained, “I concentrate on the commercial side working with construction teams doing multi-family housing, offices, lobbies and public spaces. Kathy concentrates on our private residential clients who love her and her attention to detail. The splitting of the workload has it’s advantages as we are able to pivot quickly and adapt to changes in the market.”
Initially founded with a desire to promote environmentally sustainable products, Artistic Environments was a bit ahead of the curve as there was limited product on the market and often too expensive for their clients' price points. Now however, with the industry mirroring the demands of society there is a robust selection of sustainable and environmentally conscious materials on the market.
Six months into Covid19 Janet is speculating on how office spaces will reinvent themselves. “The hipster open-office with long shared tables, game rooms and coffee bars that I have been installing for the past several years are a Covid nightmare.” While the committee is still out on how and when office places will be remaking themselves, she is always looking forward to new products and design ideas.
Janet keeps inspired by creating her own art. As a working artist she is inspired by color combinations, advertisements, and other peoples’ work, “My subconscious is always looking for designs in patterns. Also, taking on-line art classes during COVID helps keep me thinking and seeing the beauty even in our troubled world.” In addition, she spends time with her side hustles of selling her original artwork on Society6 and Saatchi Art, and her vintage and collectable shop, Studio Mustang Sally on ETSY. Janet’s refreshing take on her art work is really about how her art will go out into the world and how much revenue it will make.
Building an artistic life that pays the bills is a constant hustle but when right sized can have welcomed benefits. Thank you Janet for your inspiration and honestly.
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