The perspectives of Kris Nunn always reflect how she has used her extensive experience to develop philosophy and wisdom. While doing the interview for this story, it became apparent that to understand how Kris does “Design”, we have to understand how she sees the world, because for her, it all links together. Kris wants to know what her clients really want from their living space. She wants to help them reflect their identity and create the space the client wants the home to be for living in. Oftentimes, she needs to help them understand those elements themselves. Rather than building a “set” that will look nice on social media, she wants a beautiful space that functions well in daily life, and offers comfort and a sanctuary, as well as being beautiful. Kris often talks about innovation, creativity, originality, and intuition, how she does not want to just be a “purchaser”, buying things to fill the space. An example she offered was a chair with no table to put a cup of coffee or a book or a light to function by. That lone chair may look nice in a photo but doesn’t have a real purpose in daily life. The capabilities that Kris has as a designer go far beyond using space well. Kris has the vision to move walls or change ceiling lines to adapt the space on a fundamental level. She told me “A beautiful space doesn’t need furniture, but is beautiful on its own”. For Kris, “Design” includes architecture and reaches outdoors to the hardscapes and softscapes. With years of experience in high end project design details, Kris can drive a project to the ultimate completion of the vision she has arrived at by searching for the client’s needs. A conversation about “Design” with Kris clearly demonstrates her complete understanding of the process at a deep level. There is a flow to her thought process that is always going in a full circle beginning and ending with what the client wants. In any given segment of the process, she can comprehensively discuss the philosophy behind the choices. Just color alone quickly becomes a philosophy-based conversation that culminates in how it “feels”. Somehow, Kris is able to do all of this in a highly professional, concise, efficient manner full of pragmatism and common sense.
Article by Brent R. Fjeldheim
Photography by Leanna Joy Photography
Originally published in Bozeman City Lifestyle