This feature originally ran in our Community Matters magazine.
Katie B. Kirkwood Architectural and Interior Design is a residential design studio in downtown Cullman. The studio officially opened April 10, 2026, and has since been carefully planning designs for each project.
Kirkwood told The Tribune, “We do everything from floor plans, full house construction documents, but we also had someone yesterday come in that just needed new curtains.”
Kirkwood said she can meet with homeowners and contractors to walk their sites. This opens the path for her design process and layout. Current house layouts and existing paint colors that clients prefer narrow down design revisions and updates, but Kirkwood brings more to the table than pretty colors.
She earned an architecture degree and an interior architecture degree from Auburn University, as well as a master’s degree in construction.
“I’ve always been super creative,” Kirkwood said.
She recalled wanting to be a pediatrician in first grade, but she had more enthusiasm about designing waiting rooms than treating patients.
“Kids are sick and they are sitting there miserable,” she said. “That’s when I noticed I focused on making the waiting room colorful as opposed to the actual practice.”
For customers who walk in and are in the beginning stages of a new build, she asks the fundamental questions: Do you have a land survey or topography map? Do you have a desired contractor?
“We trek through the woods and mark trees that need to be taken down, making sure that we’re inside property lines before we start laying out bedrooms and bathrooms,” Kirkwood stated. “We build an entire construction document.”
A standard document set includes the foundation, floor plans, roof plan and detailed elevations.
“Then we dive into the fun stuff!” she smiled.
This stage of the design process includes light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, paint, upholstery, cabinet hardware and all the details.
“On interiors I like to start with the conversation piece,” she said. “Paint is never my first selection because paint can be changed.”
Kirkwood emphasized that the art of design and craftsmanship is not a quick process and also not one that can be rushed.
“We understand our services are not cheap so we want to get it right the first time,” she explained. “We are designing spaces that directly affect the way our clients live so we really get to know our clients.”
She used nurseries as an example for determining design.
“We have to know all about the baby and what attracts their attention. However, we have to consider what space the mother feels comfortable in because they will be in the nursery probably more than the baby will be,” she said.
“The most enjoyable part of schematic design is when we have people we’ve never met before come into the studio and by the end of schematic design we know how they live and operate,” she shared. “Sure they want a pretty dining table, but if they are never going to sit at it, we have to make sure they have an island with comfortable stools because that is where all the conversation is going to be had.”
The design studio features a bold green that grabs your attention as you walk in. There is an array of samples for curtains, flooring and plenty of décor.
“I thrive in this chaotic studio,” Kirkwood laughed. “There’s lime green shelves, brown wallpaper and drapes of different fabrics. Though I know that, for someone else, this may induce anxiety.”
Kirkwood noted that the uniqueness of the studio doesn’t have to be the style that comes to your home.
“Our goal is not for our projects to look the same. We want someone to know Katie B. Kirkwood was the designer due to the details and thoughtful elements, not because it looks like our last project.”
For Katie B. Kirkwood Architectural and Interior Design, what the customer wants, the customer gets.
“Once we understand our clients, the pretty or decorative process is easy, but the primary foundation is all about understanding our clients’ wants, needs and interests so we can successfully design their spaces.”
Katie B. Kirkwood Architectural and Interior Design is located at 221 Third Ave. SE. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays are reserved for appointments only and the business is closed on weekends.
Call 256-339-4403 or email design@kbkirkwood.com to schedule an appointment. Follow kbkarchandintdesign on Instagram to find out more.
