Get to Know Us
Take a peek into who we are and what we do.
We believe life and the spaces we live in don't have to be perfect to be wonderful.
Our Culture
As a team, we place a high value on our relationships with one another, with our vendors and tradespeople, and with our clients, many of whom we have the privilege of working with for extended periods of time on large projects or as repeat clients on multiple homes.
Our Philosophy
Honoring the past while giving it a loving nudge into this century is at the heart of all we do. Whether bringing an old home back to life or curating the perfect antique piece for a brand new home, we believe it’s the mix of past and present that makes spaces feel timeless yet fresh.
Our Aesthetic
We work within your design style, elevating it to its highest potential. We bring together the best of the past and the present to create timeless, comfortable, inviting spaces, both indoors and out.
Our Approach
We believe in nurturing and coaxing the beauty out of a space. By taking a thoughtful, meticulous approach to your project results in classic, comfortable spaces that stand the test of time, in both style and quality.
Meet Our Founder
Kim Kirby
KKID Owner & Principal Designer
For Kim, living beautifully means more than just having a well-designed home. With interests ranging from design, travel, and art (she loves to paint) to gardening, and horseback riding, she understands the full lives her clients lead.
With creative role models in her grandmother (an interior designer and artist) and her mother (a fashion stylist for Glamour Magazine and Ladies Home Journal, a set designer, and later, the owner of her own design business and retail store), Kim comes by her creative leanings honestly. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Textile Design and Art History, then went on to learn interior design at the Rhode Island School of Design.
After college, Kim worked for renowned Boston architectural firm, Benjamin Thompson & Associates, on high-profile projects like Faneuil Hall, Southstreet Seaport, and Ordway Theater, in addition to high-end residential projects.
In business for herself for over 15 years, Kim specializes in providing her clients with a boutique level of service and in bringing artistic depth to their projects. Her work can be seen in New England Home, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens, Boston Design, and other national and regional publications.
On the personal side, Kim is married to Jerry Kirby, owner of Kirby Perkins Construction. Jerry’s professional sailing has taken them all over the world for America’s Cups, Volvo Ocean Races, and various regattas.
Today, Kim is involved in the art communities in both Rhode Island and New York City, supporting emerging and seasoned artists. Together, she and her husband also support Star Kids, a Rhode Island and Massachusetts-based charitable organization that provides children of incarcerated parents an education in parochial and private schools.
Meet Our Team
Madeline Melchert
Architect
With a master’s degree in architecture from the University at Buffalo, Maddie is KKID’s go-to expert for our clients’ architectural needs, including 3D renderings, sketches, historic research, floor plans, and elevations.
With experience ranging from corporate interiors to restaurants to high-end residential projects, Maddie prides herself on listening to the clients’ needs and solving their design problems with creative ideas and solutions they never would have thought of on their own.
Growing up in the Adirondacks, Maddie takes much of her creative inspiration from the outdoors. Today, she lives in Bristol with her husband and their baby daughter, Evelyn.
Andy Phy
Assistant to the Designer
Prior to joining the KKID team, Andy worked in a retail art gallery and in the clothing design and manufacturing industry. And with a formal education in architectural design and art history, it’s no wonder he relishes his current role.
As Kim’s assistant, Andy’s tasks include helping to source materials, visiting job sites, reviewing project details, and facilitating changes when needed. He loves the creative fulfillment that comes from helping to create spaces people love living in, as well as the satisfaction of seeing a project through from start to finish.
When not at KKID, Andy is busy tending his orchard as an apple farmer.
Caroline Murphy
Director of Digital Marketing
Currently also a student at Providence College where she’s pursuing a degree in marketing, Caroline works closely with Kim to help communicate online the amazing talent and high level of service KKID offers to our clients.
Caroline uplifts the entire team with her bright, bubbly nature. She pours that energy into communicating with all our project partners and stakeholders, staying informed of the current events at KKID, and publicizing Kim’s beautiful work on KKID’s social media platforms while ensuring the privacy of our clients, as well.
Sharing the timeless, comfortable, and inviting spaces Kim creates with the world via social media is its own reward for Caroline. The fact that she also gets an inside look at projects as they’re happening is an exciting bonus!
Our Resources
In addition to our team, we frequently partner with Kirby Perkins Construction in Middletown, RI and their sister companies, Wetstone Millwork, and Hull Cove Design to meet our clients’ project needs from the ground up.
Having these resources at our fingertips means you not only benefit from having us by your side. You also have skilled specialists who are as devoted as we are to making your project a success.