Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Clingman
Hi Katie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’d be happy to share my story! My name is Katie Clingman and I’m the owner of a professional home organizing and unpacking business in Austin. My company is called Settled In Soundly because that’s how we believe everyone should feel in their home.
I grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, and originally moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas. I did a 6-year dual-degree program in architecture and architectural engineering because I couldn’t choose between the two, so I decided to do both, and UT was the only school that offered that option. I was also very fortunate to receive a scholarship through the Forty Acres Scholars Program, so my parents were thrilled about that!
After graduation I landed my dream job, a façade engineering role with Arup in Los Angeles. At the time, we were doing the construction detailing for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Museum in collaboration with Frank Gehry’s office. Our role was to detail the building enclosure systems, and if you’re familiar with Frank Gehry’s style of architecture, you can appreciate the challenges that involved. I spent a lot of time in AutoCAD, a lot of time doing 3D modeling to understand complex interfaces, and a lot of time trying to find material options that would fit the budget. Getting thrown into this high profile project taught me a lot about project management, building relationships, and the importance of proactive communication, all of which I’ve brought into my professional home organizing business.
I was in LA for 2 years, and then during the pandemic my husband and I moved to Boston so he could go to grad school. I kept working remotely for Arup, but with the time difference across the country, I started to have a bit more space and perspective to reflect on my career choices and options ahead. I realized that engineering was not going to be a good long term fit, so I decided to look for something else. I held informational interviews with professionals in tech, finance, consulting, and various other fields to see what options were available and what might be a good next step. As part of this process, I met a woman who had been a professional organizer for the last 15 years – before it became mainstream with Marie Kondo and The Home Edit – and I ended up working for her part time. She was wonderful and I loved the work, especially the satisfaction of seeing a tangible transformation in such a short period of time.
When my husband and I moved back to Austin, I thought about working for another organizer here, but I decided I wanted to take ownership of the entire client experience and create my own business. So that’s how Settled In Soundly got started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
While creating and growing my professional organizing business has been largely smooth, there have definitely been some bumps in the road. The learning curve of business ownership – things such as SEO, accounting, contracts, etc. – has been steep, but incredibly rewarding. I am fortunate to have a strong support system to guide me!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Settled In Soundly?
Settled In Soundly offers comprehensive professional home organizing and unpacking services in Austin and Bethesda. We specialize in helping clients smoothly transition into new spaces, whether they’re newly renovated, newly built, or simply new to them. We work in single family homes, condos, and apartments, focusing on maximizing space efficiently and setting up sustainable organization systems. As part of our services, we help clients find new homes for everything and think through the flow of a space, based on their lifestyle and routines, and map out solutions for them. We also handle the hands-on unboxing, putting things away, and adding labels. Clients simply get to enjoy their new space instead of worrying about how they’re going to fit everything inside!
We also offer comprehensive home organization services for busy families and professionals who are feeling overwhelmed in their current space. We guide them through our 5-step process to help them be intentional about what is in their homes and lighten their loads. Our goal is to provide clients with not only a physical transformation, but also a sense of relief and a new joy in their homes. As one happy client told me, “I’ve never lived like this before!”
Three factors behind what makes us different and why clients choose to work with us are:
1. Advanced digital capabilities. All that time in AutoCAD over the last decade or so has really paid off! We can create 3D models, as well as drawings, to help a client visualize how a space will look once it’s organized. For each space we work in, we create an organization plan with diagrams and an outline of what will go where and which products we’d suggest. For example, in a kitchen, we mark out where the best spot for silverware is, where serving pieces should go, where the coffee station is, etc. We review this document with the client and incorporate their feedback before we ever step foot onsite to do the hands-on unpacking/organizing. It’s something integral to our client experience, and helps get everyone on the same page and set clear expectations for the project.
2. Commitment to outstanding quality. Like many other design professionals out there, I absolutely loved playing with LEGO growing up. The LEGO motto actually translates to “Only the best is good enough” and that’s something I have adopted. Quality is so important to us, as is having clear communication and listening to a client’s wishes for their own home.
3. Unique design expertise. I am literally trained to see space differently! Having gone through architecture and engineering school, I understand design thinking, spatial organization, and circulation mapping. I bring a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of how people interact with their environment to my work as a professional organizer.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I love to travel! I have been to 30 countries so far, with New Zealand being such a favorite I decided to get married there. I’m looking forward to combining my love of travel and my love of organizing with the opening of our second location in Bethesda, Maryland. We also accept travel projects outside of Austin or Bethesda by request, so if you don’t live in those areas but want to work with us, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.settledinsoundly.com/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/settledinsoundly
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SettledInSoundly
Image Credits
Elyse Marie Photography
