Meet Karen Hockley

CMKBD, CAPS • Founder & Principal Educator

"I don't just design for a floor plan. I design for real life, because I've lived it."

My understanding of how a kitchen must naturally function didn't start in a design studio—it started when I was 14. After four years of high school home economics and 30 years as a stay-at-home mom, I have spent over six decades cooking, baking, sewing, wallpapering, painting cabinets, repairing drywall, and managing a home. That deep, practical, hands-on knowledge is the true foundation of every design decision I make.

With over 30 years working professionally as a Kitchen & Bath Designer, I've navigated every challenge this industry has to offer. In 2017, a breast cancer diagnosis forced me to step away from the physical demands of showroom design. But my passion for this craft couldn't be sidelined.

I made a deliberate pivot from designing kitchens to designing careers.

Over the last 8 years, I have poured my 60+ years of life and professional field experience into writing and teaching over 100 comprehensive masterclasses on Kitchen & Bath Design and 2020 Design software. My curriculum is so rigorous that I have authored 7 courses officially certified by the NKBA for CEU credits.

Now, I've built this school to offer my entire expert curriculum—unfiltered and exactly as I designed it—directly to you. My goal isn't just to teach you how to draw cabinets; it's to help you master your craft, increase your value, and build a career you are fiercely proud of.