OUR STORY

Krista and Heidi’s story of friendship begins at school! They were both teaching in elementary school classrooms when they discovered they had a mutual love and interest in design and DIY home projects. The moment Krista told Heidi she is always dreaming up the next project for her home, Heidi knew they were going to be great friends. 

Eventually, they discovered they both attended UCA and studied Interior Design, so in many ways, their life paths were similar: a love for teaching while finding time to improve the spaces of their homes through design and function.

In 2021, Krista was contacted by the local contractor who completed her home remodel the previous year. He remembered her love and talent for design while collaborating on her project, so he sought her help with a new project: a kitchen + bathroom. She immediately called Heidi to request she jump on board this opportunity. K+H Collaborative had secured their first project on Hummingbird Lane.

They dusted off their old tools from their courses in interior design and started dreaming + sketching.  When their first project was completed later that year, it felt like their passion, education, and excitement for this profession collided all at once. The joy of the design process sparked something in them, and thankfully, one project led to the next!

They continued working with local contractors on reworking floor plans, choosing tile, paint, hardware, and more, all while teaching full time, learning new design services, and navigating a budding business.

Over the past years their “only a side hustle” design business has continued to grow from reworking floor plans to becoming a full service design company. Krista + Heidi work on various sized projects: room refreshes, helping clients select new lighting, hardware, or custom framing art, as well as designing a home from start to finish.


ABOut Heidi

  • Heidi’s love for creativity started when she was young. From crafting with her mother to working in an art gallery in college, her passion for art and design has always been a part of her life. 

     After graduating from the Interior Design program at UCA, Heidi interned in Little Rock. She moved to Chicago where she continued to work in design.  However, her life path soon shifted, and she received her Masters in Education to began her teaching career.  After living in Chicago for 12 years her family decided to put down roots in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2019.

     In 2021, when Krista asked her to jump on board for a new design project, her love of design reignited. From that point on, both Krista and Heidi were designing homes, all while being full-time educators.

    Life threw a curve ball in October of 2023 when Heidi was diagnosed with breast cancer.  In order to focus on her health, she took a step back from teaching. 

    In the fall of 2024, a leap of faith found her designing full time, focusing on growing K+H as she continued her breast cancer journey.

  • When she is not designing, you will find her with her husband Matt and her two active boys: Cooper and Linus. Being the mom of boys, Heidi is well acquainted with the active lifestyle of games, practices and simply being on-the-go.  In their free time, they love being outdoors, whether it’s attending the farmer’s market, gardening, traveling, hiking, riding bikes… the list goes on. Heidi is a believer that the outdoors is nurturing for the soul.

  • Heidi loves to design to the client, because she understands that everyone has unique interests and style. She is personally drawn to a mixture of flavors + elements from various styles…eclectic!  Whether finding one-of-a-kind pieces at a thrift store or collecting heirlooms, she loves to learn the story behind the piece.  

    Some of her favorite design elements: patterned wallpaper ; pops of color; wood, pottery and brass details; fresh flowers in a vintage vase; plants (bring life and are therapeutic); vintage pieces; meaningful art; rugs with texture and patterns

ABOut Krista

  • Krista dreamed of being an interior designer since she was a teenager. During sleepovers with friends, she would rearrange and redecorate their bedrooms. While other kids her age had their Teen Beats, Krista was flipping through home decor magazines!

    She took two years of interior design courses at the University of Central Arkansas where she was a cheerleader—Go Bears!— before transferring to the U of A and changing her major to education.

    She taught in the classroom for eleven years, which is where she met Heidi! They instantly clicked and became fast friends. In the summer of 2021, after remodeling her own home, she got a call from the contractor of her project asking if she would be the designer of a remodel he was working on. She called Heidi and got her on board, and K + H Collaborative was born!

  • Krista is married to Paul, who is a teacher + coach in Springdale. He coordinates the middle and junior high soccer program for Springdale Public Schools and is an amazing mentor and role model for his students.

    They have two boys, Jack and Knox. Jack is thirteen and is their force of nature! He followed in dad’s footsteps as an avid soccer player. He is a social butterfly and never meets a stranger. Knox, age eleven, is the kindest, smartest, and funniest kid you’ll meet! He loves rock climbing and mountain biking. Together, they stay busy!

  • Krista is a math coach by day, and her love of number and pattern give her a sharp eye for all things design. She loves to help people envision what their space could be!

    Playing with scale, pattern, color, and texture to bring spaces to life brings her so much joy. Her personal style is marked by unexpected heirlooms and antiques mixed in with contemporary pieces.