Carey Reid Kirk Interior Design opened in Manhattan in 1986, preceded by nine years of education and training with New York's design elite. His introductions around the Park Avenue and Third Avenue design community eventually led to an invitation to decorate for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House. Carey's interest in residential interiors grew from his work in retail interior design and merchandising, with that design path culminating as Visual Merchandising Director for Lord & Taylor Fifth Avenue, Boston and Chicago. Despite his success in retail interior design, he found residential work greatly more satisfying through making personal clients happy in their homes; his first residential clients were newly married husband and wife executives from Lord & Taylor, who insisted on commissioning him for their first home together. They understood Carey's experiences in retail design, participating in cross functional teams of designers, tradesmen and merchants, translated perfectly to renovating and decorating residential spaces. It proved to be the perfect first project. His New York clientele taught him the necessity of delivering his designs on budget and on time, and of course their high-level interest in design and decorating allowed for a high level of creativity- very inspiring and encouraging for a young designer.

As Carey's business grew so did the complexities of conducting business in Manhattan. While he enjoyed the business of running the business, in addition to the creative aspects, his interest in keeping the business simple by keeping it a small, client to designer interaction, led him to return to Washington, D.C. which he considered his adult home, and where private designers were preferred. To keep the company small and easy, (and personal) Carey decided to take clients on a referral basis only, also an easier avenue in Washington. Over time the referrals expanded the locations for his projects from Delaware to Florida, and Boston, Manhattan and Chicago. After a comfortable span of solid business, he took a sabbatical for two years to work for the U.S. Department of State. As a Senior Designer Carey worked with Ambassadors and their embassies around the globe, helping to make their work promoting the policies of the United States more comfortable, more like home. It was an extremely rewarding experience, contributing in a small way, by serving his country.

As a result of his multi-discipline resume, the goal of Carey Reid Kirk inc. is to interpret for the individuals, to successfully reflect the clients and their lifestyle in their residence, both interiors and exteriors. Carey's overriding style is one of multi color/texture in well woven layers, even if to be a tone on-tone room. The rooms can be formal or casual; regardless, they must be enduring and timeless in design. To quote Mrs. Murray Douglas of Brunswig & Fils, "good design is forever".