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Photo by Sarah Dills
Kamren Colson1
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Photo by Sarah Dills
The home/office at Grassy Run Farm
"Rural modern" is the phrase Colson has coined to describe the design aesthetic of Grassy Run3 of 22
Photo by Sarah Dills
Dining area and kitchen
This area often serves as a meeting area for clients visiting the farm for the day. Guest chefs prepare meals in the vintage kitchen, while the custom-built, oversized round table serves as an ideal meeting location.4 of 22
Photos by Sarah Dills
Vintage Kentucky postcards
Colson is proud to call Kentucky home. He often reminds clients of Kentucky%u2019s world-class heritage.5 of 22
Photos by Sarah Dills
Vintage touches
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Photos by Sarah Dills
The bar area at Grassy Run
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Frosted cocktail glasses
"When I bring these out, they always start a conversation about where people are from, where they've been and where they'd like to go," says Colson.8 of 22
Photos by Sarah Dills
Stylishly organized
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Retro timekeeping
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Plants and found objects
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Kentucky libations
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Mixing old and new
Antique pieces and family photographs are at home in Colson's modern abode13 of 22
Photos by Sarah Dills
Le Corbusier chaise lounge
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Cooly industrial bathroom
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Shower stall with crisp-looking subway tile
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Photos by Sarah Dills
To the studio ...
Colson placed a theatre rope at the landing of the staircase leading to his office as a reminder to take some time off when the rope is closed.17 of 22
Photos by Sarah Dills
No-attitude gratitude
Colson's greeting card line (noattitudegratitude.com) is packaged by NorthKey Community Care and a portion of the proceeds from each box goes directly to the non-profit organization.18 of 22
Photos by Sarah Dills
Vintage toy vending machine
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Vintage toy vending machine
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Grassy Run's canine resident
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Photos by Sarah Dills
The tools of Colson's trade
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Photos by Sarah Dills
Art meets business
Kamren Colson has an affinity for turtles. He walks the banks of Grassy Run Creek collecting turtle shells and pays homage to the creatures with decorative touches throughout his home. “I’ve been known to regularly rescue them off the side of the road and bring them with me back to the farm,” Colson says of his quasi-turtle release program at the stream flowing behind his home.
Turtles may seem only slow and easygoing, but they also are resilient, having survived the last 230 million years partly because of their multi-purpose, protective shell. It provides shelter from the elements and protection from predators—all while being visually interesting, with unique markings and coloring.
In a way, Colson has done the same thing: created a house, safely resting on the shores of Grassy Run, which serves not only as his stylish home but also the location of his business, KCD Inc. Multidisciplined Creative Source.
Colson was raised on the 118-acre Grassy Run family farm in Grant County, where his mother taught him an appreciation for the arts, and his father was nurturing and protective. “My mother was a visionary artist,” Colson remembers. “And my dad was a model of resourcefulness.”
He left home to pursue a creative design career in Boston but moved back closer to home when his father became ill. “My father took care of me growing up,” Colson says. “I couldn’t leave him in his time of need.
“I remember someone telling me that returning to Kentucky was the biggest career mistake I would ever make, and that became a healthy motivation for me to prove them wrong. Ultimately, I think it’s given me so much. My business is based on relationships, and when clients hear that I value family and loyalty over career, I think it lets them know that they can trust me … that I will take care of them, too.”
When Colson first moved back to Kentucky, he settled in Covington so he could be close to his parents but also close to Cincinnati to develop his business. “I was a one-man show at the time,” Colson says. “I was cold-calling people, asking if they were looking for design work. It was very difficult at first.”
After his father passed away, Colson realized he needed to move even closer to his mother to help with day-to-day activities. He’d always loved Grassy Run, so he decided to make the family farm both his home and the office for his design firm, which has grown to include business manager Kelsee Lanich and designer Adam Greber. “I knew it would sometimes be challenging to work from home and still maintain time for myself, so I intentionally designed the first level [of the home] as my living space and the second level as the studio,” Colson explains. “I even installed a stanchion rope at the base of the staircase to try and remind myself to take the weekends off work.”
Knowing clients would be traveling to his home, Colson was very deliberate in creating an atmosphere that would reflect his personality. “We like to call the environment we’ve created here ‘Rural Modern.’ ” Colson and Greber even collaborated on a website, ruralmodern.com, which showcases photographs from the farm highlighted by soothing sounds one might hear on a typical day in the country.
Colson’s vision has proved successful. Not only do his clients appreciate his nostalgic, family-first approach to life, they want to come experience it themselves. “We host clients at the farm as an alternative to the urban experience,” Colson says. “It gives them a nice change of scenery and sets the stage for creative exchange among strategic decision makers, in a tranquil atmosphere.”
KCD works with a broad range of clients, including Procter & Gamble, Nine West Group, Scripps and the USC Shoah Foundation. But the agency has received the most attention from its work with The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. For the past eight years, KCD has been commissioned by the Academy to work on commemorative materials for The Oscars.
Despite all of the accolades associated with such well-known clientele, Colson enjoys projects that give back to the community. “I am an only child, so Big Brothers Big Sisters has always been a great organization in my eyes,” Colson says. “It has been our privilege to provide creative support to one of the founding chapters of the Big Brothers Big Sisters movement for more than 17 years now. I’ve always tried to work and partner with organizations that change the world for the better.”
Colson often reflects, with no regrets, on his decision to locate his international agency in rural Kentucky. “Kentucky is a world-class state,” Colson says. “It’s unparalleled in horse racing with the Kentucky Derby; can pour the best Manhattans on the planet with its bourbon; and Fort Knox has been entrusted to secure a significant portion of the world’s gold.
“We’re just drawing inspiration from Kentucky’s world-class track record—delivering world-class design work from tucked away on Grassy Run farm.”
No-Attitude Gratitude
“I’ve frequently had writer’s block when it came time to do thank-you cards,” Colson admits. “I’d often toil with finding the right words to express myself and would think, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a fill-in-the-blank thank-you card?’ ”
Colson designed a greeting card with more than 2,900 fill-in-the-blank combinations that can transform the card into anything from an invitation to a thank-you note. “These cards give people a jump-start when time and creativity are of the essence,” Colson says.
When looking for a way to give each set of note cards a unique touch, KCD reached out to NorthKey Community Care to help with the hand-assembled packaging.
NorthKey Community Care, a United Way agency partner based in northern Kentucky, offers assistance to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Programs are designed to help these people meet their full potential in life. Adult day training services, such as packaging the No-Attitude Gratitude cards, help these individuals maintain gainful employment. Cards are available for purchase on Amazon.com, and a portion of the proceeds from each box sold goes directly back to NorthKey Community Care. noattitudegratitude.com