Future business partners Krista Nye Nicholas and Tami Ramsay met in the unlikeliest of places: the comments section of a Pinterest post. “We started following each other, and ultimately discovered that we were both in small college towns—myself in Athens, Georgia; Krista in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We were both practicing independently [as designers], and started utilizing each other as resources, and very quickly discovered that we had tons in common,” Ramsay tells host Dennis Scully on the latest episode of The Business of Home Podcast. “We had a similar level of intensity and a deep love of textiles and pattern and color that ultimately led us to go to a design conference together out West.”

After the conference, the two decided to go into business together, and Cloth & Kind was born. “I came home from that trip and told my husband, and felt like I was admitting that I’d had an affair. Basically followed someone, met someone, and [now] we’re going into business together. It was kismet,” says Ramsay. The two opened a joint design practice, using their different skills as a springboard (Ramsay had worked in critical care and Nye Nicholas in publishing before they pivoted to design) to build a thriving business over the last decade. They recently rebranded their interior design business to Ramsay Nye to differentiate it from their showroom.

The duo continue to run the Cloth & Kind multiline showroom in Ann Arbor, which represents artisanal textile lines, lighting and furnishings across 12 Midwestern states. “When we were actively working as designers, it became pretty evident to us that there was an unmet need in the Midwest in terms of boutique showrooms, and specifically an underrepresentation of a lot of these artisanal lines that we loved so much and had been using in our projects,” says Nye Nicholas.

In addition to having a passion for representing these boutique lines, they were not impressed by the customer service at other large showrooms in the area. “I was buying a lot of artisanal textiles from the one or two showrooms at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, and every time I called up there, they were like, ‘I’m sorry, who are you?’ Nobody called on me. Nobody sent me new things,” says Nye Nicholas. “We just thought, ‘We can do this with kindness. … We’ve got to go meet people where they are. Not just going to see them once a year—really showing up for them.’”

Crucial insight: While Nye Nicholas remains based in Michigan and Ramsay still lives in Georgia, the duo view their geographic separation as a strength. They started their company meeting on Google Meet, working on projects collaboratively, and whoever was closer geographically would be the boots on the ground. “Certainly, when Covid hit, we felt really well prepared because our whole team at that point was already used to working virtually,” says Nye Nicholas. “We have two great offices—two really amazing teams … but we function very much as one team. We collaborate together, not on all projects, but as needed. When we take on very large projects, oftentimes the whole team goes in and collaborates, so it’s an asset.”

Key quote: “I think that both of us approach life with a very genuine curiosity and an openheartedness, an open-mindedness. It just naturally made it easy for us to be ourselves with each other. It was honestly like falling in love, when you meet somebody and their energy matches yours,” says Ramsay. “Our energy was a lot. I mean, we’re a lot, but our a lots liked each other. It felt like we had always known each other, and the conversations were effortless.”

This episode is sponsored by Loloi. Listen to the show below. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The Thursday Show

Host Dennis Scully and BOH editor in chief Kaitlin Petersen discuss the biggest news in the design world, including the latest on tariffs, a first look at the summer issue of BOH magazine, and a designer podcast that puts clients in the spotlight. Later, Bernie de Le Cuona joins the show to discuss her brand’s big move.

This episode is sponsored by Loloi. If you like what you hear, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.