In 2021, an unprecedented project unfolded in Utah: The House That She Built. Led entirely by women across every trade and profession, the home was designed, constructed, and furnished through the efforts of women who came together from across the country to prove what was possible. Despite the challenges of a global pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and an ambitious Parade of Homes deadline, the house was completed in just nine months.
For Kimberly Parker, Owner and Principal Interior Designer of Kimberly Parker Design, and Founder of Four Stripes, the experience was transformative. Serving as the lead interior designer on the project, Parker worked alongside five other designers, coordinating design efforts, sourcing donated materials, and leading portions of the home’s design and furnishing.
Beyond the project’s technical accomplishment, the deeper impact of The House That She Built continues to resonate across the industry.
A simple phrase spoken during the project has stayed with Parker: "The rising tide lifts all ships." That spirit of collective progress became a guiding principle for her work in the years that followed. As Parker explains, "When we find a better way, sharing it makes us all better. This project wasn’t just about building a house. It was about showing what women can accomplish, and how raising standards can shatter glass ceilings for women throughout the interior design industry."
That mindset became central to the development of Four Stripes. After decades of seeing firsthand the operational gaps that often challenge interior designers — from construction coordination to builder communication to business management — Parker set out to build something new: a business platform designed specifically for interior designers, informed by real project experience.
The lessons learned on The House That She Built reinforced the importance of collaboration between designers and builders. Four Stripes reflects that approach, giving designers a clear roadmap to prepare builder-ready deliverables, anticipate construction needs, and eliminate many of the miscommunications that often lead to delays and costly changes.
By addressing both the creative and operational sides of design work, Four Stripes helps design firms run stronger businesses, while improving how they collaborate with construction teams. In Parker’s words, "When designers provide the right information at the right time, projects run better, builders are happier, and clients see better results."
While The House That She Built captured national attention for its groundbreaking approach, its long-term impact is still being written through the work of those involved. For Parker, that impact includes a personal mission to raise standards across the industry, give designers the business structure they need to succeed, and improve the working relationships that drive successful projects.
"Four Stripes exists because of the lessons I learned through projects like The House That She Built," Parker says. "The more we share what works, the more we lift the industry together."
