Laksmi Lucky Lumpkin
I'm well aware that Laksmi, pronounced "Locks Smee", is an unusual name for being an East Tennessee girl. Laksmi is Sanskrit, an ancient language orginating from India. Laksmi is the goddess of wealth, luck, and good fortune. From early childhood I've been called Lucky. I am often asked if I really am "Lucky". The truth is, yes I am. I am incredibly blessed to be where I am today. I have had the innate ability to design since I was a child. Curating, painting, and reorganizing my mother's home and my friend's homes from 9 years old. I was always an independent child by choice and by circumstance. I became a young mother as a teenager which forced me to grow up quickly. My son Gabriel has been such a blessing to me despite the growing pains of having a baby so young. Prior to my pregnancy I left middle school enrolling as a homeschool student. At 17 I started college. It was difficult having a young son and pursuing my dream, but once I entered into Interior Design classes I excelled. It is truly my gift to design. I am blessed to have known it from an early age. Before I graduated from ETSU, magna cum laude, I married and had my second baby, a little girl we named Luna. By my mid 20's I had two children, worked full time and was completing my bachelors degree. In my last year of college I got my first big design job. An expansive room addition and kitchen remodel. I had already been designing smaller kitchens and bathrooms, etc but this was a real boon in my career. Life was starting to take shape. But plans rarely go as we had hoped. I graduated in 2008. As most of you know, it was a terrible year to be released into the workforce. On top of which I was newly divorced. Lots of change all at once! Over the next few years I gained knowledge by working in a tile store, high end furniture store then taking on as territory lead of 7 states for a couture Italian Leather company. I was chosen to be the Southeastern lead representitive and flown to Milan for training which was an exceptional experience. This led to the next move in my corporate carrer as a representative of an elite flooring company. I was on the road travelling every week. The job was demading, but I learned a lot about business and myself. All the time I was managing my territories I was still designing for my hometown of Knoxville; a bank in Turkey Creek, showhouse, restaurants, historic home in 4th and Gill, a mountain home, event center, you name it. I am proud that I was able to excell in numerous areas of my life and never gave up my hearts dream of Interior Design. It's truly incredible how much someone can accomplish if they really want to. I now own a home in West Hills, have an amazing boyfriend Jordan who is an exceptional ceramic artist, two wonderful kids that I am more than proud of and a Blue Heeler named Jules . Gabriel is currently in Tempe, Arizona starting training as a professional welder. My daughter, Luna who is 19 has begun her journey into jewelry design. She is an exceptional artist. Jordan has taken the leap to running his own ceramic art company, Butzine Ceramics. To date we have collaborated on two designs and plan on many more. He has made custom beer mugs for a restaurant design and is creating custom knobs and pulls for a kitchen design. So when people ask, "Are you really lucky?" Yes, I am! I am healthy, supported, have a beautiful home, so many people who love me, and a big beautiful garden. I run an amazing company that I am proud of. I am thrilled to be a independent female entrepreneur. I thrive in design and feel the most satisfied when I make others lives better through brilliant design. I hope to learn your story soon. Blessings,Lucky