INFLUENCER DRIVE
WOMEN DON'T BELONG IN THE KITCHEN... BUT YOU’RE GONNA WANT HER IN YOURS Local kitchen designer recognized internationally By Kamryn Cusuman Photograph by Lively Creative Co.
Kitchens are living, breathing spaces. They hold more conversational secrets than any other room in the house. It’s where we invite family, friends, and even strangers to connect with us. And one of the most innovative and sought-after minds in kitchen design lives right here in Windsor. Markie Tuckett, 27, has never been a fan of following a traditional route. Her unorthodox approach bucks the trend of kitchen design in such a way that it’s earned her international recognition. As one of the most influential designers in North America, Markie uses social media to share her message with young people that the path to success looks different for everyone. “Social media outlets are a great way to showcase the possibilities to future designers,” says Markie. “That’s where the crowd is. Also it shows them that it’s okay to not go the traditional route of running a business.” Markie’s trailblazing way of dealing with problems and creating solutions has led to her entrepreneurial success. Markie created 38
her own job at Timber and Plumb after being unable to find a job in her field. She leveraged her own brand of intuitiveness and creativity to build her own company after she was frozen out of the industry.
customer base in the city, connect with her audience, make friendships, and help reach a younger demographic of future designers. “Social media is so incredibly powerful,” says Markie. “It’s one thing to post a beautiful “I looked around for jobs here and no one kitchen; it’s another to put yourself out there was looking to hire a designer,” she says. “So, as a business owner in ways that other people I said nobody wants to hire, that’s fine, I’ll do my don’t get to see.” own thing.” She soon became recognized by some No showroom? No problem! Markie’s of the biggest names in kitchen design. In clients prefer that she come to them. January 2020, Markie was named one of the Markie studied Interior Design at Georgian National Kitchen and Bath Association’s Top College. During a co-op placement she realized Thirty Under Thirty, as well as Design Hounds her niche for custom kitchen and cabinetry. For Kitchen Designer Influencer of the Year. several years she worked her way up, starting “I have big plans to speak to the younger out as an assistant designer and eventually generation,” says Markie, “and I hope to spark managing an entire design team. In January 2018, when Markie quit her job an interest in them to consider my line of work in the Toronto area and moved to Windsor, her as an exciting opportunity for them.” entrepreneurial dream was realized. Six months Markie is setting a table for young later, she launched Timber and Plumb—a designers and entrepreneurs to feast on a custom kitchen and cabinetry design company. banquet of her ingenuity and recipe for origiInstagram was a main focus of her nality. Pull up a chair. networking. The photography-centric social sharing platform helped her establish a Instagram: @timberplumb
