Sharing our stories builds trust, deepens connection, and fuels the mutual evolution that lies at the heart of my purpose.
I’m Kelly King, a Georgia-born entrepreneur, artist, and space-maker raised by builders and business owners.
My childhood was spent immersed in the rhythms of my family’s general construction firm, while my artistic instincts took shape as a natural extension of how I experienced the world. That early blend of structure and sensitivity laid the foundation for a career rooted in design, development, and soulful entrepreneurship.
Over time, I’ve built a body of work that merges real estate, interiors, and storytelling—creating spaces and brands that hold beauty, intentionality, and emotional depth. What began as a passion for art and design has unfolded into a multifaceted career guided by intuition, personal healing, and a deep respect for place.
My Story
The Very
BEGINNING
1980’s
Kelly was born in Atlanta, Georgia, into a family of entrepreneurs who owned and operated a commercial construction firm. Her early years were shaped by job site visits with her father, afternoons spent doing accounting with her mother, and a deep immersion in business, building, and design. Summers on the lake, horseback riding, gymnastics, soccer, and art classes filled her days—but art was always her favorite subject and the clearest early calling.
Planting the
SEEDS
2005–2009
At Auburn University, Kelly earned a BA in art, focusing on ceramics, printmaking, drawing, and painting. She loved exploring all mediums and gravitated toward 3D sculpture and design, avoiding the BFA and Interior Design track because of its calculus and chemistry requirements. During this time, she also began exploring yoga, religion, and Eastern philosophy, which would go on to shape much of her personal and professional path.
A Serendipitous
OPPORTUNITY
2009–2010
After graduation, Kelly moved back to Atlanta to work in corporate marketing while pursuing a master’s degree. That same summer, she was accepted for a Studio Assistantship at Penland School of Craft, where she deepened her connection to the arts. In 2010, she took three weeks off to complete her yoga teacher training immersion at Asheville Yoga Center and fell in love with the energy and culture of the city.
A Move to
ASHEVILLE
2010-2012
Inspired by her experience, Kelly left her corporate job and relocated to Asheville. She began rebuilding her life through a mix of part-time jobs, yoga instruction, and work with local businesses. In 2011, she took a role with Carolina Bison and began to reconnect with her country upbringing and love for rural life. It was during this time she met Frank King. They married in 2012 and eventually moved to Charlotte, where they both held positions in large commercial construction firms.
The First
BUSINESS
2013-2016
As Director of Finance and Administration for a large commercial construction firm, Kelly helped grow businesses from the ground up. Inspired by this work, she realized she had the tools to build her own vision and, together, she and Frank began dreaming up their first real estate venture: a healing retreat center rooted in nature, wellness, and meaningful living. Drawing on their combined skills in construction, business management, design, and hospitality, they broke ground on Bliss Farm and Retreat.
Bliss is
BORN
2016–2020
Over the next four years, they poured their hearts into building and refining the property all while still working full-time. They hosted health and wellness retreats, tended animals and gardens, and held space for connection and healing.
Bliss Farm welcomed yoga and meditation groups, women’s circles, and even military healing retreats — an area close to Frank’s heart as a veteran. Eventually they went all-in and quit their full-time jobs as the business flourished.
Tragedy and
A TURNING POINT
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic halted retreat operations, yet Bliss Farm remained active as a short-term rental, and Kelly and Frank continued to support their staff despite the shutdown. Tragically, Frank passed away in 2020 following a long battle with mental health. The loss marked a profound turning point in Kelly’s journey.
The Beginning of
ABODE
2021
With the future uncertain, Kelly made the difficult decision to sell Bliss Farm and start anew. She launched ABODE — a vision that honored her past work while creating space for something new.
ABODE opened as a retail shop, design studio, and brand headquarters, offering thoughtfully curated home goods and design services.
More Space
TO GROW
2022
ABODE moved into a larger space on Biltmore Avenue, expanding its retail footprint and community presence. With growing clarity and demand, the business gained traction as a trusted name for elevated interiors and meaningful design in Asheville and surrounding areas. Kelly also become a mom :)
Clarity and a
PIVOT
2023
After finding renewed focus and clarity, Kelly made the intentional decision to pivot from retail operations and focus ABODE on its original heart: offering beautifully designed, turnkey homes to the Asheville market. ABODE Homes, ABODE Interior Design, and ABODE Real Estate became distinct arms of the business.
A Refined and
ALIGNED VISION
2025
Kelly and Ryan McCullough formally joined forces, ushering ABODE into a new chapter. Merging their shared expertise in construction, design, and real estate, the two have created a cohesive, multifaceted collective.
At the heart of the brand, ABODE Homes evolved into a living expression of their work — offering beautifully crafted, turnkey homes for sale or rent in the Asheville market.
The Realty arm is also evolving as they’ve begun to offer elevated, highly personalized real estate services, meeting clients with care, insight, and a deep understanding of home as a life-centered experience.
Alongside these offerings, they rebranded their Interior Design wing into “Spaces” by — a digital portfolio and visual archive of their design work, showcasing interiors that blend timeless form with modern warmth.
To round it all out, they began sharing their favorite rituals, lived experiences, products, and philosophies through the ABODE Lifestyle platform — truly anchoring the brand in their vision of authenticity, connection, and shared growth. These stories come to life through their podcast and editorial content, offering a glimpse into the intention and heart behind the way they live and create.
WHICH BRINGS US HERE
I am an entrepreneur,
an artist, a world traveler.
Kelly lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where she continues to cultivate deep roots through her relationships, family life, and creative expression. A devoted mother, she finds great joy in the rhythms of home life — balancing beauty, structure, and spontaneity with the ever-changing seasons of parenting. Whether hosting dinner for friends, planning the next adventure, or simply tending to her garden, she moves through life with equal parts presence and intention.
A lifelong lover of aesthetics and experience, Kelly is constantly refining the spaces around her, pouring her creativity into her current home with the same care she offers her clients. She’s an avid cook who draws inspiration from seasonal ingredients and time spent around the table. She’s also a member of several local food and wine clubs, and an active member at the country club, where she finds joy in walking the course with friends, conversation flowing as naturally as the landscape around her.
Kelly shares much of her learning and life practice through her podcast and storytelling, where she dives into themes of self-development, transformation, connection, and everyday rituals. For her, sharing lived experiences is a way to build trust, spark insight, and create meaningful conversation. Whether through design, dialogue, or daily life, she continues to explore the art of intentional living in all its forms.