{"id":56147,"date":"2021-07-15T19:03:05","date_gmt":"2021-07-15T19:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lovehappensmag.com\/blog\/?p=56147"},"modified":"2021-07-15T19:03:07","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T19:03:07","slug":"empowered-women-empower-meet-camille-clifton-of-pompadour-dc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lovehappensmag.com\/blog\/2021\/07\/15\/empowered-women-empower-meet-camille-clifton-of-pompadour-dc\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowered Women Empower: Meet Camille Clifton of Pompadour DC"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In this edition of Love Happens\u2019 Empowered Women Empower<\/a> series, Janet Morais, founder and CEO of KOKET<\/a> and Lh, poses a series of inspiration-inducing questions to Camille Clifton, founder of Pompadour DC. Through her Metro-DC-based office and Aiken, South Carolina Cafe & Boutique, she offers interior design, short-term rentals, delicious food, and beautiful home decor. Camille is also the author of a Covid-19 relief photo book called HIATUS. Be empowered!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meet Camille Clifton of Pompadour DC<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Camille<\/a>
Camille Clifton in her Aiken, SC Boutique<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Janet Morais: The tagline for KOKET is \u201clove happens\u201d. I am a \ufb01rm believer that you cannot achieve any level of success without love. When did your love affair with design begin? And how did it make you feel?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Camille Clifton:<\/strong> The love affair with design developed during my childhood by osmosis. My father was a US Diplomat and his assignments took us to a myriad of countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in of\ufb01cial residences every 2-3 years, meant, of course, a new home, design and architecture, and living as a quasi-local.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By virtue of this exposure at such an early stage of my life, it truly set the tone for my background and in\ufb02uences in everything that I do and is the essence of who I am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we were living in Moroni, the capital of the Comoros Islands, I was 8 years old and I remember being mesmerized by the call of prayer and the splendid Old Friday Mosque that stands tall on the edge of the Indian Ocean. I truly believe that\u2019s where it all began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My parents having to ful\ufb01ll their representational duties were constantly out to events, and when I had the house to myself (staff was there, so not totally alone), I would have a feast with my bedroom rearranging furniture and decorating. Often, I would accompany my French mother or our Chef to the open markets, and while they shopped fresh produce, I would venture off to the craftsmen and observe how they would manipulate natural fossil pieces and woods with very simple tools in making beautiful works of art. My eyes were peeled to them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And you are correct, love is an essential ingredient with a sprinkle of passion!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Interior by Pompadour DC<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Janet: Pre-Covid the design industry was often unrealistic and \ufb01lled with unsustainable expectations. The last couple of months for me were a time of re\ufb02ection and resolution. What changes have you made in your company and personally? And tell us about your recent book!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Camille:<\/strong> The foundation of any business must be at its core, to be \ufb02exible and versatile. Being relevant is crucial to its success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \ufb01rst eminent change to my company was to cease hosting our clients in our short-term rentals in McLean and Tysons Corner, Virginia. Our clients are predominantly Business Executives and Diplomats coming to the area for meetings at their Headquarters or Missions. With Covid-19\u2019s arrival and lockdown, travel was canceled. Our protocol was for our Clients\u2019 and Team\u2019s safety and health remaining our top priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Covid hit and we had a shutdown, it was surreal. My creative juices were ripe and I had an urgency to document the silence, fear, emptiness, unknown and got in my car and drove around, and shot photographs of Washington, DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had been chatting with former high school classmates from Germany, that were scattered all around the world. We were an emotional support group. Some were in Italy, where Covid was hit really bad and the idea came to me to do this book, not only as historical documentation but as a means to help, by having proceeds of the sale for charities and foundations. (Global Giving, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Doctors Without Borders, Conegliano Solidale Italia). The book is called HIATUS and the photographs are in black and white, to emphasize the historical content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"hiatus<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Janet: I saw on your site you are taking a break from your \u2018casual luxury short-term rental\u2019 business, but I am very intrigued by this so can you tell us about it and why you decided to hit pause on it and focus your attention on interior design?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Camille:<\/strong> The pause button was only caused by Covid, as mentioned above, but soon we will be hosting again with a very different approach. I believe that our Clients will love our new concept and what we are working on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interior Design is an extension of the short-term rentals, as all of our units are designed and decorated by me. Focusing on Interior Design appeared as a natural transition for me to continue to offer my creativity and services. As more people spent more time at home, the need for Interior Design is signi\ufb01cant and I\u2019m here for it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n