UK Alumna Creates Dream Spaces Across the Country

By Meg Mills, Amy Jones-Timoney, and Kody Kiser Dec. 7, 2018

Video produced by UK Public Relations and Marketing. To view captions for this video, push play and click on the CC icon in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. If using a mobile device, click on the "thought bubble" in the same area.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 7, 2018) — Everyone hopes for success after they graduate from college, but for University of Kentucky alumna Liz Toombs, this success became a reality.

A Louisville, Kentucky, native, Toombs came to UK for an undergraduate degree in merchandising, apparel and textiles from the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. During her time at UK she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.

After graduating from UK, she began working for a local countertop manufacturer selling countertops to homeowners, builders and designers. Toombs soon joined Decor & You, a franchise who helped customers with their interior needs. During this time, she became a certified interior decorator. In April of 2009 she started her own company called Polkadots & Rosebuds Interiors which she rebranded in 2017 to PDR Interiors.

“I feel so fortunate to do creative work that I love every day. Our clients mean the world to me!”

Toombs's company soared when a fraternity at UK reached out to her for help with their house, and from there her company has thrived on word of mouth and referrals.

PDR has reached 25 states extending from California to Florida, and has also done work in Canada. This includes model rooms for four UK residence halls. They offer services in interior decorating for homes, businesses and the Greek community. PDR's work can range from consulting on a project to managing it.

Besides her professional accomplishments Toombs has set up a scholarship opportunity within the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Having lost a parent herself, Toombs created The Mary Estes Memorial Scholarship available to any student who has lost a parent to cancer.

Toombs also finds her interns as well as her employees from UK. Both of her team members, Erika Wilhelmi and Megan Hall, are UK alumnae.

"I enjoyed and am very grateful for my time at UK. There are so many small things that affected me there. I met my husband there, but the Greek experience has shaped me the most. I've come full circle from Greek life in undergrad to my professional work. Everyday UK is in my life."

View the video above to learn more about Liz Toombs and the impact her UK experience has had on her career.