Tell us about your journey into design! How did you begin your career as a designer?
My love for interiors started when I was young. I grew up with an interior designer mother who worked for a design firm in Georgetown (DC). She would work at her drafting table and I would pretend to draw floor plans next to her at a miniature drafting table. I graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Broadcast Journalism…if you saw my newsreel you’d know why I did not pursue this further (ha). I moved to Atlanta and quickly realized I belonged in the design world and not the newsroom. I got hired on by Carter Kay Interiors where I worked for almost 6 years. My first week on the job was a huge lake house installation up at Lake Burton and Carter and Nancy packed enough wine for a month. I immediately knew these two would be fun to work for and the rest was history. I was so fortunate to learn from Carter and live just a few blocks from ADAC where I was constantly immersed in the design world. I moved to Nashville in 2019 with my husband and got a job with Rachel Halvorson Designs. I got to work on some really fun projects during my time with her -from all around Nashville to Alys Beach- and my experience working for two different firms was invaluable. After our son Charlie was born in 2021 I started my own business and working for myself has been so rewarding. It’s been really cool to see a few full-house renovation projects I’ve worked on from start-to-finish come to life and be able to say “I did that house”! Sometimes it’s easy to doubt yourself when you work solo and then other times I’m like “oh that looks pretty dang good- I guess I do know what I’m doing”! 🙂
Your (designer) style icon:
Heidi Callier, Chauncey Boothby, and Palmer Weiss are some of my favorites. I have an admiration and appreciation for both Bunny Williams and Mark Sikes and love implementing more traditional elements in my designs inspired by them.
Where do you look to find inspo:
Everything English! My husband Austin and I took a trip to the Cotswolds and London in 2022 and I was completely inspired everywhere I looked. Ever since I find myself incorporating English elements into my designs- from using my favorite Morris & Co. and Robert Kime wallpapers/fabrics to deVol lighting/hardware and Farrow & Ball paint colors. I recently purchased a painting for my studio by UK artist Rosie Harbottle that I love. When I’m not traveling and in the office, I always reach for one of Gil Schafer’s books first when I am looking for inspiration.
Can you give us a glimpse into the process of bringing this beautiful bathroom together?
The wallpaper served as our starting point. I knew I wanted to do something whimsical and blue for the two boys (Field and Henry) that live next door to me and share this bathroom. I had seen this wallpaper on a trip to ADAC and was saving it for a little boy’s room. We painted the vanity and beadboard Benjamin Moore Thousand Oceans and used a mix of aged brass and polished nickel fixtures.
The design brief:
Wallcovering: Borderline “Star” color Midnight Blue
Paint Color: Benjamin Moore “Thousand Oceans” #1645
Sconces: Signature No.1 wall sconces by Mark Sikes for Hudson Valley (in Aged Brass) with shades from Pooky
Mirror: Serena & Lily Lanai Rattan Mirror
Fixtures: Signature Hardware Pendleton widespread bathroom faucet in Polished Nickel; also Signature Hardware Pendleton shower faucet
Accessories: Rejuvenation Ladd towel ring in Aged Brass (and cabinet pulls, tp holder, hooks also from Rejuvenation)
Weezie: Gingham Starter Pack
Before you go…
Favorite Weezie item?
The Kids’ Cover Up in the summertime! It’s perfect for going to and from the pool or beach and Charlie looks adorable in it. My husband would say the makeup towels- because our white towels no longer have my foundation all over them.
What are you reading?
Does Moms on Call count? This is about all the reading I have time for with a 6-month-old and 2.5-year-old. 🙂But reading more is one of my New Years resolutions!
Who are you following?
@laurenliess (design), @meganstokes (lifestyle), @louiseroehome (design), @themisfithouse (design), @hunterbellnyc (fashion), @maryorton (fashion/mom humor), @rderavenel (lifestyle), @houseandgardenuk (design)
What’s next?
I have a few new projects I am excited about here in Nashville! I just started working on a 1940s craftsman house in the historic Belmont neighborhood and have a few other local projects I’m looking forward to get going on. I’m also catching my breath after finishing a renovation of my own last year (and having baby #2 in July). We added on a new screened porch, built a new garage with carriage house above to use as my studio and a guest bedroom, updated our den/mud room, and did a complete overhaul of our backyard/patio. It was so worth it but I was at my max managing this plus multiple other large renovation projects all while being pregnant/with newborn. Outside of work, I am looking forward to traveling more in 2024. Trip planning is my favorite hobby (if I wasn’t an interior designer I would love to be a travel agent) so I am excited to do a bit more of this in the coming year. I am headed to Harbour Island for one of my best friends’ weddings next month and excited to be with all my UGA girls. And we have plans to take the kids up to Nantucket this summer and then hopefully a joint 35th birthday trip with my husband to the Amalfi Coast.
Recent interiors splurge:
Les Indiennes wallpaper for Lily’s nursery…not the most cost-effective choice (ha) but her room is just what I’d always imagined for my little girl’s nursery. And Charlie’s custom hand-painted chair for his birthday by Tess Newall. It is the most precious thing I’ve ever seen and I already know what Lily will be getting for her 1st birthday. :)
Recent interiors steal:
I scored this sweet little bamboo shelf (in photos below) at Gaslamp Antiques for Lily’s nursery and pretty sure it was like $150. I also love frequenting Patina here in Nashville for antiques. Their prices are reasonable and I have picked up several great pine chests there. Bonus points if I can fit them in my trunk and not have to pay for delivery. :)
Photos by Caroline Sharpnack
Painting above shelf by Renee Bouchon
