Your Design Business Questions, Answered

Last month, we shared a snapshot of an upcoming event with O’More College of Design, the alma mater of our fearless leader, Paige. After graduating, Paige is proud to continue supporting the school (which is now part of Belmont University) through continuing education, student events, a designer show house, and more. 

In March, Paige had the opportunity to serve as a panelist for a Kravet Student Design Workshop, which focused on fabrics, finishes, & furnishings, influences, innovation, & inspiration. All things Paige is most proud to discuss! 

If you missed the event or you’re interested in going behind-the-scenes with Paige, we’re sharing a snapshot of thoughts and takeaways from the panel. 

Are you a student exploring careers in design, or a budding designer ready to take off? We’d love to chat.

Q: How did you get people to understand the value of design? 

A: This has always been a big eye opener for me. When I first started networking, I learned that most people don’t know the role an interior designer plays. Honestly, educating on what we do and how we fall into the building/construction phase is still a struggle, but it’s an incredibly important part of the job. 

Q: What is the first conversation you have with a client? 

A: First and foremost, we talk through the design process and how long clients can expect the project to take. We have a really clear, mapped out design process to help set expectations. 

Q: What is currently inspiring you? 

A: I draw inspiration from industry publications and creators. I especially love Architectural Digest and other design magazines, browsing materials from F. Schumacher & Co., and following fabric accounts on Instagram (I LOVE fabrics). 

Q: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self? 

A: Stay true to your values and why you wanted to be a designer in the first place. I enjoy helping people live a better life in their spaces, and I also love problem solving. I enjoy residential design and I love using color and patterns to attract and inspire clients. 

Q: What is one thing you know now that you wish you had known when you started your business? 

A: You can’t wear all the hats. Find other professionals you trust to do the part of the business that isn’t your strong suit. Shine where your skills are best served! 

Q: How has Nashville evolved since you’ve been in business? 

A: We’ve watched communities grow all around Nashville. What started with new homes has now turned into Airbnbs and short-term rentals downtown. Renovations are huge in my business, since many people are wanting to stay put in their existing homes but need to make it functional for their families. 

Behind the Scenes: O’More Show House

Our fearless leader, Paige, celebrated her birthday in February, so we’re throwing it back and spotlighting her full circle design journey. Paige graduated from O’More College of Design in 2009, and had the opportunity to work on a show house for the college a few years later. The house featured stunning details centered around subtle pops of pink: this month’s Color of the Month! 

Check out all the details of the stunning house below.

Get to Know Paige

Paige Williams is a Nashville native–a unicorn in the area with so many flocking to town daily. After graduating from O’More, she worked in a residential design firm for five years before taking a leap and going out on her own. Paige Williams Interior Design was born in 2014, and since its inception, has grown to include two full-time designers, plus Paige and a design office manager. Through every project since, Paige’s love of fabric and bold color have continued to be a theme for clients. 

Paige lives with her two fun-loving cats, Nessie and Hershey. She loves mountain biking, the color teal, and is a Swiftie at heart. By building and designing her own home in Bellevue she can appreciate the custom building and emotional process that her client's go through with their families through her personal experience.

The O’More Show House

Paige was thrilled to support her alma mater through the 2016 design show house. The historic Franklin home features 22 spaces designed by top local designers, including Paige and her fellow O'More College of Design alumni. Take a look at the Paige Williams Interior Design-branded touches and pops of pink – all inspired by walking down the streets of Franklin on a warm spring day. 

Continuing Education

We’re thrilled to continue supporting O’More, which is now housed under the Belmont University umbrella. This month, Paige will participate in the Kravet Student Design Workshop at Belmont, serving as an expert on residential design. The event will kick off with a pre-reception on February 28, followed by a panel on February 29. Paige will join other designers to discuss the topics of Fabrics (a PWID specialty!), Finishes & Furnishings, Influences, Innovation & Inspiration.

Are you a student considering a career in design, or a fellow O’More graduate hoping to get involved? We’d love to chat!

Takeaways from the 2024 Antiques & Garden Show

Each January, downtown Nashville’s Music City Center sees a stunning transformation when the Antiques and Garden Show rolls into town. The event has been going on since 1990, benefitting Cheekwood and Economic Club of Nashville Charities and inspiring homemakers, gardeners, and designers ever since. This year’s show at the was as impressive as ever, as it was modeled after an antique china pattern and featured Ina Garten as the keynote speaker. 

Our team had a blast exploring the show’s spotlight on antiques, art, and horticulture. Check out some of our takeaways! 

Show Takeaways

We were blown away with the displays from talented vendors that were set up around the show. Here are some of our favorite pieces. 

Cheekwood Botanical Garden set up elaborate floral displays throughout the show. 

This stunning tablescape has us ready for spring.

Have you been to Cheekwood Lights? You may recognize these illuminated trees-–this version is modeled after a cherry blossom. 

Antiques

As its name suggests, antiques are at the heart of the show. This year’s theme revolved around a china pattern called Queen Victoria by Herend, which was originally introduced at the First World Exhibition in London in 1851. We would certainly call that antique! Despite its age, this Chinese-influenced pattern is still stunning today—the true definition of timeless. 

The Herend Queen Victoria pattern.

Our team at Paige Williams Interior Design has a soft spot for antiques, and we love adding in pre-loved pieces through each of our projects. See how we incorporated heirlooms into this recent redesign! 

An antique leather chair ready for its new home. 

A stunning brass champagne bucket from England.

Garden 

The Herend Queen Victoria china pattern prominently features butterflies, so it was only fitting that they were incorporated everywhere, and the hosts took the task literally by adding an interactive butterfly garden to the show floor. Needless to say, we had a blast catching butterflies and exploring the breathtaking floral displays from Cheekwood. 

We left the show with a full suite of new ideas to carry us into 2024! Ready to tackle your renovation? Reach out

New Year, New Samples!

It’s that time of year: time to refresh and revamp everything from your workout routine to your meal prepping and your wardrobe in the name of resolutions. At the Paige Williams Interior Design office, that means an overhaul of our massive collection of samples we use to curate the perfect look for each of our client’s homes. 

From paint swatches to textiles and everything in between, pairing classic and innovative combinations together is one of our favorite parts of the design process. Learn more below! 

Swatch Selections

We love all of our vendor partners, from flooring specialists to paint pros and furniture makers. When we spend time meeting with each, we snag as many photos and physical samples as we can to piece together the perfect look for our clients. With our team attending design shows both in our own backyards and around the country, you can imagine these samples add up! 

We recently visited the Happy Feet flooring showroom in Chattanooga to check out the latest and greatest options in the world of flooring. We love how our selections came to life in this jaw-dropping beauty salon makeover

It can be difficult to pair different patterns, textures, finishes, and fixtures together to create a cohesive look, but we’re up for the job. A tip to consider when tackling your own project: bring in pops of color through one bold pattern, then pick a color you like the best to accent throughout the room.

Bringing Samples to Life

So we’ve curated a plan that looks perfect on paper, but how will those samples be brought to life? In our recent beauty salon makeover, the before-and-afters speak for themselves! We combined intricate wallpapers, bold pink, gold details, and even a feather chandelier to bring our client’s branding to life in a stunning way. 

When we sit down with a client and piece together samples, the expertise of our team will help the vision come together perfectly. From experience and education, we’re confident in knowing when to go bold and when to play it safe – all in a way that meets the individual goals of each project. 

Have a vision in mind? Let’s chat!

… And Then What?

With samples galore and, occasionally, excess materials from prior projects, we wanted to come up with a way to repurpose these pieces in a way that brings beautifully-curated design into anyone’s home. We’re thrilled to share an exciting announcement on the topic very soon! Stay tuned in the meantime. 

This Beauty Salon Got the Ultimate Makeover

Thank you to Reed Brown Photography for the stunning images!

While we love helping our clients make their house a home, we’re also eager to help business owners curate a space perfect for their professional vision and goals. That’s exactly what we did in partnership with MHD Beauty Parlor, a hair and makeup salon in Nashville owned by the fabulous Madison Hardy Dennis. 

From the moment clients walk in the door at MHD, the glamorous stage is set. Check out how we transformed a mundane office space into a sparkling oasis draped in pink.

From Drab to Fab

We’re always big fans of a good before and after, but this project proved to be one of the most shocking. Prior to MHD moving in, the office space gave major Dunder Mifflin vibes with neutral walls, drab floors, and clunky furniture. We’re always up for a challenge, though, and the results were anything but boring. Think: pale pink walls, gold accents, and a feather chandelier towering above it all (we’ll get into those details in a bit). 

Finding the Perfect Pieces

Every project begins as a blank canvas, and piecing together the perfect elements is our favorite kind of puzzle. For this project, we toured the Happy Feet International showroom and warehouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to find the perfect flooring for MHD: and we did! We’re proud supporters of the brand and have used their products in many projects to date. 

Check out these floors before, during, and after installation!

The feather chandelier is a natural focal point, a piece that stuns when added to the right space. We sourced this from Regina Andrew, and are thrilled with the result! 

Bringing Branding Into a Space

When your business revolves around beauty and femininity, it’s only fitting that the storefront should match. The MHD brand was marked by their sleek logo that included a pop of pale pink, and we wanted to create a space that would bring that branding to life. When you walk through the doors at MHD, you’re immediately greeted by a striking reception area wrapped in pink floral wallpaper, plush chairs, and a show-stopping welcome desk with a glittering light fixture above it. 

As you move through the space, we incorporated matching pink paint on the walls paired with gold accents through furniture, wall art, and accessories. If you bring your squad with you to your appointment, they can relax in a deep pink velvet couch that looks over the studio, topped by a stunning white feather chandelier. 

Every look created by the MHD team is Instagram-worthy, so we added a dedicated space for grabbing content after each appointment. This floral accent wall merges beautifully with the colors used throughout the space, but stands out with stunning shades of blue. To create a cohesive look, we added framed panels in the same print in the office.

Everyone Loves Pink!

While the MHD clientele is largely female, we’re happy to report that men love the salon space just as much as the ladies: at least, that’s what our contractors said! Most vendors we partner with, from painters to flooring experts, are men, and the unanimous feedback was that they love the feminine flair and pink tones used at MHD. Who wouldn’t?! 

If you’re looking for hair or makeup styling for a special event or occasion, we can’t recommend Madison and her team enough. Read all about the brand HERE and follow along on Instagram

If you have a home or office space in need of a makeover, reach out to us today!