Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Shea Cartusciello.
Hi Emily Shea, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Columbus, GA in a community that really celebrates creativity, so from an early age I could see a future for myself in the arts. I studied business at the University
of Richmond, then worked for a residential designer before earning my MFA in Design
from Virginia Commonwealth University.
After graduate school, I moved to Dallas to join a large multinational design firm,
Perkins&Will, specializing in healthcare design. I loved the scale and impact of that
work and spent 12 years with the firm, all while continuing to take on residential projects
on the side.
When my first son was born, my “side” business really started to gain momentum. At the
same time, our family was looking for more flexibility. It felt like the right moment to trust
the portfolio I’d been building and launch my own practice.
My years in a high-pressure architectural environment were invaluable. They
strengthened my problem-solving abilities and reinforced my confidence—whether
addressing a complex design opportunity or navigating an unexpected challenge during
construction. Those experiences continue to guide my work today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
During graduate school, I had the opportunity to speak with Susan Ferrier, a wonderful designer in Atlanta, about her career in design. I will never forget her sweeping her arm
and saying, “You have to be able to visualize the arc of your career.” In retrospect, the
road feels relatively smooth, but in real time, it was difficult to know when—or
whether—to take the leap and leave a corporate job I genuinely cared about. There
were certainly moments when I could not see how the path would unfold, but that
perspective helped to give me direction, even when the timing felt uncertain.
Separately, and I think this is true for a lot of creative solo practitioners, is the challenge
of managing the business itself. Even with an undergraduate business degree,
balancing the operational side while simultaneously doing the creative work is
consistently demanding. No one opens their own design practice aspiring to be a
bookkeeper, accountant, and logistics manager—but inevitably you find yourself
wearing all of those hats. Learning to navigate that balance has been an ongoing part of
the journey. I’m very fortunate that my wonderful husband is also in the industry and
loves the operational side of the business – his experience and wisdom ease this
burden immensely.
As you know, we’re big fans of Well Rooted Design. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Well Rooted Design is a full-service interior design firm, and while I work on all types of projects from small styling projects to ground up new builds, my true love is space
planning and renovation. My work is largely centered in Lakewood, where my family
lives, as well as in Highland Park, with a focus on revitalizing older homes in a way that
honors their architectural era while supporting the realities of modern life.
What I enjoy most is solving the puzzle of a home—understanding how my clients live,
studying the existing structure, and discovering what the house wants to become. My
background in healthcare design involved a lot of highly technical and rapid space
planning, so it’s second nature to me to see instant possibility within a space.
I’m most proud if someone walks into a finished space and feels that this is how the
house always was- ideally, they shouldn’t notice my hand at all. The house should feel
specific to its own era and to its owners – I’m just there to connect those pieces and
polish the edges a bit.
Equally meaningful is the trust I’ve established with repeat clients – I believe that design
is a long process of collecting and refining. When I am able to be a part of a home and
family’s evolution over time, it is really special.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as using my talents to contribute positively to the world. My talents don’t lend themselves to anything particularly profound, but I find pride in helping my
clients create homes that bring joy, authenticity and a little bit of functionality to their
lives. We tell our boys, “give more than you take,” and I hope that my work in some
small way improves daily life for my clients – if I can do that, I feel successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wellrootedllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellrooted
Image Credits
Mallory Shelton Photography
