Today we’d like to introduce you to Liberty Riggs.
Hi Liberty, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up surrounded by art and interior design, but my path to it as a career was not necessarily linear. My grandmother worked for years in the Corbett Lighting showroom at Dallas Market Center, and she was constantly redecorating her own home. I like to say I learned everything I know, from upholstery to up-dos, from my two southern grannies.
I left Dallas as a young adult and studied art history on the East Coast, and subsequently spent a decade as a creative director in advertising agencies before finding my way back to Texas and my first love of decorating. In 2020 I got serious about decorating my own home, photographed it and launched my business. It’s grown steadily since then and we’ve now completed projects across five states.
We recently rebranded, and our firm’s new name, Morrison Gates, is a combination of my two grandmothers’ maiden names. I love paying tribute to them and the way they continue to inspire me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Interior design and decorating is a tough business, especially if you immediately start your own firm rather than working under someone else. There are so many logistics and systems that you have to figure out, and ultimately, those aspects are even more important than your design skills. When I first started out, I felt like I was reinventing the wheel with every new client or project, and it was exhausting.
In 2022, I invested in a training program that helped me create really efficient and streamlined systems for my projects. It’s been a night and day difference in terms of our client experience.
We’ve been impressed with Morrison Gates Design, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Morrison Gates is a nationally recognized interior design firm based in Dallas and working with clients across the U.S. Our small but mighty team specializes in what we like to call Clean English℠ style – our version of the English-country aesthetic but with a crisp, modern edit.
We find our joy in creating spaces that bring people together and sourcing pieces that will go on to be future family heirlooms. As I like to say, I love pretty things, but only if a baby can crawl all over them.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
The pandemic completely shifted how most people think about their homes and, consequently, about the value of interior design. Our clients come to us already, understanding that spaces need to be multi-functional. I think it also really helped people get honest about how they actually live in their home versus how they imagine or might wish they lived. Personally, I learned how to be effective working remotely which has allowed us to more easily take on projects in other parts of the country.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.morrisongates.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morrisongatesdesign
Image Credits
© Morrison Gates, LLC
