Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Watlington.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story can be traced back to my childhood in Dallas. I was lucky enough to grow up next door to a family that I loved dearly and the dad was a custom homebuilder. Countless days were spent sitting at his drafting table sketching and imagining what my “dream home” would look like. I also grew up with a mother who was always adding to our home and loved antiques. It wasn’t until our family built our own custom home that I really fell in love with the design process.
When it came time for college, I looked back and realized I always gravitated to creative projects in school. That’s when I decided to study Interior Design at Texas Christian University. There I was able to explore the vastness of the industry through two internships – both shaped the designer I am today. The first was with renowned Wilson & Associates where I learned how to create amazing interiors at scale. The second was for the small and highly successful residential designer, Elizabeth White Design in Fort Worth, Texas.
The internships and education from TCU catapulted me to New York City where I was able to kickstart my career and learn from some of the best in business. I learned commercial design, architecture and so much more during my time at Tobin Parnes Design and then transitioned to my residential career at Brad Ford ID. After having my first daughter, I realized going out on my own was the best fit for me and my new role as a mother.
Since then, we’ve welcomed my second daughter into our family and made Dallas our home base, where I now work with clients all around the country.
Has it been a smooth road?
I work with incredible clients, which has made it an easier road. Homes are very personal, and some projects can last well over a year when starting from the ground up, so having a good relationship and connecting on a personal level is key to success. Ultimately, I need to be able to translate their vision for their home into reality. In order to do so, you must ask a lot of questions, understand how they move about their home and know them well.
The only struggles I’ve had along the way are similar to anyone starting a business from scratch. When is the right time to hire? What accounting program do I use? Learning the business side of design has been both a challenge and reward.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a mid to high-end residential design firm. We specialize in interiors, but also take on full-scale projects where we work directly with architects and clients from early schematic phase to furniture finish out. Living on the East Coast taught me the beauty of striving for timeless interiors. My clients will tell you that I’m big on quality, functionality and details. It’s important to invest in quality pieces that can grow with you over time. We strive for interiors that won’t fall into the trap of being trendy, but rather can look beautiful today and for many years to come. For example, I started this company ten years ago and I’m proud to see designs I did back then are still relevant and have stood the test of time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chelseawatlington.com
- Email: chelsea@chelseawatlington.com
- Instagram: @chelseawatlingtoninteriors
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