Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesley Hughes-Wyman.
Lesley, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m the Co-Founder and Principal of MatchLine Design Group—a Dallas-based multidisciplinary design firm. Since 2009, MatchLine Design Group has been transforming hotels, resorts, spas, corporate offices, multifamily properties and active adult living facilities throughout the country. Along with the support from my friends and family, MatchLine Design Group wouldn’t be what it is today without my friend and business partner, Tamara Ainsworth, Principal and Co-Founder. We are very similar in our approach to business and design, and yet still balance each other out in other ways that allow us to both shine and find success for the company.
Growing up, I had always wanted to be in a creative field. Even my kindergarten “what do you want to be when you grow up” project answer was “artist or astronaut”. I decided on interior design studies late in high school, when I was researching college programs. After taking several internships “for fun”, I became more aware of hospitality design. I spoke to my then internship boss about looking for the next internship in a commercial field. Her former employer was in hospitality, and thought it would be a great avenue for me. I reached out to that firm, Carolyn Henry & Associates Inc, for my academic internship, and ended up falling in love with hospitality. It was the perfect mix of what I was looking for. She hired me after I graduated, and the rest is history!
Lesley Hughes Wyman Boilerplate: As a registered interior designer, Lesley brings close to 20 years of industry experience to her role as a co-founding principal of MatchLine Design Group. Prior to joining forces with her long-time friend and business partner Tamara Ainsworth in 2009, she held various design roles at renowned firms, which allowed her to refine her craft. Lesley has overseen a number of notable full-service projects, including Embassy Suites, DoubleTree; the current conversion for San Antonio’s Estancia del Norte – A Tapestry by Hilton Collection; the upcoming historic renovation of the Federal Reserve Bank in downtown Kansas City; The Lodge of Four Seasons at Lake Ozark; and Taj Blue Diamond Resort. She holds a degree in interior design from Texas State University and her professional affiliations include IIDA, ASID, and NEWH for which she has served in various leadership and committee roles.
Has it been a smooth road?
Starting our company in 2009, right as the financial crisis was starting, was definitely a challenge. We found a positive, silver lining in that slower time—that we were able to fine-tune and hone in on our business model, enabling us to be in a position to ‘hit the ground running’ and build our future team into the solid dynamic it has today. In terms of design challenges, I think it helps to give a pros and cons list when working through a problem, to consider all ways of arriving at a solution.
I’m not really a huge quote person per se, but I seem to follow Estee Lauder’s mantra— “I didn’t get there by wishing for it, or hoping for it, but by working for it”. Tenacity and perseverance are words that are typically used to describe my attitude in life.
We’d love to hear more about the company.
MatchLine Design Group stands out because we provide affordable luxury. Our company and team do an excellent job at providing creative solutions for the client with the biggest bang for their buck. With regards to a signature style, MatchLine is known for creating timeless designs—designs with staying power and longevity, while injecting locavore elements unique to the property’s narrative. We’re a WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprise, and our services include initial space planning, conceptual design and design development, interior construction document production, contract administration and final product placement review. We’re honored to have been named a Top Hospitality Design Firm for the past three consecutive years by Hotel Management. We’ve been collaborating with some of our consultants for over 15 years, joining forces on many successful projects together. There’s an inherent synergy and trust that’s there when working amongst industry networks and acquaintances. Within the office, Tamara and I encourage our team to learn from one another to achieve their own greatness through teamwork, and as a result, the firm’s employee retention rate is high, along with its client return rate.
Contact Info:
- Address: 10300 N Central Expy #335, Dallas, TX 75231
- Website: matchlinedesign.com
- Phone: 972.707.0568
- Email: connect@matchlinedesign.com
Image Credit:
VEK Photo
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