Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyree’ Whitson.
Tyree’, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve had a passion for design since I was a child. I was always intrigued by beautiful homes, unique floor plans and the aesthetics of design but thought all of that correlated with architecture. I use to sit down with my classmates in grade school and ask them what they wanted in their dream home then I would sketch the floor plan, lol. I was drawing floor plans for everyone (ironically I still have the drawings and I’m in the process of getting them framed for a gallery wall)! I was probably around 12 when I found a free design software called Google Sketch-up. I taught myself the entire program and began drawing 3D renderings of homes and spaces not knowing that it was a program that interior designers used professionally. At that time, Google Sketch-Up was a computer game to me, all the while- I was cultivating my craft.
I always joke and say “I’m not supposed to be designing. Interior Design found me.” I went to the University of North Alabama in 2010 to study nursing. After the first semester, I knew it wasn’t for me. I then moved on to public relations- hated it too haha. I had a friend that was in the interior design program and told me I should go check it out. I automatically thought “pillow fluffing” and was a little hesitant, but I went. I remember walking into the gallery and being mind blown! I sat down with the program director and once our meeting was over, I knew that Interior Design was for me. It was an eye opening experience because I knew my passion was design but I didn’t know this type of profession actually existed.
I graduated from The University of North Alabama in May 2015 and started my career as a designer at a furniture store. That experience was great and I learned a lot but I knew it wasn’t for me. I went back to school and obtained a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Alabama A&M University. During that time, I did freelance design when my schedule would allow it. Freelancing helped me realize that my true gift was changing people’s lives through interior design and that became the foundation and basis of my company, TMWhitson Design Co.
Today, along with running my company, I also work professionally as a healthcare Interior Designer for The Department of Defense, Department of the Army where I design medical facilities on army bases that range from hospitals to veterinary clinics and everything in between.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth? What’s that!? The biggest struggle was being taken seriously as an interior designer. Being a black male in a white woman driven field is difficult. It also doesn’t help that I’m 6’4″ 285lbs haha. There was a time in 2018 that I had given up on Interior Design. I had been applying for jobs, trying to gain clientele and nothing was working in my favor. I knew I was talented, I was an educated interior designer and I knew the ins and outs of the design process.
Why wasn’t anything working for me?
It took me getting my full time job with The Dept. of Defense that brought everything full circle for me. I was rushing perfection not knowing that I was already prepared to be great!
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
My company is called TMWhitson Design Co. TMWhitson is my name, Tyree’ Marquise Whitson. It was important to include myself in the name of my company because I worked extremely hard to bring it to fruition. It also kind of flows and I like that haha.
TMWhitson Design Co. is a residential/commercial interior design company that specializes in full service interior design, including but not limited to custom art procurement and installation, lighting design, space planning, staging, full home renovation, etc.
I’d like to think that I’m known for my forward thinking in the design process. While studying interior design, I was always told to design as a chameleon. No one person is the same and neither should their homes. The beautiful thing about interior design is being able to make someone’s vision come to life through your choice of color, space planning, staging and finish selections. I take my client’s wants and needs very seriously and will revise a preliminary design 100 times if that is what it takes for my clients to feel like their house will be home.
What I’m most proud of as a company is a fact that I have clientele. Interior Design is a highly saturated field so the fact that people like my work and trust me to come into their lives and their home will always mean the world to me.
I think what sets me apart from other interior designers in the industry is my knowledge, education, experience and design execution. Having a formal interior design degree has taught me the importance of codes, interior design standards and the interior design process. Also, working every single day as a designer both professionally and independently has provided me the opportunity to build an amazing network and stay up to date on the best interior design practices.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First and foremost, God deserves credit. I honestly wouldn’t be where I’m at without him blessing me with this gift. I’m forever thankful! Secondly, my friends and family- they have been my biggest advocates and supporters throughout this journey and have believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I’d be remiss if I didn’t name them- so thank you, Mom, Dad, Niesha, Steven, Dujuan, Ashley, Jazz, Bino, JC, Frank, Rob, Tra… whew, I’m forgetting some people but thank you all- you know who you are! Ashley, thank you especially for letting me rip your living room apart just to put it back together- you’re the real reason I’m here now.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 205-270-3900
- Email: tmw.interiordesign@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/twhitson
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