Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Williams.
Hi Teresa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After spending many years as an outside sales professional, I chose to leave that industry and got married in 2018. I moved out of state for a couple of years and lived on a farm with my now ex-husband. While there, I remodeled much of the 30-year-old farmhouse that we lived in. However, fast forward a couple of years and I find myself divorced and living back in Atlanta. Knowing that I didn’t want to go back into corporate America, I had to do a deep dive in self-examination and contemplate what the next chapter of my life would look like. I have always had a love for all things interior, as well as fashion and self-expression. So in my “bolder” not older stage of life (it’s never too late) and not knowing where this new endeavor would lead, I decided to finally open myself up to living my passion and became professionally trained as an interior stylist and home stager.
I have been encouraged by so many people in my circle to do this as a profession. So I invested in myself and formed Harrison | Mae Interiors in January 2022 (the company name comes from both of my parent’s middle names that are put together) as to honor them. I know that this love and passion of mine was heavily influenced by my mother. Our home was never traditional but was on the cutting edge as she was always progressive with her fashion and sense of home interiors. She would boldly position sofas or dining room tables on an angle, had mismatched lighting and creative art with classical music in the background. I admired her and her creative talent as a very young girl. She inspired me. And even today as she is no longer here, I choose to “channel” my inner Nola!
I find it interesting and humbling how life comes full circle. One of my first decorating clients was a former physician that diagnosed my thyroid cancer ten years ago. And thank God I am cancer free! We had a strong connection early on and when she and her husband built their solar-powered home, she asked for my help. One of the greatest feelings I had after I had completed her interior space was when she shared with me that when she invited her friends and family over to see their newly decorated home for the first time, was that they all conveyed the same statement which was – “your home is so very warm and inviting”. I responded to my client and said, “of course it is because your personality is warm and inviting”. It was such a compliment to know that we had captured her very essence.
Sometimes interior styling is not always just about the aesthetics. One of my clients is a mother to a special needs child. He is ten years old and had always slept in his parent’s room at night. They needed help getting him to move to his own space. Just by spending time with him and sharing some ideas through photos and digging into what makes him feel safe and the determining the things that he loves in life, we ended up empowering him psychologically to feel that it was his decision to move into his own room! He just needed help with cracking the door open! This is so much more than a career for me. It is my job to inspire and create unique spaces for my clients, but I never imagined just how much inspiration I would benefit from on a daily basis and how many close relationships that I would gain throughout this process. I truly love what I do!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Any new business faces challenges from a standpoint of building a reputation online and getting the word out in an effort to build a client base. The economy in my industry dictates a great deal, as well. However, I feel so grateful to be living my passion and that so many doors have opened already. I look forward to seeing what the future holds!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As an interior stylist, I help my clients infuse their personality into the design of their homes. Sometimes a project starts as a blank canvas, so after sitting in their space for a bit, I like to start by asking questions like; how do you want to live in your space? What brings you joy? What brings you peace? Do you have collectibles that you would like to showcase? What are some life experiences or travels that inspire you? Do you like to entertain? After that, I get to go to work to create new and interesting life into the space! I do this with the use of furniture, wallcoverings, fabrics, lighting, art and accessories. I try to encourage my clients to steer clear of palettes that are trending and to focus on what speaks to them as an individual, as I believe a home should be curated over time as to not look “new” but fresh and updated. I want a client to walk into their home and feel that it represents who they are and how they like to live in their haven.
In addition to decorating homes, I work as a staging consultant with homeowners and real estate agents to prepare a property for listing. This entails working with homeowners to reimagine existing spaces and detach the personal and emotional connection that they have to their home, and now look at it as a product for sale. Effective staging requires training in the art of depersonalization, furniture placement for the best traffic flow, de-cluttering, accentuating with accessories and curb appeal. All of which allows a potential homebuyer to imagine how they could make your home theirs. My goal is to help position the home to sell quicker and potentially above list price. According to the Real Estate Staging Association, 85% of staged homes sold for 5-23% over list price. Simple changes can make such a big difference when it comes to staging. Often it is the juxtaposition of working with the old and adding some new to see space in a more appealing way. It is very gratifying to hear when clients sell their homes quickly and above list price!
What are your plans for the future?
This new career has brought me such a sense of purpose and my clients have said that they can tell that I love what I do. In the future, I would love to extend my craft to working on creating and / or decorating movie sets, as Atlanta has become such a hotspot for film and entertainment!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.harrisonmaeinteriors.com
- Facebook: Harrison Mae Interiors
- Linkedin: Harrison | Mae Interiors
Image Credits
Brandi Wynae’ Graphic Designer | Influencer | Social Media Management | Lifestyle Photographer
