Life & Work with Dorcia Kelley of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorcia Kelley.

Hi Dorcia, 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?
I started my career in fashion, working as a Market Editor for *ELLE Magazine* under Nina Garcia and later with *Lancôme Paris*. Those early years shaped my eye for style, storytelling, and brand positioning — how a visual could instantly communicate emotion, aspiration, and identity.

From there, my path evolved naturally into interiors. I began collaborating with designers and creative directors to translate that same editorial sensibility into physical spaces. Over time, I built a reputation for bringing a refined, fashion-forward perspective to interior styling and design. I’ve worked alongside some of the industry’s top talents, styling for *Architectural Digest*, *ELLE Decor*, and luxury hospitality brands such as Renaissance Hotels.

Today, I work as a **Creative Director, Interior Stylist, and Brand Consultant**, specializing in projects that live at the intersection of culture, design, and storytelling — whether that’s a boutique hotel, a curated home, or a collaboration with a heritage brand.

At the core of everything I do is one belief: design is cultural storytelling. My role is to make that story tangible — to make people *feel* something when they walk into a room or experience a brand. That’s where I’ve found my purpose, and it continues to guide my work today.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road—but every challenge has shaped how I create and lead today. Working across fashion, interiors, and branding means constantly adapting, and early on, I had to learn how to translate my editorial eye into spaces and experiences that people actually live in. That transition wasn’t easy—it required building trust, proving my value, and redefining what creative direction could look like outside of traditional fashion media.

Another challenge has been navigating visibility and opportunity as a Black creative in luxury design. There weren’t many people who looked like me in the rooms I wanted to be in, so I had to create my own lane and build credibility through consistency and excellence.

Those moments taught me resilience, clarity, and how to turn vision into strategy. They also reinforced my belief that culture and creativity aren’t just aesthetics—they’re the foundation of meaningful, lasting design.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work lives at the intersection of **art, design, and culture**—I create spaces and visual narratives that tell stories, evoke emotion, and reflect identity. I specialize in **interior styling, creative direction, and brand storytelling** for luxury and lifestyle clients across hospitality, residential, and fashion. Whether I’m designing a boutique hotel, curating a home, or styling for a major publication, my focus is always on creating environments that feel alive—spaces that move beyond aesthetics to say something meaningful.

I’m known for bringing an **editorial sensibility** to interiors—years of working in fashion as a Market Editor at *ELLE* taught me how to see the world through a lens of composition, mood, and texture. That experience, combined with my work designing and branding hotels, allows me to bridge the gap between visual storytelling and strategic design. I’m also recognized as a **trusted curator and source**, sought after for my ability to discover indie designers and artisan-made pieces that give projects soul and authenticity.

What sets me apart is my ability to blend **culture and commerce**—to create work that not only looks beautiful but also impacts how people experience a brand or a space. I think of design as cultural translation; I take emotion, story, and energy and turn them into something tangible.

What I’m most proud of is staying true to my creative point of view—building a career rooted in taste, trust, and intention. Every project is an opportunity to elevate how people see, feel, and connect—and that’s the art in what I do.

What’s next?
My plans for the future is to creative environments that brings nature and artistry to life in the urban city. I’m looking forward to building my business with my new design partner, Tomas Frenes. With our unique and high end backgrounds, I know we can continue to create something beautiful.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.dorciakelley.com
• Instagram: @dorciakelley and @materia_nuevo