Today we’d like to introduce you to Tessa Ward.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I graduated from Design school in 2011. After going to over 12 firms, I was told my designs were too urban and that I used too much color. So I started doing my own thing with houses. I never took my hands out of my craft. My last physical job was at Saks Fifth Ave. There I was a top producer with a lot of clients. I then decided if I sold anything else, it would have my name on it. From there, I opened up my booth at an antique mall and decided to do the opposite of what I saw, which were chairs! That way, I soon discovered my use of color and techniques would sustain my sales. I’ve sold over 150 chairs from my booth and now reupholster for private clients also. I am totally self-taught in all of this. The fact that I custom paint my chairs before I reupholster them sets me apart from other upholsterers. All of my chairs are custom.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Surprisingly it has been a smooth road for me because I love what I do! I wake up at 5 am every morning and I work until I’m tired. My clients love that I do push the envelope with color and create what they invision.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve always loved fabric and luxury fabric at that. I don’t want my chairs to have fabric on them you walked in hobby lobby and picked up. I pride myself on being able to provide clients with something different and to customize their paint colors. I specialize in chairs and the reupholster of them… I Lear something new or different techniques on every chair I touch. You can never stop learning!!!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That I am too crafty for my on good! I spend my weekends at estate sales looking for the perfect interesting chairs I can makeover. My Saturday morning, I am out the door by 7am and usually the first one at the sale.
Pricing:
- Chairs start at $50-$75 just for the chair itself
- For custom paint and upholstery is $350 & up
Contact Info:
- Email: Twardinteriors@gmail.com
- Instagram: @tessa_ward_design_llc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tessa.ward.71
- Twitter: AskTessaWard
Image Credits:
Kristi Oliver of House of Kristionne https://thekristionne.com/ kristioliver.com
