Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Westbrooks.
Hi Olivia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My story begins in Lafayette, Louisiana. As a young girl creativity came naturally to me. I would spend my days after school sketching and crafting. I remember my elementary school teacher always recruiting me to help her with creative projects. She actually had me paint the Statue of St. Mary in the school courtyard to bring it to life with color! My dad was a painter and wallpaper installer, so I was exposed to that part of the design trade at a very young age. I loved watching art shows on TV, such as Pappyland and my absolute favorite, The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. As a teenager, I stumbled across The Christopher Lowell Show and was introduced to the world of design. He was an animated interior decorator who made magic, transforming boring rooms into fabulous havens in a matter of minutes. One of my favorite things to do as a child was rearrange the furniture in our home and decorate each space with my own personal touch. When I discovered this could be a career, I fell in love with the idea of becoming an Interior Designer. After graduating high school, I enrolled in the Interior Design program at Louisiana State University. I received my formal training and Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design, then moved to Atlanta shortly after college graduation and began my career.
My first job out of college was not the glamorous design gig that most people envision. I worked in an architect’s office in a tiny back room with no windows. I created floor plans and renderings on AutoCAD and Photoshop all. day. long. My tiny radio that only played NPR was the one thing that helped pass the time. To this day, whenever I hear All Things Considered, it feels like chatting with a familiar friend. I was at that firm for six months when I received a call from a top Atlanta residential interior design firm about a junior designer/project manager position. I excitedly accepted the offer, and it was this role that catapulted my design career. Throughout the years, I have gained incredible experience working with discerning residential clients both domestically and internationally. I garnered recognition and numerous accolades for those projects including ASID Design Excellence Gold and Silver Awards.
In 2020, I felt a pull to fuel my entrepreneurial spirit and launch my own business where I could create meaningful spaces under my name, Olivia Westbrooks Interiors. Given the state of the world at the time, it was a big leap of faith, but I always believe that life begins at the end of our comfort zone, and there were many signs pointing in the direction that it was time to follow this dream. It has been extremely rewarding designing beautiful, functional, and enduring spaces that perfectly suit my clients’ lifestyles. When I’m not immersed in client projects, you can find me painting, hiking, and enjoying quality time with my husband and two daughters.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My road has been anything but smooth. There have been many bumps and perceived setbacks at the time. Remember that first design job I mentioned, the one that catapulted my career? Yeah, I was fired from that job. That experience was tough enough on its own, but it happened in the middle of the housing crisis in 2009. Two months later, my mother died. Needless to say, that 2009 felt like a never-ending nightmare. But in the midst of the darkness, there was light. I was presented with an opportunity to start my own business. Entrepreneurship wasn’t a goal that was on my mind at the time. It’s funny (and miraculous) how life can steer you in the direction of your purpose, even if you can’t see it in the moment. My entrepreneurial fire was lit with the birth of my first interior design business, Liv By Design. I enjoyed running my own firm for five years until I hit another roadblock. It turns out that starting a design business in the middle of a housing crash was like trying to sell steak in a vegan restaurant. The demand just wasn’t there.
I had to pivot and quickly think of my next career move, and my husband and I were also expecting our first daughter, Mya. Funny story – I remember that when I was pregnant with Mya, my water broke at 1:45 a.m., and I was scheduled to give a design presentation for a client later that day. Since my contractions hadn’t yet started, my Dula gave me permission to labor at home. I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I got up and continued working on my presentation. My good friend and design colleague came over to help me complete the presentation, and we eventually had to pack up and head to my midwife’s office. My client met us in the office parking lot, and my friend gave the design presentation on my behalf while my husband and I welcomed the birth of our firstborn. Crazy, right? I’m sure you ask, “Why couldn’t it wait?” Well, because at that time, with a sputtering design business and a baby on the way, I needed that payment to keep going. So, when you ask about struggles and challenges, it makes me think of that time. But when I look back on it now, I can see how those moments set me up to be the business owner that I am today. The road has been challenging, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
There were many other difficult moments along the way to entrepreneurship this time around. But no experience of deep substance is paved by a smooth path. I began my second business, Olivia Westbrooks Interiors, during Covid. Completing projects felt almost impossible. Products and labor were scarce. Keeping clients happy, which is essential for a new business, was hard. I was able to draw from my past experiences to navigate this challenging time. I began to see how the lessons I learned in the years prior played a huge role in helping me to problem solve and maintain my client relationships.
I heard someone say once, “In life, there are wins and lessons.” I choose not to see hardships as failures. I look at life like crafting a marble sculpture. The artist must apply pressure to the chisel to chip away at the stone. Every divot created by that pressure is like an event in your life. Collectively, they ultimately form the beautiful masterpiece that is you and your journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of Olivia Westbrooks Interiors. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Olivia Westbrooks Interiors is an Atlanta-based boutique interior design firm that specializes in residential new construction, renovation and home decoration. We are known for creating timeless spaces that are sophisticated and chic and support mental, physical, and emotional well-being. I am an artist at heart and approach each interior design project as a blank canvas, carefully considering all elements in a space that work together, from color and dimension to light, texture, and scale.
I have two decades of experience in the residential interior design and building industries, and I am the current Finance Director for the ASID Georgia Chapter. With this experience, I bring a strong business background, a client-focused mentality, and an artist’s eye. I want to tell a story with every design project that I take on. I work with clients to understand how they live, what colors and materials they find calming or exciting, what inspires them, and how we can showcase their personalities to breathe life and soul into their space. I also understand the ins and outs of working with builders and vendors, sticking to a realistic budget and timeline, and the overall demands of my client’s busy lifestyles.
For me, designing a home is like creating a piece of art. They both require the same steps to bring that concept to life. When designing a room, I first develop an idea, then I begin to sketch it on paper, and once I have a vision, I select the materials and fabrics, similar to choosing the colors for a painting. Over time, the idea evolves, and I will make necessary adjustments, but ultimately, it goes back to what emotion the room or painting conveys for me and for my clients.
At the end of each project, it’s not just about redesigning a house; it’s about providing joy to our clients and giving them a space where they can create the memories that become their life story. That story is always at the heart of our work, and it’s our mission to help our clients feel a sense of belonging. I believe that is the greatest gift I can give as an interior designer.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
There are many qualities that have been important to me throughout my journey, but I feel like trust has been a major factor that has helped get me to where I am today. I trusted my instinct when I decided it was time to start my own business, and I trusted the process, even when things were hard. My clients place an incredible amount of trust in me when they hire me to renovate their homes. And I need to place my trust in those around me to get to the finish line with these projects – from designers to architects, contractors, and vendors – there is a team of people that make this all happen. Through many trials over the years, I’ve learned to let go and trust that the divine has a purpose for me and my family. I trust my God-given gifts and mission to serve people through creativity, which keeps me motivated every day to work hard.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oliviawestbrooksinteriors.com/
- Instagram: @oliviawestbrooksinteriors
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviawestbrooks/
Image Credits
Marc Mauldin
Rustic White Interiors
