Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Ray.
Whitney, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
While growing up, most children ask for toys, games or to go to theme parks for their birthdays. I asked to redecorate my bedroom, every single year from the time I was nine years old until I went to college. I remember sitting on my bed and looking at my room like it was a blank canvas, thinking about how I could reflect my personal style of the moment. By the time I was 18, my walls had been painted every color imaginable and I had enough bedding to fill two linen closets. I am incredibly fortunate that my family went along with my whims and encouraged me to follow my dreams.
I continued to college and received degrees from Samford University with BA’s in Interior Design and Art History in 2010. I then moved back to Atlanta to begin my career. I worked my way up from intern to senior design associate at several prestigious firms in Atlanta over the next eight years. While I received exceptional training, my childhood dream of having my own firm was never far from my mind.
Joel Kelly presented an opportunity to me in 2017 to partner with him and open Wyeth Ray Interiors as a new, full service, residential design firm. I jumped on the chance and haven’t looked back.
Some might ask why my passion has not wavered. The answer is not finding the perfect piece of art, custom detailing a one of a kind mantle or previewing the latest and greatest fabrics, while I do thoroughly enjoy all of those things. It really doesn’t have to do with any specific part of the process. It is the feeling that I get when my clients realize the vision that I have pulled out of them and that I’ve transformed it into something they never could have dreamed for themselves. It is the moment they understand the hard work and attention to the extensive details paying off and they are left with a home that was intentionally designed just for them. In the end, I am passionate about the environments I create.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has definitely not always been a smooth road. My mom was a young, single mom, trying to take care of me, go to college and work a full-time job. It was tough and I’m sure I don’t know the worst of it. However, she showed me what it is to work hard and push through no matter what life throws at you. The biggest lesson she taught me was that it is ok to fail, but you have to pick yourself up and go that much harder the next day.
She is where I get my work ethic from. Every time I’m told no or that I can’t do something, I have her voice in the back of my head telling me I can do anything I set my mind to, but I have to be smart enough to figure it out. No one is going to give me what I want on a platter, I have to work for it.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am a residential, interior designer. I work on everything from new construction projects to renovations to more simple decorating projects.
Wyeth Ray Interiors is unique in that we are not known for one specific style. I love contemporary design just as much as traditional. The projects that I’m most proud of are the ones where I get to tackle something new. Right now, I’m working on a modern, Balinese inspired home, a historic mid-century, and a rustic lakehouse.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
The most important piece of advice I could give to a young woman starting her career is to do whatever she has to do to feel confident. If lack of knowledge is the problem- study, watch videos, do whatever you can to become an expert in your field. If lack of experience is the problem- take internships, find a mentor, do whatever you can to get exposure. Life is hard enough without putting limitations on yourself.
Contact Info:
- Address: 448 E. Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, Ga 30305
- Website: www.wyethray.com
- Phone: 404.591.2324
- Email: info@wyethray.com
- Instagram: @wyethrayinteriors
- Facebook: @wyethrayinteriors
Image Credit:
Catrina Maxwell, Emily Followill, Carmel Brantley
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