Life & Work with Bradley Huesemann-Odom of Buckhead

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bradley Huesemann-Odom.

Hi Bradley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I didn’t come to design through a straight line. I grew up in a small Mississippi town where creativity wasn’t framed as a career so much as a way of seeing—making do, paying attention, noticing beauty where you didn’t expect it. That early sense of observation stayed with me.

After studying design and moving to Atlanta, I started my career doing what many creatives do: saying yes to everything, learning on the job, and slowly refining my point of view. What began as a small interior design practice grew organically through relationships, trust, and a belief that spaces should feel layered, lived-in, and deeply personal rather than prescriptive.

In 2015, that same philosophy led me to open Dixon Rye as a retail space—part shop, part studio, part gathering place. It was never meant to be just a store. It became an extension of how I approach design: curious, globally influenced, and grounded in craftsmanship. Over time, the retail and interior design worlds began to inform one another, and today they operate as a single ecosystem under the Dixon Rye name.

My husband and creative partner, Peter, now works alongside me full-time, and together we continue to evolve the brand—through interiors, product development, collaborations, and community-driven experiences. The through-line has always been the same: honoring story, embracing contrast, and creating work that feels thoughtful, soulful, and enduring.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most creative journeys, it’s had its share of twists and learning curves. In the early days, I was figuring out everything at once—how to run a business, grow a client base, and develop a point of view—often by trial and error. I said yes a lot, learned quickly, and gradually discovered what worked for me and what didn’t.

There were moments of uncertainty along the way, especially as the business evolved and expanded into new territory. Growth has a way of stretching you, and with that comes the need to adapt—whether that’s refining processes, building the right team, or learning when to step back and reassess.

What’s made the difference is perspective. Each challenge clarified something important and helped shape the direction of the work. Over time, those lessons added up, allowing the business to grow in a way that feels intentional, grounded, and aligned with my values.

In hindsight, the road wasn’t always smooth, but it was always instructive—and I wouldn’t change the path that led here.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are designers and creative directors based in Atlanta, and the founders of Dixon Rye and Studio Dixon Rye. Our work lives at the intersection of interiors, objects, and storytelling. Through Studio Dixon Rye, we focus on residential and select commercial projects, creating spaces that feel layered, collected, and deeply personal—homes and environments that reflect the people who inhabit them rather than a single trend or moment.

Dixon Rye began as a retail space but has grown into a broader creative platform that allows us to explore product development, global sourcing, and collaborations with artisans and makers from around the world. The retail and studio sides of the business inform one another constantly, which keeps the work intuitive, curious, and evolving.

What we’re most proud of is building something that feels both creative and enduring. Dixon Rye has become a place people genuinely connect with—not just as a shop or a studio, but as a source of inspiration and community. That sense of trust and relationship has shaped everything we do.

What sets our work apart is an emphasis on story and contrast. We’re drawn to the balance between refined and raw, old and new, quiet and expressive. At the heart of it all is a belief that the most meaningful spaces are the ones that feel lived-in, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant—and that philosophy guides every project we take on.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
One surprising thing is that we don’t start with aesthetics. We start with feeling. Before materials, furniture, or layouts are ever discussed, we spend a lot of time talking through mood, memory, and intention. That emotional groundwork tends to be invisible, but it’s what gives the final work its sense of depth and authenticity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Dixonrye.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dixon_rye?igsh=MXU2bnE0ajE4NWU4NA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Mali Azima