For more than 23 years, Meredith Boudousquié, Founder and Principal Designer of Boudousquié Interiors, has been transforming homes for her clients. She meticulously guides them in creating spaces that are not only beautiful but also uniquely customized to complement their individual lifestyles. I had the chance to talk with Meredith about her creative process.
When did you realize you had a passion and a talent for Interior Design?
I was born with it! Seriously, I’ve been designing & redesigning rooms ever since I can remember. Even as a little girl, I would sit intently while my Nana, who was a drafting instructor, taught me all about hand drafting & how to properly space plan. Although I understood I had a special gift, it wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties when I was introduced to the idea that I could create a sustainable career from my passion. In 1999, after a chance meeting with a future design school peer, I enrolled in the interior design program at Delgado Community College in New Orleans & went on to earn an Associate of Arts in Interior Design.
When and why did you move to Texas?
My husband & I first moved to Texas in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina destroyed our home in New Orleans. We originally planned to stay in The Woodlands for one year, but we loved it so much here, we ended up staying for eleven years. In 2016, after our oldest son tragically passed away, we moved back home to Louisiana to grieve. A few years later we adopted our youngest son, Rémy, who at three years old was diagnosed with autism. It was then we began making plans to move back to Texas to provide him with more options for specialized doctors, therapies & schooling. We’re very happy to be back in Montgomery County & excited to plant our roots in Texas.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Everywhere. To me inspiration is a collaborative effort, so I always get my clients involved early in this process. In the past, I’ve designed homes to complement existing art collections, rooms that were inspired by fabrics that had been collected from years of worldly travels & once, I designed an entire house to evoke the colorful vibe of my client’s favorite fashion designer, Kate Spade. Inspiration can be born from the simplicity of a favorite color to something more personal, such as a beloved travel destination!
I love the categories on your website - Relax, Entertain, Focus, Refresh.
I have so many favorites & for many different reasons. My most favorite projects are the ones from repeat clients. As a creative, when an existing client gives you artistic freedom to design their new home, or add something to their existing home, because they know you’re going to deliver above & beyond their expectations, that feeling is incomparable. One of my most favorite spaces over the past 23 years is a custom one car garage that I designed to house my client's one-of-a-kind Aston Martin D9.
How do you hone in on your client's ideas without impressing too much of your own style?
Although I have an appreciation for all design styles, my clients & I agree on the same design vibe: contemporary, colorful & comfortable. My portfolio is full of homes that are light & bright, with colorful accents, clean-lined & luxuriously livable. After 23 years of designing, I’m able to quickly hone in on my clients’ unique lifestyles, and then quickly execute a design plan that works for their specific needs. So, having a design aesthetic, that we all agree on, definitely helps speed up the process.
What types of unique pieces, color and settings are important in a project?
To me, customizing a home design around my client’s unique lifestyles is the most important aspect of what I do. Although, as humans, we all live similarly, not one family behaves exactly the same & neither should our homes. Even for my clients with multiple residences, each of their homes functions a little differently. From the beginning of any project, I take time to research how my client's family operates daily. From high-performance paints, scrubbable fabrics, etc. for households with small children, to delicate finishes, such as marble, for empty nesters, customized design is what high-end, full-service design is all about.