Inspired by an episode of HGTV’s “Room by Room”, Ashton Wilson realized very young she had a passion for design. “I begged my mother to help me recreate one of the bedrooms from the show. This ignited my interest in interior design and I never looked back”, says Ashton.
Despite pursuing other careers, this passionate interior designer made the right move taking a leap of faith and following her heart. After achieving an undergraduate degree at Auburn, Ashton returned to school to earn a second degree in interior design. In 2022 she established her own firm, Ashton Interior Design.
She’s making a name for herself creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind designs. Based in north Atlanta, what makes her work unique is being both an interior designer and a talented artist. “Art plays a pivotal role in design, serving as a powerful source of inspiration or the missing puzzle piece that truly completes a space. Being both allows me to view spaces through a unique lens”, says Ashton.
Her favorite source of inspiration is her clients. Inspired by their stories and goals, this leads her to create spaces tailored uniquely to their style and personality that are both beautiful and functional.
She’s pragmatic, taking in all aspects to create a custom-fit design. Do clients have young children, pets, older adult parents or extended family living with them? Is the space dark or light? How will family and guests flow and use the space?
The Heart of A Home:
The kitchen is where families gather, entertain friends and enjoy creating culinary creations. As you design your kitchen, consider the people who will gather together.
Functionality is important to design considerations. Think about how you prepare meals. Would a prep sink benefit you or a kettle faucet? Do you prefer a separate stove and wall ovens or a range? Do you have children who require a drawer microwave set lower for ease of use? Do you buy in bulk from the grocer requiring more pantry storage or do you purchase more refrigerated goods requiring a full-length refrigerator?
Next up are appliances. There are so many to choose from the process can be overwhelming. Think about the features you’ll actually use when cooking to help narrow your search. Setting a budget is important too and be sure someone is checking and rechecking measurements!
Another important decision is the range or stove hood. Consider making a statement with a custom built-in design or a glamorous full metal hood. Perhaps go minimalistic and recess the ventilation flush into the ceiling.
Always staying informed about new, creative ideas, Ashton still has her favorite design trends, especially when it comes to the kitchen. Drawn to certain styles including stained wood cabinetry, mixing light and dark stains or offsetting painted cabinets with a stained wood island adds depth and warmth. She loves adding deeper full-length cabinetry as a practical way to add space or appliance storage while creating variety to the style of cabinetry. Varying cabinets types help make a space more custom.
Select finishes that will hold up to the wear and tear of your family’s daily use. Choose a color palette you love and work from there to thoughtfully choose everything from cabinet colors to countertops. The end game is to create a uniquely personalized kitchen design that is both functionally and aesthetically tailored to your family.
Ashton tells us about her favorites, “I really like Zellige tiles, a gorgeous handmade Moroccan tile. It’s a beautiful way to add subtle texture and interest to a backsplash. I love the character this tile adds. Neutral spaces have been super popular, but I do like color! There is a rise in greens and blues for kitchens - baths too - and I love it!"
A favorite project of Ashton’s was a gorgeous dining room covered in a luxurious chinoiserie style wallpaper. The organic movement in the paper offsets the traditional Henredon ball and claw foot table. The focal point of the room is the crystal Yves chandelier by Thomas O’Brien. Newly upholstered chairs in green suede pulled the soft green from the wallpaper into the center of the room. A hand-knotted, transitional-style rug in natural soft grays and white pattern completes the look.
She enjoys sharing her talent with family and friends. Ashton designed her sister’s Dr. Taylour Welborn’s Providence Veterinary Clinic. “There was so much wasted space and two waiting rooms scarcely used. I redesigned the entire space including new exam rooms, a private office, reconfigured the waiting room adding a stacked stone feature, and painted the walls and ceiling in warm neutral whites creating the illusion of more space and enhancing the overall ambiance, "says Ashton.
Quick Tips to Brighten Any Room:
Furniture: Find pieces to scale determined through effective space planning. Having a plan makes shopping and deciding on appropriate pieces much easier.
Living Room: Replace a ceiling fan in the living room with a decorative light fixture, which is an easy way to add style to a space.
Dining Room: Experiment with the ceiling! Dining rooms are great spaces to play with color or a ceiling treatment.
Foyer: Add layers to your console table. Place a piece of art in front of a wall mounted mirror or vice-versa. This creates a curated look and will instantly upgrades your foyer.
Fabric: A favorite of mine is boucle, while not new, is a great way to add texture to a space. Adding an upholstered boucle piece creates another layer of interest to a space.
To get started, Ashton invites inquiries through A Discovery Call - a time to share design goals, likes and dislikes, budget, timeline and project phases.
ashtoninteriordesign.com