We had the pleasure of having Olivia Skipper join us for a conversation about her passion for fashion and interior design. Inspired at a young age by her mother, Skipper witnessed the remarkable transformation of a Victorian-era home igniting her own fire for artistic passion. This love of design has taken her on a journey that spans the globe. She draws inspiration from her worldly travels and years spent living in the Caribbean islands with her husband, Eddie.
Fast forward to the present day, she finds herself now surrounded by the beautiful turquoise waters, our white sugar sand beaches, and the laid-back lifestyle that the island on The Gulf Coast has to offer. Blending her love of coastal elegance and modern aesthetics, her creative brilliance spans over 14 years of experience in the design industry. She draws on her deep inner wisdom and knowledge of custom furniture, fabrics, space planning, remodeling, and transformations from blank spaces to havens of livable and attainable luxury.
Not only are Olivia and her husband enjoying island life, they and their three beautiful daughters are embracing what it means to live locally. They are experiencing these sanctuaries that transcend ordinary design. Growing up in wallpaper shops and watching her own mother design model homes for builders, laid the foundation for Skipper's own career. Her humble beginnings with her mother eventually turned into furniture stores that taught her the necessary knowledge of furniture manufacturing, learning the scope of interior design. As a young entrepreneur, she eventually branched out into her own niche where she now designs new construction from the ground up, current remodels for homeowners who live locally, and vacation rental furniture packages, wallpaper, custom lighting, and everything in between.
From her tender years, she remembers being obsessed with all things fashion and interior design. Sharing ideas and inspiration with her mother and sister who also works in fashion in NYC. Skipper's designs are always inspired by our coastal community and her travels. Working with clients to get to know them offers them a level of personability. This ensures that her work is a direct reflection of their individual styles and preferences. Working with vacation rental owners, she offers a bright and colorful space that is inviting and aesthetically pleasing. This secures that vacationers are delighted to be here and enjoy themselves fully with her cool, vibrant, and coastal designs.
When working with any space, Skipper says that she envisions and factors in who is going to be living in the space. "Are there children and pets, are there vacation renters who will frequent the space, how many will be sleeping in these spaces?" She wants to ensure that each detail is thought through for functionality, personality, and design flow.
Skipper is currently working on a project in Orange Beach along the inter-coastal waterway that expands to over 8,000 feet, boasting four kitchens, five bathrooms, and eight bedrooms. A year and a half into the process with an expected completion date of nine months out, Skipper hopes to add to her construction projects. She looks forward to serving the local community.
When asked about budget constraints while still delivering a high-quality design, Skipper says: "I like to handle any budget challenges by spending money on the important things that really matter and giving my clients an overall exclusive and expensive feeling rather than saving on the smaller things that don't matter. I prefer to always spend on high quality fabric when choosing furniture pieces and save by not buying a bunch of things which is very easy to do when you're going for minimal looks like what I'm known for."
Skipper remarked on to say that the most rewarding feeling is her clients being happy with the overall result. In addition, she knows she is being an excellent role model for her three daughters. She says, "I’ve always had strong women role models in my family and I hope to be that for my girls." We here at GCCL are certain that she is doing just that by offering design and experience unlike any other you'll find on the island. For more information or to book a consultation:
Olivia Skipper Living
Ph: (251) 233-3958
Email: olivia@oliviaskipperliving.com
"I’ve always had strong women role models in my family and I hope to be that for my girls."
Olivia and her husband enjoying island life, they and their three beautiful daughters are embracing what it means to live locally. They are experiencing these sanctuaries that transcend ordinary design. Growing up in wallpaper shops and watching her own mother design model homes for builders, laid the foundation for Skipper's own career. We here at Gulf Coast City L are certain that she is doing just that by offering design and experience unlike any other you'll find on the island.