Introducing: Meredith McBrearty
Meredith McBrearty started her own design business after 7 years of experience in the field. An Austin newcomer, Meredith has completed homes in California, Virginia, and Texas. Her design approach yields fresh, studied, and timeless residential interiors.
Shop Talk: Five Minutes With Meredith McBrearty
How would you define your approach to interior design?
I think it is important to listen to your client – how they live, what they love, where they’ve been, and make it come to life in their home. My goal is to make a home reflect the owner by creating a cohesive interior that is interesting and comfortable. I love to present clients with colored renderings – this really brings the ideas to life and helps the client visualize what might otherwise be hard to imagine. It’s also important to study the project – the scale, the relationship of one piece to another, and how it will look when it all comes together.
What would you say has made the greatest influence on you as a designer?
I was fortunate to work for Solis Betancourt in Washington, DC for 6 years. From these extremely talented men I was exposed to both traditional interiors in Washington and New York, and contemporary homes in Puerto Rico and South Florida. I learned the importance of approaching a project as a whole, incorporating a great collection of art, and making lasting relationships with clients. The broad range of experience I received under their watch has greatly influenced me as a designer.
What do you think is the key to a successful designer/client relationship?
Be accessible, be professional, and enjoy the process. The design process should be fun and exciting for everyone involved!
Where do you go/what do you do for inspiration?
I am constantly reading design books and magazines. I shop very, very frequently – at thrift stores, on web sites, and wonderful antique shops like Jean-Marc Fray! The day you quit learning, evolving, or changing is the day you should quit design.
What do you do when you are not designing?
I probably think about my job more than most, but I am fortunate to love what I do. When I am not working I like to exercise, travel, and hang with my husband and friends. I enjoy trying new restaurants. (I’m not so much the cook!)
Meredith McBrearty's Designer Picks from Jean-Marc Fray French Antiques:
For more information about Meredith McBrearty:
Meredith Leach McBrearty
blog: http://hautehappystyle.blogspot.com/
email: mere.leach@gmail.com
tel: 202.390.2912
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