Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Southworth. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ashley , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
After working in education as a special education teacher, adjunct professor, and coach for new teachers for close to 20 years I decided to take a year off to invest in myself and my creative passions. What started out as a goal to write a book quickly and organically pivoted into a full blown interior design business.
The book I planned to write was anticipated to be emotionally taxing so I gave myself a “teacher’s summer break” to play. This turned into me diving head first into my obsession for creating spaces of beauty—thoughtful places crafted to inspire, care for, and indulge those that inhabit them.
Ever since I can remember I have had a passion for design and decorating. As a child I could often be found rearranging furniture or painting various stencil designs on the walls of my bedroom. Spending many hours after school in my grandmother’s antique store, I developed a love for artifacts that held untold stories and left you in wonder. Pairing found items with modern touches, I thrive on creating one of a kind spaces that are both beautiful and timeless.
Investing in myself while simultaneously starting a business this past year has been a complete whirlwind. I have immense respect for business owners now that I understand the blood, sweat, and tears that go into launching and running a business. While there have been many challenges, it is so rewarding to take a moment to reflect on everything that has been accomplished in the past 11 months. Some highlights include: interning for Taylor Hedrick, owner of Rustic Trendz, a successful interior designers in my hometown of Bakersfield, attending design school in Los Angeles where I received my certification in interior design, working as a design assistant for the installation of a play room for an influencer with nearly 2 million followers, getting published in a handful of online articles/magazines (Forbes, US News, Real Homes, Homes & Gardens, Woman’s Day), and leading a decorating workshop for children in my community living in foster care. On top of that, designing a business logo, building a website from scratch, teaching myself how to make reels (hello Xennial problems), and consistently marketing my business utilizing Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Houzz, Yelp, Google, and LTK.
Next month I will celebrate my 40th birthday and the 1 year anniversary since forming my LLC. I will also go back to the classroom to teach adults with disabilities age 18-22. I am living in an interesting time in my life. Walking the line between two very different careers, both of which I have passionately given myself to. I don’t know what the future holds and I’m okay with that. It’s pretty cool to live in a time and place where I can do both, a privilege I don’t take for granted.
Ashley , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
At Southworth Interior Design, we create stylish yet functional spaces that enhance our clients’ quality of life. We believe that an intentionally designed home sets the tone for living life well. Using our creativity and eye for detail, we curate spaces that both inspire and reflect our clients unique lifestyles.
The Southworth Interior Design process is tailored to each client’s specific needs and preferences. Ashley starts by getting to know the client and their vision for a space. Whether the client is looking for a custom remodel, full interior design, or a room refresh, we work with each client every step of the way to ensure that the final result exceeds all expectations.
While Southworth Interior Design appreciates a variety of design styles, our favorite aesthetic is greatly influenced by Ashley’s hometown of Bakersfield, California and the American West. Rich in history, Bakersfield was the epicenter of settlers looking to start a new life during the severe dust storms of the 1930s. A blue-collar hard-working community, Kern County prides itself in being one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, the seventh largest oil-producing county in the nation, and home to some of the Golden State’s largest and most historic ranches. Set up some Buck Owens or Merle Haggard tunes on the jukebox, kick your feet up with a cold one, and stay awhile. Some people often refer to Bakersfield as the “armpit of California” but as Dwight Yoakam so famously sang:
“…how many of you that sit and judged me
Ever walked the streets of Bakersfield?”
As a designer, Ashley’s goal is to honor the rich history of the American West by incorporating uniquely American elements influenced by Native American history, Spanish Colonial furniture, and Mexican/Southwestern textiles, art, pottery, and artifacts.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Managing a social media presence is a full time job in and of itself. I’m exhausted just thinking about it! My advice would be to stay consistent while also seeking balance. Choose quality over quantity. I see a lot of businesses posting content every day and, for me, that’s just not realistic.
Since starting my business almost one year ago I have managed to grow my Instagram to over 2,000 followers. This is due in part to consistently engaging with my followers, implementing a couple of giveaways, tagging companies or products I use in images of my designs, and trying to really create a unique brand that stands out, if even just a little bit, from the norm.
Another approach that I think can be really helpful is engaging other business owners or artists on social media platforms. I know how much it means when someone leaves a heartfelt comment on one of my posts or reels so I try to show up in this way for others. In my experience there is a lot of what I call “lookie-loo” behavior going on in the social media world. These are people that regularly view your stories but rarely, if ever, engage with your content. It’s like “GIRL! I can see you looking at my stories every. Damn. Day. But not once have you ever liked, commented, or shared. Then why are you here other than being a lookie-loo?!” While I say this in jest, I am a firm believer that if I am visually consuming someone else’s art, I need to also match that with action such as purchasing their work or referring them to friends and family. For me, interior design is very much a form of art. I pour my heart and soul into creating spaces of beauty. While you may not choose to hire me to design a space in your home, you can support me in other ways that are just as meaningful.
A final piece of advice is to take advantage of free PR and marketing. There are many companies online that allow you to pitch stories or quotes to reporters. If you want help with navigating this approach don’t hesitate to message Southworth Interior Design on Instagram @southworthdesign and I would be happy to share my knowledge in this area.
If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?
My business was approved for an LTK account in November of 2023. This provides supplementary revenue for my business. I am still in the research and testing out phase of this endeavor but so far it has proven beneficial. I recently started experiencing the financial rewards as a result of my efforts on the LTK app but, most importantly, I have started to build some really special relationships with other women on the platform.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.southworth-design.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southworthdesign/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ajsouthworthdesign
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/southworthdesign
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/southworth-interior-design-bakersfield-2
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@southworthdesign
Houzz: https://www.houzz.com/pro/ajsouthworthdesign
Image Credits
Photographer: Lori Ovanessian
Website: https://thewhitestarranch.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/white.star.ranch/
Lori Wright Photography : https://www.instagram.com/loriwrightphoto?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==