Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carly Filbin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carly , appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

This is a fun story to share, so thanks for asking! When my original co-founder and I decided to start a design studio, choosing a name was surprisingly challenging. Unlike many of our peers, neither of us wanted to include our last names in the company name. This turned out to be one of the toughest parts of creating the business! Every time we came up with a name that we felt represented both of us well, it was already taken. What a bummer.

If I recall correctly, after about two months, Stephanie messaged me with an idea, and I just knew we had a winner. After checking with the appropriate authorities to ensure it wasn’t already in use in our state, we were thrilled to finally have a name!

I was determined to include “Blue” in the name for a special reason. My dad and I are very close, and ever since I was a young girl, he would tell me, “I am wishing you sunshine and blue skies.” It resonated with me. He expressed his wish for everything to go well and be bright. As I grew older, I came to understand, as we all do, that life isn’t always like that. However, I believe there is always something good, even amid hardships. On this side of heaven, we live in a world that is both beautiful and broken. There is always evidence of the sun, even on the darkest days, and blue skies are always ahead. It’s no coincidence that blue became my favorite color as a child, and it still is!

Stephanie wanted her name to be represented, but with a last name like Jones, she felt it was too common. She began brainstorming ways to incorporate “Blue” and “Jones.” I can only imagine it was a lightbulb moment when she realized she could simply use her last initial. That was it! Blue Jay!

Then came the research on our beautiful blue friend that we often see here in Houston. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems. What a fitting parallel to the work of an interior designer! Our process of building a home or designing a space is indeed complex, built from many parts. It just fit perfectly!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Growing up, I loved to paint and draw, but I wasn’t sure how my passion for art could translate into a career. Long story short, I took an interior design class at community college right after graduating high school, and that was it—I was hooked. I knew this was what I wanted to do.

I completed three years at community college while working for a builder as a host, where my job was to greet clients as they arrived at the model homes and help them explore the floor plans. It was a fun start!

I then earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design from Texas State University in San Marcos, TX. I was fortunate enough to work for a builder called Tilson Homes, where I served as the color selection coordinator. In that role, I assisted clients in choosing paint, tile, and other options available in our office.

After graduation, I had the opportunity to work for a residential interior design firm for a couple of years. I then transitioned into a project management role with a luxury design-build firm, followed by a position as a designer in sales with a tile and stone company. These experiences have provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the industry, enabling me to serve my clients in the best way possible.

We are a full-service interior design firm specializing in custom furniture, lighting, window treatments, wall coverings, and decor. We also provide drawings and selections for new construction and remodeling projects. With nearly 20 years of experience in the field, I have owned Blue Jay for four years. It brings me great joy to help people create functional environments for beautiful living!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

We truly value referrals and repeat clients. Our main goal is to build lasting relationships and become each client’s personal designer. This approach allows us to assist with both small projects now and larger ones in the future. We work to help you design not only your home but also boutique office spaces. Additionally, we offer distance design services for vacation and rental properties.
I want to develop a relationship in which I understand your family, your needs, your functionality requirements, and your desires. I aspire to be your “go-to” designer because I have served you well. When this happens, it often leads to great referrals from satisfied clients, which in turn typically results in more exciting projects!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I have recently had a couple of other designers reach out to me at events, expressing how much they enjoy our social media page! This means so much to me because I have worked hard to keep it authentic. All the work posted is ours, without an excessive amount of “inspiration” photos filling up my feed.

Mia Bella, our Design Assistant, has started helping me create more reels for our page. It has been fun to collaborate and come up with new and exciting things to share.

My goal is not only to gain followers but to genuinely connect with clients who could benefit from our services. We value collaborating with excellent local tradespeople and artisans, and we enjoy sharing them with our followers as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bluejayinteriors.com
• Instagram: bluejayinteriors
• Facebook: Blue Jay Interiors
• Linkedin: Blue Jay Interiors

Image Credits

Daniel Angulo
Grace laird
Stephanie Jones