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

Genevieve, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

One of my favorite things about being a designer is that I get to be on the forefront of emerging design trends. One thing I’ve seen lately is the realization that homes should be tailored to the individual, not the masses. For years now we’ve had tv shows telling us that we should be painting our houses white, that we should think of resale value, that we shouldn’t be too bold because it won’t appeal to others. And what we’ve ended up with is a bunch of white and grey houses that don’t speak to the individuals that live there. I’m seeing an awareness in clients now, even in the way that they talk about their homes, that they’re much more open to designing the home to fit their styles and needs and disregarding what others think about it. I’m a strong believer that someone should be able to come into your home and be able to say “yes- this is *insert name*.” It takes a lot of questions and digging to really discover what the true “north star” should be when designing for a client, but for me that’s my favorite part. If you’ve just always been obsessed with the color pink, then you should have pink! We should be surrounding ourselves with colors, and artwork, and textiles that are meaningful to us and help us feel the most at home. I’m looking forward to seeing the more individualized designs as this trend gains even more momentum.

Genevieve, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve always wanted to be an interior designer for as long as I can remember. I’ve always had a natural balance of creativity and organization and I think that this career choice blends them so perfectly. I’m the owner and principle designer of Interiors by Genevieve, and we are a full service residential firm in the Chattanooga area. We do everything from furniture and accessories, to remodels, to completely new construction.

We specialize in creating beautiful and timeless interiors. Our modern interpretation of classic styles produce refined yet livable homes shaped for contemporary life. Because our clients are our muse, and we firmly believe in the power behind your environment and how changing your space can change your life for the better!

Our dedication to each project ensures clients receive solutions perfectly tailored to their needs and dreams. From commissioning quality custom furniture to sourcing specialty fabrics, we pride ourselves on always going the extra mile. Our goal is to create beautiful and livable spaces that exceed expectations and stand the test of time.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I’ve been very blessed with referrals from past clients. I believe there’s no better type of marketing than word of mouth, and I’ve made it my top priority to give my clients the very best experience when working with me so that they feel like they can recommend me to friends or family. For a small business, their positive testimonials are hugely important in growing a client base.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

During middle and high school- I was an excellent student, top of my class. There was one correct answer, and as long as I learned what it was then I could be the very best- very black and white. That’s just how our current educational system is set up . What I didn’t realize until I got to college was that most of the world doesn’t function in black or white, it’s really in the grey. I went to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln to get my degree in Interior Design, and what I had to unlearn during my studies there is the mindset of there only being one right answer. I had to reprogram my brain to start thinking that the way I design something might look great to me, but not to someone else. Or that there are multiple ways to tackle a project or task. My design critiques during college were very informative to gain insight on how others perceived what I had designed. Sometimes I had great critiques, but other times I didn’t and I learned that there’s not one right answer, no “perfect” design solution, no right and wrong. If I love leopard print, but you don’t, that doesn’t make me right and you wrong- we just have different perspectives. I now operate a lot more in the grey when working with my clients as I’m being asked to design a space for another individual and it helps me to gain knowledge on how to best tackle a design project.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.interiorsbygenevieve.com
• Instagram: @interiorsbygenevievew
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/interiorsbygenevievew