Our Latest Design Crush: Meghan Basinger of Stevie Interiors
Relatively new to the scene, Georgia interior designer Meghan Basinger is taking her studio and retail location to the next level. Meet our newest Interior Designer Crush!
Meghan Basingerβs subtle, serene designs are beginning to pop up throughout the South, and youβll want her on your radar if youβre in the market for an interior designer or looking to shop high-end home decor pieces. After more than a decade in public relations (including a stint as a speechwriter for Fortune 50 executives), the self-taught CEO and principal designer of Stevie Interiors is making a splash in the world of home design.
Known for merging modern and vintage pieces in cozy, neutral landscapes, Meghanβs designs are already gaining attention, despite launching her business less than three years ago. A full-service design studio and retail location in Atlanta suburb Milton, GA, Stevie Interiors also boasts an online presence where you can shop for everything from vintage teakwood bowls to contemporary vases and hand-carved rolling pins. If youβve been searching for inspiration, Meghan is definitely a designer to watch!
What inspired your design career, and how did your business come about?
My mom studied interior design. I grew up in beautiful homes, although I donβt know that I appreciated it until I was much older. I built a brand as a lifestyle blogger, which naturally transitioned into sharing our home and decor frequently. More and more βfollowersβ were asking for advice from me, and it gave me the confidence to build something bigger. Like many self-taught designers, my first client was myself! And then friends. I slowly built a portfolio and invested in photography to showcase what I could do and create our signature style.
We heard thereβs a meaningful story behind your business name. Are you comfortable sharing it?
I have three beautiful children: Bauer, Kingsley, and Crichton. Before our youngest was born, I suffered a miscarriage. We named her Stevie. I love the name, and I wanted to remember her life. Additionally, I didnβt want to build a brand under my personal name. I wanted the team I worked with to feel ownership of their work and our company, and I thought that was more natural to do under a name that wasnβt βMeghan Basinger.β
How would you describe your aesthetic?
Warm, layered, and collected! I love mixing old and new to create a space that feels timeless.
Along with your design services, you have a brick-and-mortar retail location in Milton. Can you tell us about it?
We opened our retail store before we scaled our studio. It really helped us elevate and grow our brand. Itβs in the heart of downtown Crabapple and showcases our aesthetic through a collection of furnishings, decor, and artwork. More importantly, it gives my team somewhere to collaborate and meet with clients. I am all for a flexible work environment, but I donβt think a remote team works for interior design. Weβre actually getting a little βglow-upβ in 2023! Weβre moving to a new building thatβs under construction, allowing us to be involved in every little decision and really make the space our own. Weβll have more square footage to serve our two sides of the business β retail and design.
You have three toddlers. What is the most crucial design element to consider when creating a beautiful space amid everyday living?
Performance fabric! In my home, we have a formal sitting room that houses four white swivel chairs in a round. No room in my house is βoff limits.β We exclusively source quality pieces made to last. Do I teach my children to respect and take care of our things? Absolutely. But I also let them play anywhere and everywhere in our home because I know Iβve chosen pieces that can withstand wear.
What piece of design advice can you offer us to elevate our homes?
Begin by choosing one room at a time. I always tell our clients, βPick one to two spaces where your family spends most of their time. Usually, thatβs the family room and kitchen. Letβs make those spaces incredible and build a roadmap for the rest of your home that we can chip away at as your budget allows.β The most frustrating thing a homeowner can do is buy a piece here and there at random. Your home will feel just that β random. As designers, itβs our job to help our clients create a cohesive look throughout their homes that tells the story of their families.
What is your favorite space or design element in your own home, and why?
I love the yellow pine we added to the ceilings in our family room and kitchen. It adds so much warmth and character to the space. We had lived in our home five years before I made this change, and it just elevates the entire space.
If you could collaborate with anyone in the world, be it another designer or a dream client, who would it be?
Oh, this is hard! We landed a dream client this year, which is so exciting! My now friend, Kelly Hamm, was the first client to fully allow us to do our thing. She hired us for our signature style and has trusted us every step of the way. It seems like such a simple thing, but itβs hard for most people to relinquish control of their homes. But why invest in a designer if you arenβt going to leverage their expertise? Kellyβs home is absolutely gorgeous (I canβt wait to share photos in early 2023!), and itβs because it was a perfect partnership of a client seeking us out for what we can do and then allowing us to do it!
Iβd love to work with Brian Patrick Flynn because, although our design styles are different, he is a bright light and encouraging star in the industry. Iβd also love to work with April Tomlin and Stephanie Sabbe (maybe I need to move to Nashville).
What design trends are you most excited about this year?
The continuation of warmth, layers, and texture. The blogging world killed the βall-white everythingβ trend. And Iβm here for it. Iβm not about clutter β I love simple styling on surfaces like tables and shelves, but Iβm all about the layers in draperies, rugs, pillows, etc.
Can you describe your design philosophy in five words?
Layering old and new. Timeless.
A special thanks to Elizabeth Lauren Jones and Robert Peterson of Rustic White Photography for the images.
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Editorial Operations Manager and Lead Content Editor. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.