Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Kathryn Wells
Hi Mary Kathryn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My path to interior design started in an unexpected place: working to improve K-12 public schools across the country for over 15 years. In my last role in that space, I used IDEO’s human-centered design approach to solve complex educational challenges, which taught me something invaluable: start by deeply understanding the humans at the center of any challenge.
Now I apply that same principle to creating homes that truly reflect each family. My background in managing complex programs (including a $5M Gates Foundation grant to the Tennessee Department of Education) equipped me with the organizational prowess to transform creative vision into reality – a surprisingly crucial skill when you’re orchestrating custom furniture, contractor timelines, and those ‘where has this been all my life?’ Target finds into one cohesive home.
A huge part of my approach to interior design has been informed by being a parent to 3 kids (ages 11, 9, and 6), and wanting to create a space for my own family that’s both a joyful celebration of each member of our family as well as super-practical for all the messiness of real life.
After living in New York (where my husband and I loved the city so much we got married at City Hall), followed by an adventure-filled stint in Hawaii with our first baby, we landed in Nashville. Buying and transforming our builder-grade spec home taught me firsthand how to create magic by mixing high and low pieces, and more importantly, how to design spaces that work for every family member – from cozy reading nooks for introverted kids to perfectly organized mudrooms for Type A spouses.
What sets my approach apart is treating both forms of expertise – mine in interior design, space layout, color, and creating cohesive spaces, and yours in how your family lives and what brings you joy – as equally valuable. Because when those combine is when homes become both beautiful and brilliantly functional for every family member.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I launched this interior design business, I had a vision of helping people personalize their homes in a way that ensures each member of a household feels seen and celebrated inside their space, of giving people permission to break the rules and shake things up to create joyful and truly special spaces that work uniquely for them. That part has been even more joyful than I expected, and almost every single project I work on includes times when the client makes a decision that I find myself thinking I wouldn’t necessarily make in my own home, but it seems to be really what they want and what’s right for them…. and then the outcome — the final space — is so much better than it would have been had they done it exactly as I would have. And every single time without fail, that is such a delight and a joy to see — that moment when it becomes clear that this is their space that they helped bring to life in a way that is truly unique to them and their family. Seeing spaces come to life that truly reflect each family’s unique personality is consistently delightful.
The biggest challenge has been bridging the gap between our Full-Service Design offering (typically $50K+ per room for total project budgets of $150-300K — that number includes furnishings, accessories, and our design & project management fee; it does not include architecture or construction costs) and more accessible price points. I deeply understand that even $20-30K is a significant investment for most families – it is for mine too. Yet with a sectional sofa from, say, Crate & Barrel consuming $5K of that budget, creating comprehensive design plans within these constraints while maintaining the level of attention and care our clients we offer our clients is tricky.
We’re actively working to address this challenge. We now offer an Action-Planning Session for DIY-minded clients seeking professional guidance or as a starting point for someone who is not sure where to begin or wants to see what it’s like to work together — you can book the Action-Planning Session and then decide whether you want to implement the plan on your own or hire us to help execute it. And we’ve just launched two new services: 2 Rooms, 12 Weeks and Design à la Carte. These offerings aim to make professional design more accessible while maintaining the personalized, family-focused approach that defines our work.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Mary Kathryn Wells Design specializes in creating personalized, colorful spaces for families who want their homes to be a true reflection of who they are. We’re known for our stellar client experience, which combines keen project management with genuine empathy and understanding for how families really live.
What sets us apart is our truly collaborative approach – we believe your expertise in how your family lives is just as valuable as our expertise in interior design. This philosophy, combined with our organized project management and budget transparency, ensures spaces that are both beautiful and brilliantly functional for every family member.
Our Full-Service Design projects (typically $150-300K) transform multiple rooms of your home into vibrant, personality-filled spaces where we help you stretch and strategize your budget for maximum impact. While we’ve designed celebrity-worthy spaces (like a NYC townhome with MADE Design/Build) and been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Domino, and Southern Living, what truly makes us proud is how each project uniquely reflects our clients’ stories and personalities.
For families seeking more accessible entry points to professional design, we offer focused services like our 2 Rooms, 12 Weeks program and Design à la Carte, as well as Action-Planning Sessions for those who want to DIY with expert guidance or to create an initial plan together before hiring us for a larger project.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Riding bikes around my neighborhood with friends — that perfect mix of independence and adventure. Looking back, it reminds me how important it is for homes to have space for both family connection and individual exploration, which definitely influences how I approach design today.
Pricing:
- Action-Planning Session: $675 (does not include furnishings or installation – that’s design fee only)
- Room Refresh: $6,250 (does not include furnishings or installation – that’s design fee only)
- 2 Rooms, 12 Weeks: varies based on number of items needed by roughly $20,000 (does not include furnishings or installation – that’s design fee only; estimated total project budget with furnishings is about $40,000-50,000
- Full Service Design for 3+ rooms: $100,000-250,000+ total project budget (includes design fee, furnishings, and installation)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marykathrynwells.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marykathrynwells.design/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-kathryn-wells-4061a42b2/
- Other: https://pinterest.com/MaryKathrynWellsInteriorDesign/
