Talk Shop: Bailey Ward // Bailey Ward Interiors
ABOUT BAILEY
Atlanta-based interior designer Bailey Ward brings a classic, timeless aesthetic and contemporary flair to every space she touches. She believes people shouldn't have to sacrifice beauty for function, and she successfully intertwines the two with her curated yet refined style. Every aspect of a room is intentionally designed to reflect the perfect blend of her perspective and expertise with the client’s unique style.
With nearly a decade of commercial design experience before opening her own firm in 2019, Bailey has acquired the art of attention to detail, refined craftsmanship, and project management skills. Bailey holds a degree in interior design from Mississippi State University, CIDA-accredited, and was previously featured in the 2021 Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Spring Showhouse. We loved chatting with Bailey about her inspirations and all things design, and we hope you do, too!
Describe your style in three words or less:
Fresh, classic, curated.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
Travel, growing up in Fairhope, AL, and interior design school.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
I started my company in 2019 after working 7 years in commercial design. I was always bored and knew that commercial interiors wasn’t “it” for me. With much encouragement from my husband and friends, I jumped right in and haven’t looked back.
I love creating homes for families to enjoy and make special memories in. Scheming and design are pretty great too, but seeing my clients love what I have created is the best thing about this job!
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
I don’t have a specific mentor (but would love to find one!) but have so many design friends I have made along the way that I can call on and help me navigate anything I or my business is going through. I can’t say enough about how wonderful the design community is as a whole.
What does your home say about you:
That I have two young children! Amid the chaos of toys, I would say it feels inviting and cozy. Unfussy while also chic.
Where do you find inspiration:
Travel, nature, art, and coffee table books!
Who are your style icons:
Rita Konig, Aerin Lauder, Caroline Irving…and there is not one more chic than Kate Middleton
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
Fresh flowers, good food and lighting, and music! And a well-stocked bar.
Do you collect anything:
Art. My husband and I try to buy one new piece each year to celebrate my birthday.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
@veere_grenney, @ashleywhittakerdesign, and @elizabethhaydesign.
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
I don’t think the rules apply! We are deeply thoughtful and detail-oriented in our design process, and as long as there is a reason, we aren’t worried about the rules!
What are you working on right now:
A beautiful whole-home project right off of Chastain Park in Atlanta, a renovation for a young family, and finishing up my personal home!
Wardrobe staples:
A good pair of jeans, flowy dresses, and cute tennis shoes.
Favorite fabric/wallpaper:
I don’t think I could ever pick one favorite but love Pierre Frey and anything Bennison!
Best interior advice you ever received:
Trust your gut.
Best career advice you ever received:
Go for it and don’t worry about what other people think.
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
Invest in upholstery, antiques, and art. Save on rugs and lamps - you can also replace them later, but upholstery and antiques will live on.
Your greatest extravagance:
Travel and good wine!
Favorite places to shop for home:
Chairish, Scott’s Antique Market, and antique shops
Most prized possession and why:
An oil painting of a pelican by my grandmother. I like to think I inherited some of my creativity from my grandmother - she was a published writer, painter, and amazing storyteller. She also was incredibly chic. Every time I see that painting I think of her and the special memories I have of her.
Your interiors motto:
“Everything is fixable,” I remember the distress I felt the first few years of my career when something wouldn’t go as planned. I now know that issues are going to arise but a little problem-solving can resolve any problem at hand.
Your life motto:
Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
Expose yourself to different styles. Study images to discover what you like
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: Anything my husband grills!
Drink: I love any drink with gin - a negroni, gimlet, or glass of good red wine
Film: Something’s Gotta Give
Hotel: Old Edwards Inn in Highlands, NC
City: Fairhope, AL - my hometown. THe most idyllic small town on the water in lower Alabama
Bedding: Matouk
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): I am a coffee addict. Black in the mornings, and a latte in the afternoon.
Playlist: I am all over the place with music - Jason Isbell, Tyler Childers, Tedeschi Trucks…but I also love Nelly and Taylor Swift just as much!
Weekend Activity: Time with my precious 2-year-old and 8mo old daughters, followed by dinner with good friends
Design Book: A Place to Call Home by Gil Schafer, More Beautiful by Mark Sikes, The Well-Loved House by Ashley Whittaker, Timeless by Patrick Ahearn