BBD Friends Series #1: Ginger Brewton

This is a new Bridget Beari Series called "Bridget Beari Friends" These will be profiles of all the wonderful designers, manufacturers, craftspeople, and shopkeepers that I have had the pleasure of meeting and making friends with. 

Our first guest is Charleston South Carolina designer, Ginger Brewton of Ginger Brewton Interiors

Ginger and I became friends at one of the conferences I attend annually and have kept up with each other. If you follow the BBD blog you may have seen us doing our Flea Market shopping in NYC. 

Here are a few questions we asked Ginger and she was kind enough to answer our request: 

1. How did you get started in the interior design business? I have always had a love for houses since I was little. My mom and I used to drive around looking at houses and I think that's where the obsession started. I worked for an interior designer in college (although I was a fashion major) and then eventually moved to NY in 2004, to pursue my dream working for a designer in the city while going to New York School of Interior Design. 

2. Are you originally from Charleston, SC? No, I was actually born and raised in Greenville, SC. During college I spent a few summers in Charleston, and then moved here once I graduated. 

3. How has being nominated by House Beautiful as a designer to watch changed your business? What year was that 2009?  It has been amazing to receive the recognition and the support from such a reputable publication.  House Beautiful has had an an incredible following and impact on the design world.  The impact on my business, after being named a designer to watch in 2009, was stunning.  My visibility as a designer immediately broadened to a new audience.  This has allowed me to expand into areas outside of South Carolina which has been wonderful. I still have people telling me a friend of a friend said they saw me in House Beautiful, so it's great to hear the feedback and feel the support from people I don't even know.

4. What would you say your design style is? or do you have one? I definitely have a personal design style, which is extremely diverse . I love the simplicity and lines of modern pieces but I love to mix them with antiques or more traditional pieces. I love neutrals, but I have to have pops of color; or vice versa. It's a balance thing for me - the ying and the yang.

5. How large is your firm? Do you like it that way? Currently it is myself and an intern/assistant who work in the office. I have an amazing group of subs that I really trust and can rely on. I would like to expand but still remain a small boutique firm, and plan to always remain that way. I like working one on one with the client and really getting to know them. I don't ever want to be that person that meets with them in the initial stages and then hand everything over to someone else.

6. Where do you find inspiration? Travel, travel, travel, magazines, Photography, fashion. I think inspiration is all around us. You just have to open your eyes to see it. Did I mention travel?

7. How do you decorate your house for Christmas? I have been given an ornament every year since I was born from my mom, so it's always wonderful to decorate the tree with ornaments from the past. I always have a live tree, but next year I am thinking about having an all white tree! It's not for everyone, but I think it would be fun!

8. Your designs, or the ones I've seen, are very organic. Are you affected by the green movement? Are you a nature girl at heart? I definitely think the green movement is important and I hope in the future to be able to work with more clients and vendors that are green conscious. Again, I think it all relates to a balance - I love a big city and the access it gives you to everything, but I also love a small town and the warm, fuzzy, secure feeling it brings.

9. What's your favorite design app? Pinterest! It almost borders on obsessive, but if I have any down time I'm on it.

I follow her. Her boards are amazing!!  

10. What's your "go to" color for 2012? or fabric? or wallpaper? I am getting ready to re-vamp my guest room in Newman by Bridget Beari! I love, love, love this color. It's inviting and cozy, and will look stunning against wood tones, gold accents and pops of color. This is definitely my go to gray! As far as fabrics, I'm loving Martyn Lawrence Bullard's line for Schumacher; and for wallpaper I love anything bold that makes a dramatic statement.

Don't you love that she is using Bridget Beari Colors!  Thanks for the support.

11. Goals for 2012? I would love to see GBI continue to grow into different markets, as well as expand into different areas of design. A couple of assistants and a larger office would be nice too.

12. Designer Pet Peeve? Scale is definitely something I find very important in design, which can make or break a room. I don't believe in many other "rules" of design - we all have different ideas and processes, which is what makes the world go round and all of our designs unique. 

I can't wait to take a trip to Charleston and visit. Thanks so much Ginger for a quick glimpse into the GBI World. We can't wait for the Charlotte and CT jobs to be published. If you are not familiar with her work, check out Ginger's website and her weekly blog,  Inspired Design