Building Business w/ the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce
The Building Business podcast provides compelling stories of the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce's journey, its steadfast commitment to the local community, and its forward-thinking approach to addressing the needs of businesses in an ever-changing landscape. It stands as an invitation to listeners to become part of a movement that values growth, connection, and the collective progress of the Mount Pleasant, South Carolina community.
Be prepared to be inspired, informed, and motivated, as we provide a rich tapestry of stories that celebrate the dynamic interplay of business and personal growth right here, in our own backyard.
Building Business w/ the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce
From Breaking Bland to Building a Business: Mary Welch Fox on Design, TV, and Teamwork
A city can shape a designer, and Charleston does it with flair. We welcome Mary Welch Fox—interior designer, HGTV host, and founder of a woman-led studio—to unpack how place, personality, and process turn houses into homes people can’t wait to live in. From crossing a bridge and feeling the style shift to honoring each client’s taste without falling into copycat trends, Mary shares the mindset that keeps her work fresh and deeply personal.
We go inside her client journey: rich discovery, a three-round design structure that keeps budgets honest, and the unsung operations that make beautiful rooms possible—drawings, schedules, vendors, and the thousand choices between mood board and install day. She’s candid about the realities too: shipping delays, damaged goods, and why solving problems fast is the difference between chaos and calm. And yes, we celebrate that goosebump “reveal” moment when all the decisions finally become a feeling. Mary also opens up about the business behind the beauty: hiring a trusted designer, avoiding burnout, growing at a sustainable pace, and learning to love the numbers as much as the finishes.
Fans of Breaking Bland will love the origin story—from a Knoxville connection to a full HGTV series—and the next chapter: The Reveal on the Design Network and a smart, budget-forward collaboration with Walmart and Apartment Therapy. Expect timeless design talk (limewash, plaster, natural stone), practical refresh tips (Samplize paint swatches, color families, flea market treasures), and a love letter to Charleston’s artisans who make “impossible” details real. Whether you’re an aspiring designer or a homeowner with a room that needs heart, this conversation will nudge you to choose what you truly love and build around it with confidence.
Enjoyed the show? Follow, rate, and share it with a friend who’s dreaming up their next project. Your reviews help more listeners discover the stories and strategies behind great design.
Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce
Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions
Expo Podcast Sponsor: @PollenSocial
Production Sponsor: RMBO.co
Design Sponsor: DK Design
Committee:
Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Immediate Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre
Mike Compton | Co-host | Marketing Chair | RMBO.co
Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director
Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | Social ABCs
Ben Nesvold | Co-host | In-coming President | Edward Jones
Well, hello, and welcome to the Building Business Podcast powered by the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce. We are here recording in the Charleston Media Solutions Studio. Huge supporters of the Chamber, so thank you as always for recording us today. And another huge thank you to our podcast sponsor, DK Designs. If you have not reached out to Darius yet, please do. My name is Kathy Herman. I am your immediate past president of the Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce and the marketing director for Mount Pleasant Town Center. And I am joined by, I don't know if we've have we co-hosted together?
SPEAKER_05:No, I've always I've co-hosted with Mike several times.
SPEAKER_01:But this is our first time. This is our first time. This is uh this is exciting stuff. Um I am joined today by my new co-host, uh Amanda Bunting Coleman. Uh Amanda is the owner of Social ABCs. So um welcome, Amanda, and tell us a little bit about your thanks for having me.
SPEAKER_05:I'm happy to be here with Kathy for the first time. Um I have like Kathy said, social ABCs is my business, marketing, all things. And the chamber is one of my lovely clients, and this is something fun we get to do. Yeah, it is have fun people like Mary.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, it's gonna be a stuff great. Um awesome. Well, thank you for being here with me today, Amanda. Um, all right, I'm gonna tell you a little bit about our really very special guest today. Um from Knoxville, right? From Knoxville. Um, her path from Colorado State University through hubs like Denver, Chicago, and New York City, which is where I'm from, by the way. Um, fueled by inspirations of fashion, music, fitness, and love for travel, four of the things I love a lot myself, um, host of HGTV's Breaking Bland and featured in Charleston Home and Design Magazine, Modern Luxury Interiors. Unbelievable, by the way. She aims to forge personal connections with each client, crafting spaces that resonate deeply with their emotions and reflect their unique passions and aesthetic desires. And now you make your home in our beloved Charleston. I want to very excited to welcome Mary Welch Fox. Thank you. Thank you. I know I got like chills when I was reading that. I really am, because you can do the one thing that I have absolutely no ability to do.
SPEAKER_00:See, I believe everybody has it in them.
SPEAKER_01:I don't, I mean, I I don't know. We'll get to we'll get to that because I'll embarrass myself with how what I think looks good. But um, we're really excited to have you here today. Um tell our listeners a little bit about yourself.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolutely. Well, again, I um my name is Mary Welch. I grew up in Knoxville and I'm a mom of two young girls here. I moved here when I was pregnant, um, I guess almost 13 years ago. Um, and I have not looked back. So my um my husband and I decided to move here. My older sister had already moved here, my younger sister was here, my mother had moved here, and I just loved it here. I grew up vacationing here, and this was the space that I wanted to be. Um and it was a great place for me to kind of explore and change, change our story around. So um, yeah, that's I'm a mom that I love fitness design and friends and family and in Charleston.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I'm sure that like the history and and all of the things that we have in our beloved city can really be thrown into your interior design work, right? Because I can't even between the beach and the rainbow row and the bridges and the the ever all these great things and of why we live here. Absolutely. Um how has it influenced your brand living here now and and kind of how you look at projects?
SPEAKER_00:So gosh, you know, it's so crazy. Here you can cross a bridge and be right next to an area, and the style can completely change. And I think that that is incredible. It gives us a lot of opportunity to explore different designs and different options and different people and different values and the way and ways of life, and and and then putting that into somebody's home. So, you know, everything from the beach to the angel oaks to you know going downtown and walking through those historical streets, that's inspiration and can completely shift. And some people have homes downtown and on the beach. So there's an opportunity to do that. I want to be one of those people.
SPEAKER_01:It's never gonna happen, but I'd like to be able to do that. You gotta believe it. You gotta believe it. That's my wish. That's my wish.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:But how did you get started in interior design anyway? I actually studied design in college. Um, but I didn't know that that was a major until I went to college. And I had I'd spent two years in biology thinking I was gonna be a doctor.
SPEAKER_01:I'm like, okay, listen to talk about you know pages in your majors, huh?
SPEAKER_00:Oh yeah. You can, I mean, I still don't know what I want to be when I grew up, but I um you know, I didn't know. Like growing up, I was kind of thought you could be a a doctor, a lawyer, or a business person. And I did not know what that meant. Or an artist. I really did want to go to art school, but um, I did discover in school that there was a such thing called an interior design program and explored that. And it was an automatic four-year school where I went to school, so I had to audition to get in and submit a portfolio and then spent four more years in school. But the last two I could travel back and forth to Denver because I'd really already completed everything. But um, yeah, I studied it and and I loved it. I fell in love with it and building and just all the components of it. But I've always loved, you know, interior style. I think my that your space can shape your mood. And it always did growing up. I would redo my room all the time or you know, just kind of shape my own environment to how I wanted to feel. Um so getting to do that for a living sounded very appealing to me.
SPEAKER_01:That's awesome.
SPEAKER_05:I want to know with all that experience and and how family-oriented you are, how do you balance the creativity side with the business side of things?
SPEAKER_00:It is very difficult. Um, balance is such a tricky word too, because you know, how do you really define there's no way we're always in person? It's different for everybody. Yeah, absolutely. Sometimes, you know, I'm showing up full force as a mom, but you know, that's gonna affect my business in other ways. You know, maybe we're not I'm not actively growing at that time and I'm staying there. But or let's say I'm showing up all the time in my business, well, that's gonna affect how I show up as a mom, or even creatively, but creatively, because I'm not able to create, I'm I'm learning how to to build a business. Um or or in health or friends, you know, something's always gonna fall out of of balance. But you know, just pouring that cup from one cup to another and letting it flow, and I've gotten better over the years, kind of riding that way rather than you know, clenching and just powering through it all. But um, but you know, that it's just trying to wait, you know, kind of feel it and know that that's just my life.
SPEAKER_05:Do you have days where it's like, all right, I'm focusing just on the business, and then there's days where it's all creative? Or do you just ebb and flow and do what feels right?
SPEAKER_00:Um, a little bit of both. I I definitely have business mostly business days now. Um that's really, you know, where where it's kind of turned. Um but I have to make room for the for the creative side or you know, I lose my direction. Um, that's the whole point of it. So um, but the business really is is most of the is the focus now and um and kind of mentoring the women that work for me and and taking care of the clients and and just focusing on and making that the best machine it can be. But I have to dive into the creative. I'll tell the girls I'm like, no, I'm getting too too much logistics. Like, I'm like my creative brain needs to have a moment. And so I I do I have to I have to carve out space for it now. It's not as as everyday or part of my life anymore. It's definitely something I have to carve and make happen. But it's it's has to happen.
SPEAKER_01:And when did you when did you start your own, like when did you start your own business? And and and back to that is what made you want to start your own business instead of working for somebody else.
SPEAKER_00:Um I started my own business actually when I was in Chicago. And it really happened by chance. Um, I had been working for somebody in New York, moved to Chicago, but I moved to Chicago right when the um when the market crashed. So nobody was really hiring or designing homes in. So I shifted into um working in the music industry. I got yoga certified, I waited tables, you know, I did all the things. Oh my god. Teaching yoga, teaching fitness. And actually, while I was waiting tables, one of the women I was waiting tables with knew that I had was an interior designer in my you know earlier life. And she said, My boyfriend is redoing his condo and he wants you to do it. And I was like, You what? I was like, all right, you know, let me think at yeah, I can do that. Um, and I did it. And that was kind of that was it. That was the like the launching point that okay, well, I don't need to wait for somebody to hire me now. Like, I can just do this. I have the experience, I've done this, and um, and was doing great in Chicago, but then once I found out I was pregnant, I was I'd my family was already here and I was already being called here, it was just sort of like we're gonna move. So I'd, you know, left that and was kind of traveling back and forth from here to Chicago for a little while, and then um, you know, picked it back up here and started that with working for free again. And then I had all those good times. Absolutely. But it was more of a slow roll once I moved here. I had to really had to start all over again and and and recheck my values. I also had a baby and what was really important to me then. So it was it wasn't something that it happened quickly, it was it was over time and um and and learning to believe in myself and and like believing that I can trust myself to make a name for myself in a new city. But that took that took time and some diligence.
SPEAKER_01:Well, also because you know, Charleston, um, you know, people have been here for a very long time. Yes, oh yeah, you know, and welcoming something new might not be so easy for them, but apparently, you know, you've made your you've made your stake in this town because you know I mean HGTV, I mean, come on. That's sounds that was such an honor. That is a huge thing. We'll get to we'll get to that in a minute. But I mean, just it like so you know what you're doing. Yeah, you know, you know what you're doing. Yeah, thank you.
SPEAKER_00:It feels good that somebody else thinks that. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05:From a designer's perspective, like can you walk us through like the process? Yeah, like you know, obviously the business side, you're you get a client, you hire them, they hire you. But then what's that process like creatively and from the business side?
SPEAKER_00:Sure. Um we really want to download all of your information. So I want to know everything about you, um, everything about how you want to feel in your space, how you want it to function for you, how you want to move through it, um, what's your style, what are your hard noses, what are your yeses, what what kind of music do you listen to? Um, what's your budget? That's you know, what's your budget? It's really important. Um and go through all the ins and outs. And then, and and if you have any sort of inspiration boards, we take all of that information and just start working our way through it. So the first few steps would be we present you with our um first initial thoughts in our direction, and then we go through a couple of rounds of kind of honing in on what direction we think we're gonna go in, and then the first design um proper like proposals roll out. And I I would really love to get it done in three rounds. Um, that's how we contractually lay it out. We'll give you three options per space, per thing, and then if we're not there, then let's let's reconfigure how we're looking at this. Um that way we're not you know going too far on either person's end. Like we're getting to the forever. Absolutely. So we really want to get into like get to a final landing point. Um so we give three different rounds, and then once we land on those final designs, we start submitting all of our drawings and getting everything laid out. Um, you know, how we're going to execute if it's a remodel, if it's a new build, if it's just redecorating. Like, how are we gonna, you know, start this process? Um, what's where's our starting point? You know, talking to the contractors, talking to our vendors, and and just making it happen and doing all the scheduling and logistics behind that. And it's really important to know that you know, anytime in building and design, it is a it is a faulty industry. There's um something always happens, right? Yes, out of your control. Yes, there are so many people we rely on, and so many things going on, and so many shipping delays and products that arrive damaged and all of those things. So just preparing that to know that you know, this is why you hired us. Right. Um, what can go wrong will go wrong, and we're here to solve all those problems. We're gonna make a beautiful space, but we're gonna try to make this as easy as possible for you to to deal with, and you're not chasing down all the the loose end parts and pieces, bits and things that have to go to to make this come to life. It's so there's so many tiny details that people you don't think about. Um and the mistakes are expensive. Yeah, sure. So yeah, this is an expensive job. So it's like, you know, you want to make sure all of those, um, all those little parts and pieces are are tied together before you so have you ever done a project for a client that you hated, like they loved, and you were like, I don't want to do this, but this is what they're paying me for? No, no, I I wouldn't that be fun, like um lucky.
SPEAKER_01:I know.
SPEAKER_00:Well, I mean, um, there's some I don't like love, but you know, it's not my house, so we can't say I was wondering, I was always wondering if there's like this this one person who's like, I just want my entire bedroom black.
SPEAKER_01:I don't know, I'm making it up, and you're like, no, and he's like, yes, and you're like no, you know, and then you and you do it. And I was just wondering if there's done any projects that you don't that you walk away going, I could have done so much more with that.
SPEAKER_00:Or like it wasn't a good fit for the client.
SPEAKER_01:Right.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, there's I've there's definitely been some where I'm like, this isn't a good decision, this isn't a good decision, but like this is what you want, and I can't, it's your money and it's not in my house, and I can't change that. But but not like where I'm like, ugh, I don't like it. Like then it's probably not a good fit. Yeah, I like we would speak up and hopefully it wouldn't work out for either one of us because I want to it to feel good and fluid for everybody.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah. And what's your favorite part of the process? Like the beginning, the middle, the end, like starting, you know, putting it all together or the final result, or is it you know, putting it all together beforehand? You know, what part of the process is your favorite?
SPEAKER_00:I love, I love putting it all together, but nothing beats a reveal. That moment is, I mean, it it'll keep you coming back over. I mean, I cry every time that somebody, I mean, I hope that they like it too. Is it like is it like the TV show? So I try to do that, you know. Like we try to do that as much as possible. And there are some clients that are like, yes, wait, I want it all at once. And sometimes people want you to slow roll and get it in piece by piece, but which is great, you know. Like, I get it. I want some people just want to live in their house. But when I get to do it at the end and just have somebody walk in to see their space, that is the best, the best feeling. It's just a fun, you know, they know it's coming, but they've not walked in it and felt it and seen it yet. So that's that's the best.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, well then speaking of T L TV, let's talk a little bit about um your show. Yeah. I mean, how exciting. Tell us um how it happened, how that was the experience, um, and what did you take away from it?
SPEAKER_00:It was god, it was so it was so fun and just such an honor to be considered. And honestly, while I was in the process, it took years to go from start to to being h to to saying you have a series, um, the interview process, all of the above. And that I never really thought in my brain, I was like, well, it's not gonna happen. So, like, it's just not gonna happen. So, whatever. I'll just kept going with my day-to-day life until you know you get from one step to the next, and they're like, Well, now you're in the next round, and now you're in the next round, and now you have a um they called a sizzle, and then you have your um pilot, and now they're like, well, now you have a series, and then it was like, what?
SPEAKER_01:So you had a TV star to your resume, by the way.
SPEAKER_00:Yoga instructor, restaurant, yeah, okay. All the things, attack of all trades, master of nothing. Um but it it was it was incredible. Um, I worked with a production team, they were actually from Knoxville. Um, and I had gone to middle school with um the lead producer, and that's how my name was brought up to TV. Never know exactly. What anyone stay in touch on Facebook with those middle school friends, right? It was so just the craziest turn of events. Um and and and truly just like pinched me. I can't believe this.
SPEAKER_01:And if um if no one has seen the show, just give a brief explanation about what it is, what you did, and and where they can watch episodes now, of course.
SPEAKER_00:Yes. Um it was called Breaking Bland, and it was on HGTV, and it was really just saying, you know, kind of my design motto is I want you to love your space, whatever that means for you. That doesn't mean everybody else has to, it has to fit everybody else's expectations. It's like what turned you on what feels good for you. So honoring the style and like and us making it beautiful for you. So making that like work and be cohesive and feel good, but you know, spaces that turn you on and breaking the, you know, I felt like for for a while and and and kind of still do, we see the same things over and over again. That same, you know ship lap, yeah, white and all, yeah, and gray, and just gosh, there's so many options out there to feel, and and it can still be timeless. So um just breaking out of that box of of what everybody is already looking at and and really tapping into creativity or creativity and and what makes you feel good.
SPEAKER_01:That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, yeah, it was fun.
SPEAKER_01:I'm assuming we can watch these on YouTube or something. I think so. Yeah, yeah. All right, fantastic.
SPEAKER_05:I watched them all when they came out. And another character of the show was Charleston, you know. Yes, background.
SPEAKER_00:Listen, backdrop, absolutely. Yep. Oh, we have some new shows coming out on the design network. Wow, tell us about breaking news. Yeah, um, um, one is called a series on the called The Reveal. So I'll tour two homes I completed here in Charleston, one in the old village and one on Daniel Island. Um, I believe those come out in July, uh, which is really fun. That's where the design network comes into the homes and they really just film our finished product. And that's it's not, you know, it doesn't show the process, but it's the finished product, which is really fun to watch as well. And then another one in partnership with um Walmart and apartment therapy on how to redo your spaces for um for you know, you can still get great design on a dime. Oh, that's so awesome! See, that one I'll watch. Oh, yeah, please do. That was another design.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I do need uh I do need some help on a dime.
SPEAKER_00:Oh yeah, there's so many great options out there now. It is it is um it design should be accessible to everybody.
SPEAKER_01:I I agree. Yeah, I agree. And then speaking of that, like what are what do you what trends are you loving right now? And which ones you know can kind of go back in the closet.
SPEAKER_00:Um I forever love plaster and lime wash. We also have or also have our own lime washing team in-house. So because I love to put it in projects so much, I was like, we've gotta learn how to do this. Like it's so hard to book people and to find people that can do it and and and at the right price. So it's like we're just gonna figure it out.
SPEAKER_01:That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00:So um limewash and plaster always, they're timeless, they're beautiful, they add depth and texture. Um so those are my I don't I I don't even I wouldn't plaster's not a trend. Plaster's been around for hundreds of years, but that's my I think there's so much beauty in it. And wallpaper. I always love wallpaper. I have a love hate, right?
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, I have a love hate too.
SPEAKER_00:I hear it's oh god, it is agent. I love and in small spaces, you don't have to do it everywhere, but fun little like places that pack a punch and natural stone is that's my I love furniture out of natural stone, ever you know, those they're it's so beautiful. Um it's like it blows my mind to look at natural stone thinking that it came out of our earth, it has been here for I can't even I have no idea how many years. Um I'm gonna sound like a dingong if I try to project that. I know. Um since BC.
SPEAKER_01:Um is there anything that like is like all right, guys, it's you know it's 2025, stop. I Which is probably in my house, so go ahead.
SPEAKER_00:No, no, no. Um I I hate saying that. You know, I don't ever want to put any any design down.
SPEAKER_01:Um I just said it's I'm telling you in my house. I still have gold fixtures hanging in my house from 1989 when the house or 1998 when the house was built.
SPEAKER_00:Hey, it might be kind of that. You never know. You know what? I'm sitting here saying, please come back. Oh yeah. Please come back. Well, I mean, I we tore, you know, out of houses, some stone out of houses for years, and now I'm like, now we're putting it right back in. I didn't think about that. Um but I I don't ever, I don't know. I don't ever want to down put put down color.
SPEAKER_01:What's the what's the what's everyone's favorite color in Charleston? Because I actually just did Read My Bath. We'll have to talk about that some other time. But I did, it was it and was it Aunt Betty's Attic? I was told is like a classic Charleston color. Charleston green. It looks like ivory to me, but um, I mean, are those are those still used?
SPEAKER_00:Um yeah, yeah, ivory will never, never go out of style. Um Charleston green will never go out of style. So those are good staples. Um, I mean, I would love to see less chiflat. Um and you know, the overuse there is functional purposes for it, which I totally get. Um, but then there's spaces where it's kind of like we can think of other options, you know. Is molding still in style?
SPEAKER_01:Oh yeah. Okay. Because I have beautiful crown molding. Yes, crown molding is I that's the only thing I really like that's gonna stay is the crown molding.
SPEAKER_00:I love crown molding. It's it is you can go with or without, but there are certain styles of homes that really it works. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:See, I'm learning a lot. I'm certainly learning a lot today. Um, and I'm sure, you know, like I said before, like Charleston, being in Charleston's gotta be a unique place to design. Oh, it's fabulous. I mean, can you give us I you don't have to say where or who, but one or two of your favorite projects that you've done in these years?
SPEAKER_00:Oh, every time I finish one, I'm like, this was my favorite. So it's it's so that's so hard because I also get to develop personal relationships with the family. Sure. So that is such a special part of the job for me as well. So it really is. I walk away and I'm like, that was so special. I have new friends, I love this family, I love this home, I want to come back to it. Um and they're all so unique and so different. It's so it's it's hard. Even when I even the commercial spaces, I look I love commercial spaces.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, commercial spaces like you know, all the homes that you do. Yeah, have you ever branched out into the commercial side? Oh yeah. So that's great to hear. It is so fun.
SPEAKER_00:I've done a a a handful of local businesses from um Spa Azure to the works and the work cycle to heart jewelry downtown to the Kubernetes. Um gosh, I hope I'm not forgetting anything. I'm sure I am, but um yeah, I love local businesses. Creating a brand, taking a brand package and then just thinking about what that would look like visually is is the best. And it that comes pretty easy to me. Like for some reason I feel like I can look at brand colors and be like, that should look like that. You know, like all your brands look like this on walls.
SPEAKER_01:Well, I think we all know by now, especially with retail, um, because I have I'm from town center. Yeah. Um, I mean, there's a lot of competition out there, and you gotta look, I mean, if your store does not look good when a customer walks in, they will walk right out the door. Oh yeah. It's right out the door.
SPEAKER_00:Visual experience is very important.
SPEAKER_01:Too crowded, too close together, to this, to that, whatever it might be. I mean, and like you said, every brand is different because you're you know, one one high-end store is not gonna be the same as a target. I'm I'm using it as an example, but and just being able to show that personality through the displays and things is really important.
SPEAKER_05:Right, and so that's different than designing somebody's house because that's that that's where uh they show their personality where they live. Whereas a business, you're trying to invite many different personalities in to stay and buy stuff. So that's interesting.
SPEAKER_00:And like reflect that. What does that brand look like? You know, what how does that make you feel? But and and and correct and create a comfortable space out of that too, and typically with a budget that's hefty in mind, which is great. You know, but I I love I love commercial spaces as well.
SPEAKER_01:Now, do you work with um local artisans and things like that when you're doing um because I can I can see uh Charlestonians really liking working with other Charlestonians.
SPEAKER_00:Oh yeah. We love our local trades are are like our bread and butter, the people that you know we can rely on to create our wild visions, to um, you know, there's a local artist named Jonathan Ripkuma. He he's done um displays for us and furniture and art and you know our stone fabricators at um Lux Stone Boutique and Zemple can make anything, you know, anything near the cabinet store makes our cabinets. Like these are the people that help pull our visions and and make them come to life. And it's it's the we have the best. I I think that Charleston, of all the places I've lived and worked, I think that this the community here lifts each other up and supports each other more than any place I've seen. And when I describe it to other friends in business in other cities, they're like, that's not what our city is like. I'm like, God, the city's incredible. That's why everybody's moving here. Sure. I know spilling our secrets. It is so uh, but you know, even the look the interior design community, like all the designers, we're each other's fans and support group and other interior designers. If I have a question, I have no problem reaching out and asking. I've never ever not had somebody answer and lend a helping hand or invite me to their home or invite me. Like it is the most lovely group of people that support each other that I'm so grateful for. Charleston's a wonderful place, y'all. Yep.
SPEAKER_05:What's the weirdest request a client has ever made?
SPEAKER_00:Oh gosh. I thought about this, like I've thought about this long and hard, and I'm like, God, is anything weird to me anymore? Um, but it's not defined.
SPEAKER_01:That's a whole nother podcast for her room.
SPEAKER_00:Um I I can tell you the most the the funniest, most fun request I've ever had that I just it cracked me up. Um I I did have a client ask me to make a room that would offend her mother-in-law, and all of a sudden. Okay. I was like, I can noted, but not in a like in a cheapy fun way. Like more like edgy rather than she hates pineapple, so there's pineapple's everywhere in the beginning.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, like let's make this pre-yeah. Oh my god, that's hysterical. Yeah. I can't even imagine.
SPEAKER_00:I almost fell out of my chair. I was like, oh, I've never heard that. Got that.
SPEAKER_01:Let's talk about your business for one second because we are a business podcast and we do have businesses listen to us. So um, but it I mean, a woman owned business, obviously. Tell us a little bit about um how many employees, things like that, um, and what you felt was one of the toughest and then one of the easiest things about opening your business.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. Um, business has been starting a business has been like a life lesson. I've like now I'm I'm to the point where I'm saying like I feel like owning a business is like a little bit of self-growth along the way, you know? Like you're learning every single day, every step of the way, every single fail, which there's so many, um, and every single win. It's it's you know, there's so much up and down. It's like, yes, no, oh God. Um and right now I've got a great team of women. So um a couple that are with me full-time, and then some that are contract, and it and it ebbs and flows nicely. We all are in this great spot at this point where I feel like we can live our lives and have a little bit of balance and still be working and feeling great about what we're pulling out and not burning out. Because I've definitely gone through periods of burnout and a period where I tried to grow too fast and Just realizing that I don't always have to be, you know, grinding so hard that it's not livable. Right. That I can I can sit back and live and w as well. And we can st you know, again, like ask me in two months and I'll be grinding again. But um Ebb and Flow. Ebb and flow. But it's the ebb and flow. Um, but I think right that that comfortable spot of not growing too fast, because again, our business is has expensive, costly mistakes, and making sure every project is staying on track and um that we're we're executing what we said we were gonna execute in a great way, that everybody's happy. Um so you know, keeping this team moving the way we're moving is working great now. And then when when we win or if we want to expand, we we will and can. But right now I I'm I'm loving the way we're working together. We've got this great flow and uh and finding the people that you can work with that really support each other, um lift each other up when somebody needs help with this or needs to go do this, like got it. We can fill in the gaps there. Um and and and again, like just working together and supporting each other and being positive too with each other.
SPEAKER_01:And um Are you personally still involved with every design? Oh yes. Oh yeah. I'm not giving it away that fast. No, I have my fingers in everything.
SPEAKER_00:Although I do have a great, I did finally hire a designer, and she is amazing. So it is awesome to know that like I'm not the end-all be all every day. I can have somebody that has been the biggest relief for me. Well, sure.
SPEAKER_01:A lot of stress off of you. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Someone that you can trust. Yeah. Yes, I can trust her so.
SPEAKER_01:People to hiring and they want your name, right? And then they're like, well, I'm gonna send Susie over. I don't want Susie.
SPEAKER_00:I want you to be like, no, but Susie's just as good as I am. Trust me.
SPEAKER_01:So yeah.
SPEAKER_00:That's a great place to be. It has been the biggest game changer for and to be a mom and to be able to focus on growing the business and take care of everybody in the business and focus on those things rather than just the hustle behind it because there's so much that goes into it. So um, you know, it's it business has been an an interesting ride. And you know, I I'm gonna say something that's really, really embarrassing for me. But when I first started my business, you know, years ago before I had children and and I was just creating, I didn't I'd never heard of what a PL was. Listen, only one goal.
SPEAKER_01:So no, do not think that you're don't be as embarrassed as you would think. Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it was it was actually much later. I had a woman working with me that was like, let me see your PL sheets in the last few years. I'm like, what? What? Yes, I need to pick that up. Yeah. So that's learning how to to now run a business that is sustainable and um and and makes money and that doesn't just, you know, create, but that's what I thought, you know. It's like I've got to create the dream first, and that's gonna lose some money, and then it's gonna then it, you know, that was my thought process. But sort of learning the design of the business process behind it and taking business courses, and that's been the biggest, you know, there's so much to learn, but a lot of it is is trial and error and just doing it and figuring it out.
SPEAKER_05:Yep, and then every day there's something new to learn. Yep, every single day in life and in business.
SPEAKER_00:Yep, yep, absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:And then um what if somebody is listening to us as an aspiring designer and would like to get into the business? What kind of steps or what kind of advice would you give to them?
SPEAKER_00:Um, I would say do your homework. Um there is again, there's so many um parts and pieces to the business that you don't want to go in and um and not know and make a huge mistake and have it be costly or or a lawsuit. Right. Um, but also trust yourself. And if this is something that you've been working on and you love and believe in and you've done the homework, um try it. Try it on, try it for free for somebody, you know, that um try it for yourself. Try it in small spaces and um but but believe in it. And then whatever it is that you start, you know, finish it and follow through with all those little things and problems will come, but um it's how you solve them and and make right that that makes the the final product in your business and and everything.
SPEAKER_01:That's good advice. That's really good advice.
SPEAKER_05:If if you decide to see your upcoming shows, what uh do you see in the store in the future for your business and yourself?
SPEAKER_00:Um I wanted to just continue to keep creating and and now kind of like I was touching on before, but instead of the grind, I want it to just continue to intentionally unfold as best as they can. Um and and let it organically grow and let this team grow and let this um let us keep continuing to be comfortable and then the next projects come on and the you know the young women rise up and um take on bigger roles and um but let this like continue to let our group support each other and and grow the best that that we can. I'd I'd love to see some expansion, but that was my next question.
SPEAKER_05:So are you already like you're based in Charleston now? Do you do work outside of Charleston?
SPEAKER_00:Yes, we can do work anywhere. Um we've done a couple of projects outside of Charleston, but I'd love to I would love to do more. Right, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:Well they have to have your clients call all their friends all over the place, right? All your friends. I've got this girl. I know this girl. That's really awesome. Yeah. Um, and so and and I know this is gonna sound funny, but I just need like one or two like staples. Okay, two.
SPEAKER_04:I'm just gonna go home today and do it.
SPEAKER_01:So here's I'm the kind of I'm the kind of person that I know what I like when I see it, but there is absolutely no talent on designing it or anything. Like I have to see it. And I'll be like, oh, I like that couch. Oh, I like the way those pills. Like, I am really bad. I just didn't and it's really sad because my mom was like the complete opposite and I'm didn't get any of that talent from her. Um, but so like what are a couple just staples that someone I have I have a cute little house, um it's one level, it's fun, you know. Is it pillows, is it like what is I don't know, what to jazz it up a little bit? Like what can I do?
SPEAKER_00:I I would um I would suggest for somebody like if that you're going to jazz up your space with an is go to flea markets or antique marts and like find things that really resonate with you that you love and would be there forever. No no offense to like the home goods, but rather than finding like little things from those places, go find things that you keep and um and that would have more meaning, deeper meaning for you, or find like that one nice piece and you can build over time rather than you know kind of trying to outfit it all with at once. And then, you know, matching if you match your pillows and your throw and your rug, like those kind of you know, are you supposed to match or not match now? Well I guess no color way of what it's supposed to be doing as well.
SPEAKER_01:Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Keep it in the same color family.
SPEAKER_01:Of color family, so not like a red chair and a green chair or something like that.
SPEAKER_00:You know, in the same like monochromatic or stay stay in the same color family, and that's typically safe.
SPEAKER_01:I'm I'm just no good.
SPEAKER_00:Oh, you good at it, Amina? I try. I think I've got a lot of people. Well, at least she tries.
SPEAKER_01:I don't think I try. I don't even know.
SPEAKER_00:I think everybody has it in them a little bit. The the point truly, it should be what you like then. I I know if it makes you feel good in there, who cares what anybody else does.
SPEAKER_01:But I think my other problem is that I'm very I'm very sentimental. So I've got a lot of tchotchkis that I just That's okay. No, but no, I no, I it's really not. And um It's okay to let go. Yeah, well, I well then um but here's like I'll tell you a really funny story, and and you're gonna laugh at this, I think. So I just got um uh my master bathroom redone, which I'll be paying off forever. Um because it's so huge. But anyway, so you know, I wanted to realize I was like, this is gonna be the perfect bathroom. I have this picture um of this, it's a picture of these dogs that I've had on every single bathroom since I was 18 years old. It's like a hor like this, and it goes over the toilet bowl. Every I mean, okay, I'm much older than now. Okay. But every single bathroom I've lived in for eight since 18 has this picture. So I put the picture up, right? And my husband's like, seriously? I mean, seriously. You know, but so then what it was really funny. But it made you feel good. Yeah, it did, but that but so then we went out and bought some local artwork. Yeah. Hand painted artwork of turtles and and um crabs and these beautiful fish and stuff. And we put them up, and you look at them, and then you look at the picture over the toilet. You're like, it's just what is going on here, but I can't take it down. No, see, it's your house.
SPEAKER_00:So don't worry about what anybody else thinks. That is another very important thing. The local artwork that is that right there. I think everybody needs at least one piece of art that they love in their home. Yeah, maybe that picture might be. But yeah, so see, if it makes you happy, and I love Totchkees too. I mean last night we're I just moved into a an older home that we're kind of and I'm doing as I go. So being my own client is fun. You're probably the worst client out there. Oh my god, totally. And it's a good reminder that like things take time. My things come in broken too. You know, like I've got it, and it's you have to live in shambles, and I understand when clients are like, I don't want anybody in my house anymore. I'm like, I don't I get it. Um but in my closet, I put together a whole shelf of my chat keys that I'm like, I I love y'all. I won't I'm not gonna part with you. You're all special memories, but you can live here in my closet.
SPEAKER_01:Maybe I need that. Maybe I need a special space.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:With some shelves.
SPEAKER_05:And isn't another um easy way to change up a space is just a coat of paint.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. A fresh coat of paint will change can change anything. Like, and it's just paint. That's a good family. Like, at the end of the day, if you don't like it, it's just paint. Paint it again. And it's an easy way to very easy way to change anything. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:I've also got to get I've also gotta get my uh boring husband to get excited about some new furniture and stuff like that. He's not gonna listen to this, so we're okay. I'm like, I don't know if she can help you with that. Um we're gonna ask you a couple um of rapid fire fun questions before we let you go. Um I'll go first, Amanda. Okay. Wallpaper. I think it's hysterical. Love it.
SPEAKER_00:Um minimalist or maximist? Okay, that is entirely dependent on the house in the space, but I'm probably leaning more towards maximalist. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_01:All right, antique market or a modern showroom? Antique market.
SPEAKER_05:What about designing a beach house or a high-end or a historic mansion?
unknown:Both.
SPEAKER_05:Might choose when you could do it.
SPEAKER_01:It could be again, it could be a beach house mansion in the house. Well, I'm sure you've been in a couple beach house mansions around here. Absolutely. Um, what is your favorite room to design? Kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom?
SPEAKER_00:Kitchen. Kitchen, why? Um, gosh, there's the heart of the room. Yeah. I mean, I love a powder room because you can kind of go all out and be really weird in there, and that's okay because it's a small space. But the kitchens can be so interesting now with the stones and the um hardware and the wood and the different weight, the tile and the I just like kitchens. That's the heart of the homes where everybody hangs out. It's true. It's where you spend all your time. And I love designing somebody's kitchen and coming back and hanging out in their kitchen.
SPEAKER_01:Kitchens. And then finally, if you uh were not doing what you're doing now, you're a successful in uh interior designer.
SPEAKER_00:What do you think you'd be doing? Um, I would probably be teaching fitness and doing some form of motivational speaking. That has been the biggest challenge for me is believing in myself. So helping other people believe in themselves is really important to me. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, that's really awesome. Um, remind our listeners where they can find you.
SPEAKER_00:Um, you can find me on well, anywhere. All the social Oh yes. I have two social media accounts. I don't know why I get asked that all the time. Um and I don't know how to run them. So they're sometimes they're, you know, one's more personal, one's MW Fox Stasic, and the other one is Mary Welch Fox Design. And um the other one's more shiny things and and fun photos of the spaces that we do. Um, yeah.
SPEAKER_01:The website is what?
SPEAKER_00:Um MaryWelchfox.com. And your show, your new shows, yeah. Remind us about those again. Oh, those will be coming out in July um on the Design Network. Awesome.
SPEAKER_01:That is really fun. Thank you so much for being here. Y'all, thank you so much for having me. Thank you. I'm gonna have to go look at some like some paint colors on my way home. On my way home.
SPEAKER_00:If they come the next day, it's a dollar. It's where you get through called sample eyes. Oh, you don't have to make costly paint mistakes anymore.
SPEAKER_01:Just put those sample eyes stickers on your wall, live with them in different lights, and that's well, I remember when I a long time ago when I was redoing a bathroom um before I moved here in my old house. I I had the little things, I forgot the word called them. I taped them up there and I I literally left them there for a week. I kept walking by and I'm like, Oh yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Well, those are too small to tell. I know they look different in different lights. Yeah, I know. Sambolize is like a a good like 12 bucks. Samplize.
SPEAKER_05:Oh, that's a good tip.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, it's that is saved us so much because then you can leave it there morning, night, look at it in different lights, and it's not that tiny little chip, but like actually doesn't look like that in the end. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01:Well, exactly, you're actually more.
SPEAKER_00:And you could buy a couple of them, you know, fill a bigger space and let it sit in the bike. That's amazing. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01:That is the tip of the day, people. The tip of the day. Uh, thank you again so much. It was so awesome talking to you. We wish you um continued success in everything that you do. We can't wait to watch your new TV shows. And then everybody go back to YouTube and watch H E T V's Breaking Bland. Yeah. We can have some fun with that. Uh Amanda, do you have anything else?
SPEAKER_00:Or no, that's it. I had fun. So much fun. I've I love hanging out and talking. So I'll come back anytime.
SPEAKER_01:Amanda, thank you um for being here with me today. Um, I do love learning about this kind of stuff, especially when um it's something I know I'm not good at. Um and I've and I've got a whole thought process going in in my head right now from just speaking with you. So um you made an impact on me. So I'm sure you'll make an impact on our listeners as well. So um it's such a pleasure to meet you. Uh before we leave, we need to once again thank our sponsors, uh DK Design and Charleston Media Solutions, for their support, not only of this podcast, of course, but the entire Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce. Um, if you're interested in sponsoring or being a guest on our show, please reach out to Rebecca Imholtz, um, and someone will get back to you. Make sure to like and subscribe on all of our media channels. We'll be on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. So thank you for being with us today. Until next time, Mount Pleasant. Until next time, listeners.
