Hospitality Design - September 2012 - 158

Wave
of
the
Future
2012
Senior Associate
tvsdesign
Atlanta
I grew up in Dallas,
and spent most
summers in Alabama
with family. As a
child, I remember
thinking that I.M.
Pei’s Dallas City
Hall was the most
amazing building I’d
ever seen. On that
same note, I fell in
love with Alabama
and southern
architecture, from
the antebellum to the
vernacular, and the
incredible landscape,
whether natural or
the southern garden.
I was rather hyper
as a kid and my
mother was always
kicking me out of the
house. I channeled
that energy into
building structures,
whether it was a new
treehouse, making
renovations to my
fort, or building a
huge dollhouse for my
sister for Christmas
158
one year. I realized I
was bet er with my
Dad’s tools than he
was; I could cut a
straight line—always
the perfectionist.
Besides being a
fi reman, my other
great interest growing
up was advertising,
The whole industry
fascinates me and I
love to see how other
creative minds work.
Both my sisters are
in the industry, so I
get my fi x from them
when I visit.
My fi rst memory of
design was going to
the Alexander Calder
exhibit at Fair Park
in Dallas. I was fi ve
and blown away. My
parents even bought
me a mobile for my
room. I cherished it.
A birthday dinner
with my mother
at the Rosewood
September 2012 hospitalitydesign.com
Mansion on Turtle
Creek was the fi rst
time I appreciated
hospitality. It is one of
the most enchanting
hotels. It seemed
perfect and it ran
eff ortlessly. Lit le did
I know what it takes
to run a hotel—
and well.
I love the Rosewood
Mayakoba. The
level of detail is
impeccable; they
thought of everything.
It’s one of the most
enchanting and
relaxing places I have
ever been.
People-watching in
hotels is important
to me; you can really
learn a lot about what
you or others have
done well and not
so well by observing
how people use
the space.
I worked in many
Foreman
Rogers
diff erent areas of
design before fi nding
my true passion in
hospitality. During
college at Auburn
University, I interned
for a residential
fi rm; then right out
of school, I worked
in the government/
military and
educational sectors.
At tvsdesign I
started in retail and
convention centers
before making the
biggest switch to
interior hospitality,
my true passion. All
that experience I
would not change for
the world.
I thrive on Diet Dr.
Pepper and travel.
My fi rst reality
check was my fi rst
paycheck. You have
to love this business
to be in it. Long
hours, hard work,
and tough critics,
but there is nothing
more rewarding than
seeing a guest use
your space the way
it was intended or
get ing praise from a
client over its success.
My guilty pleasure
is half-price oysters,
ice cold PBR, and
my best friends,
all together on
Fridays aſt er work
at Fontaine’s in the
Highlands. It’s hard
to beat on a designer’s
salary.
Success is loving and
loving well, whether
it is your work, family,
or friends.
I am not sure what I
want it to say on my
tombstone. I never
even thought about it,
but I would like it to
be made of Calacat a
Borghini.
2
1
2
1.Wreckers Sports Bar
opens up to the pool at
the Gaylord Palms in
Orlando.
2. Gray and tan tones
make up the bedroom
at the Hyatt Regency
McCormick Place in
Chicago.
http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
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