Meet Gabrielle Williams | Interior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabrielle Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabrielle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I went to school to become a Surgical Technologist and did this for about 10 years but I lost my passion for it. Many factors contributed to my loss of passion, 1) I always was a creative person but my parents encouraged me to pursue a profession that I was guaranteed to have employment. 2) I started to notice how run down some of my fellow healthcare workers and I refused to let that be me. 3) People don’t realize how draining it is to work in healthcare. There are no paid holidays, sick days are non existent and you’re doing some pretty heavy lifting for many that take you for granted and management is very corporate and not as caring as you try to be to your patients.

So at the beginning of COVID I started to do more for myself, including delving more into my creativity. We were not in a place financially to buy new furniture so one day I decided that I was going to refinish my grandmother’s tea cart properly and turn it into a bar cart. I really got into it, the sanding, the painting, even picking out knobs… it was my therapy since we were all stuck inside. One day, after I finished painting the last coat, my husband looked at me and said “you know you could make a business out of this.” It took me about a month to really think about it, because I didn’t want to mess a good thing up, it was so relaxing and a great outlet for me. Well, next thing I know I’m creating a logo and trying to figure out the next step, I figured it was a good time to help others that were also in a bind financially, those that were possibly going through depression or crawling their walls. One thing I have always believed is that your surroundings have an affect on you mentally and that was one thing I knew I could help others with.

Here I am, 3 years later, former furniture register to now an Interior Designer. I am still learning the ropes of being a business owner and my goal is to design full-time within the next 2 years.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My name is Gabrielle and I am the owner of Vibe by Gabrielle. I started refinishing furniture on the patio of my apartment and now I am an Interior Designer and in the process of designing the interior of my new house! I am most proud of myself for sticking with this business, because I am a person that is all over the place with many interests and I have had the tendency of becoming bored very quickly. What really helped me were the goals that I set during Covid: to grow and develop spiritually- meaning reading my Bible and praying daily and also taking better care of myself physically- working out and eating healthier. All of these things combined, helped me to keep Vibe by Gabrielle alive!

I have learned many many many lessons along the way, social media and search engines can be your best friends if you learn how they can benefit your business. Network, network, network! I am not the most social person but I am still learning this lesson, in order for your name to enter rooms when you’re not there, you have to get to know the people that could be in a room with you.

My story isn’t special but it’s the fact that I was able to turn a passion that I never realized I had but felt like I naturally did; transformed it into something that others have an appreciation for and me still being excited whenever I get to design for a client.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Monday we’re going to first stop at Perc in Grant Park for coffee and breakfast sandwich and then we’re heading to Lenox mall as soon as they open, if you know, you know. Lunch at Bistro Niko and then heading back to my house before traffic and we hang at home, my husband cooks and I bartend.
Tuesday I need to catch up on some work so we head over to Switchyards downtown and then an early dinner at Nuevo Laredo for Taco Tuesday!
Wednesday is a work from home day and then we take a nice stroll through Ponce City Market and grab a bite and walk the beltline.
Thursday is a chill day but then we head to Jazz in the Gardens at the Botanical Gardens.
Friday we go to Barcelona in Inman Park for happy hour and then head over to Vinoteca or Press Shop for some wine tasting.
Saturday is brunch with the girls at Blue Martini, take a nap and then dinner at Saints + Council and a show at the Fox
Sunday is sleeping in and then brunch/lunch at Folk Art and walking around downtown Decatur.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this to my loving husband who continues to push me out of my comfort zone and gives me the encouragement I need when imposter syndrome starts sneaking in. Also to my parents who continue to support me and whose love has never failed me. You all are the reasons that I strive to keep the promises I made to Jehovah God and myself.

Website: Coming Soon!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vibebygabrielle?igsh=MW80ajh4NWpxbnZheg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/Hv2wSYpPWVrop45z/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Other: Pinterest: https://pin.it/6TDXsHG4Z

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vibebygabrielle?_t=8mFWWblIv6I&_r=1