Meet Dorothy McGhee | Interior Designer

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

Hi Dorothy, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?

Building my business over the last year has been such a learning experience. I’ve had to practice compartmentalizing each area of my life, and prioritizing tasks in order to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Being a business owner, along with a wife and mother involves a lot of juggling. Luckily, I am blessed to have a support system that I can lean on for assistance.

I’ve learned that in building a busniness, there are always tasks you can be completing. The balance comes in forcing yourself to log off, and allowing yourself time to rest.

I find that taking time away from my work and doing an activity with friends or family offers me the opportunity to find new inspiration in order to approach my projects with a refreshed perspective.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

McGhee Studios is a full-service interior design company, with a focus on kitchen and bath design. My background in luxury kitchen and bath sales gives me a unique point of view, and in-depth knowledge of natural stone and plumbing, as well as relationships with vendors that are beneficial to myself and my clients. My knowledge on how to leverage those relationships assists in creating top-notch experiences for my clients.

I began consulting with homeowners on their Kitchen + Bath renovations in the retail sector during my early 20’s. Acting as a liaison for those homeowners and their tradespeople I began to recognize my love for transforming spaces. I knew that I needed to expand my knowledge in other sectors of the construction and interiors industry, which is what led me to take various positions in high-end stone and plumbing companies. Getting to this point wasn’t “easy” but I loved what I was doing so it was never a burden

As a self-taught designer, I think it’s important for potential clients and aspiring designers to understand that passion and dedication are what got me here. I wanted to learn the business in order to be the best, so I took those corporate jobs, and made them work for me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I LOVE hosting friends and family that visit the city. Some of my “must experience” places and activities in Atlanta include the various art festivals in Piedmont and the Highlands. For food and drinks, we’d be going to Rock Steady for Afrobeats and Drawbar for the views. You can also often find me at the 1am Secret Show for comedy. I think it’s important to immerse myself in the culture of my city. Atlanta provides inspiration in abundance if you know where to look.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been exposed to many talented and motivating individuals along my journey. Most notably, I was lucky enough to work under Tavia Forbes & Monet Masters at their firm, Fobes Masters . My time as their Junior Designer allowed me to hone my skills in regards to construction management as well as interiors. Their support and co-sign as I began my own ventures has been invaluable. Monet’s perspective and creativity is one of a kind, she was alway armament that I should know my worth and to trust my creative instincts; while Tavia hammered the value of the finite details into me on a daily basis. Not only did I gain mentors in business, but my interpersonal skills grew under their guidance as well.

Website: www.mcgheestudios.com

Instagram: @_tilemeaboutit

Image Credits
Steady Chambers