Meet Savannah Tejchman

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

Hi Savannah, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The simple answer? I’ve always known that my career would only feel right if I could eat, sleep, and breathe what I’m passionate about—and actually make a living doing it. Being an entrepreneur was always patiently and shyly sitting in the back of my mind, but the bigger question was: what would my business even be?​ How could I truly call myself an entrepreneur? Do I even know what that means? Am I capable of becoming the woman who owns her own successful business, fully living the ‘boss babe’ life?​

So, I guess this isn’t exactly a simple question with a simple answer because that’s a way-too-lackluster explanation for a life, a story, and a journey that has been anything but lackluster. So, what was the real thought process behind creating my business? Let’s get into it.​

I didn’t jump straight into college after high school because, honestly, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, and collecting student loans for a major I was unsure of felt incredibly …. Lets say “silly” to me. So, I told myself I’d enroll when the time felt right. In the meantime, I dove into the service industry, starting as a server and eventually becoming a bartender. It wasn’t just about making ends meet—it was about learning, growing, and figuring out who I was. That time taught me resilience, people skills, and the value of hard work—all of which have been invaluable on my journey as an entrepreneur and artist.

I always carried the dream of owning my own organization company, but it felt so distant and unattainable that I tucked it away in my “one day” vault and kept moving. Meanwhile, I desperately searched for ways to be creative—because creating was the only thing that made me feel truly at peace.

Eventually, I came across a painting style called “pour painting” or “fluid art,” where you pour paint onto a canvas using different techniques to create abstract, trippy designs. I started painting on anything I could—tables, canvases, random objects I found at thrift stores. I even started selling pieces to friends, but I still didn’t have the confidence to really “make something” out of it.

I moved through my young adult life feeling a little lost until, I made a decision: it was time to follow my deepest dreams. I knew I couldn’t bartend forever, and I had loved all things design for as long as I could remember. But growing up, I often heard, “What are you going to do with an art major?” Those echoes made me push down my passions—until I finally decided it was time to live for myself.

In 2020, I applied to Georgia State University (GSU) as a Studio Art major and simultaneously launched my first business: The Drippy Trippy Paint Co. This creative outlet (fluid painting) finally had its red carpet moment, reaching beyond just my circle of friends. That was the turning point for everything.​

Drippy Trippy was established as an official LLC, specializing in fluid art transformed into functional home decor. With my first business born and acceptance into GSU secured, these two worlds collided, and I found myself working harder in school than ever before. I chose to major in sculpture because it felt like the one area where I could truly experiment and physically craft my own art. (Looking back, that decision sparked a new creative curiosity that has since become my biggest career goal.)​

As time went on, The Drippy Trippy Paint Co. no longer resonated with the woman I was becoming—and that’s when Monae Studios was born. I also began struggling with the idea of being a sculpture major: what was I really going to do with it? Those old echoes came back.

Toward the end of my sophomore year, I sat down with myself for an honest conversation. I finally trusted myself enough to block out outside noise—and that’s when the “light bulb” moment happened:

“Savannah, you’re a creative. You love making functional art. You’re not afraid to get your hands dirty. School has taught you woodworking, welding, and craftsmanship. You’re obsessed with interior design and architecture more than you’ve admitted. You’re passionate about all things organization. And now, your passions are backed by some education—and you’re more than capable of self-teaching the rest. It’s time to bet on yourself.”

That week, I dropped out of school and gave it everything I had.
The Drippy Trippy Paint Co. evolved into Monae Studios—in my eyes, my first true business.

Monae Studios is the parent company, and under its umbrella are three branches:

Monae Method: professional organization services,
Monae Designs: interior design services,
Monae Home Studios: custom sculptural lamps and home decor—all designed and/or handcrafted by me.

Finally, my passions have a name and a purpose. They’re no longer just dreams—they’re being seen and brought to life.

So when asked, “What was your thought process behind starting your business?” — it’s not as simple as wanting to eat, sleep, and breathe my passion. It wasn’t just one thought or experience.

Creating my business was born from growth, self-belief, confidence, risk-taking, trust—and honestly, a little bit of healthy delusion. (Personally, I think the only time delusion is healthy is when you’re betting on yourself—and I’m finally, fully betting on me.)

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Maybe it’s the creative in me, but I feel like this should be answered from the last to the first question.
I want the world to know that my brand fully and truthfully comes from the story of a girl who dreamed of being a woman that made a difference. A woman who would one day be her own boss. A woman who, when she spoke, people would listen to and respect.
But most importantly, a woman who would feel so confident and proud of herself — and do it all because she had to prove something to one person only: the little girl inside her.
That little girl who played Barbies until middle school, creating these lives inside tiny dollhouses — completely obsessed with design — not even realizing she was building the foundation for who she would grow up to be. I am becoming exactly who that little girl dreamed I could be.
There’s not just one thing I want the world to know about my brand.
What I really want is for people to feel my brand.
Monae Studios isn’t just an extension of me — it is me.
It’s every part of Savannah that never quite knew to express her creativity until now.
My brand is the dream that I have had since childhood—a girl who played with Barbies, designing dollhouses, unknowingly laying the foundation for her future in design. That girl grew into a woman determined to make a difference, to be her own boss, and to inspire others through her creativity.​
Monae Studios isn’t just a business; it’s a reflection of my journey. Named after my middle name, “Monae,” which means “adored” or “beloved,” the brand represents the love and dedication I’ve poured into becoming the woman I always aspired to be.​
Was it easy? Not at all. From dropping out of college to pursuing entrepreneurship without a clear roadmap, the path is filled with uncertainties. But each challenge is teaching me resilience, self-belief, and the importance of staying true to my vision.​
I want people to feel the essence of Monae Studios—not just see it.
My journey led me to Georgia State University, where I was able to use this time to truly figure out where I want to take my future and career in a design/artist world. While taking studio art classes I discovered I want to design and make furniture. I wanted craft furniture and home decor that resonated with my artistic vision. As I delved deeper, I found myself gravitating toward lighting, leading to the inception of my first collection—The 1st Jump. This focus allowed me to channel my skills into designing elevated, functional art pieces.​
What sets my work apart is its deep-rooted inspiration from Brutalist design. I’m fascinated by the raw, minimalist beauty in Brutalism—the celebration of structure, material, and form. There’s an elegance in its honesty, a sophistication in its simplicity.​
Through my creations, I aim to challenge traditional perceptions of Brutalism, often associated with harshness and darkness. By utilizing raw materials typically concealed behind drywall—like concrete, steel, and other industrial elements—I strive to reveal their intrinsic beauty. My lamps are not just sources of light; they are statements of art, embodying the seamless fusion of function, sophistication and form.​
While designing my lamps and experimenting with cement, I discovered a medium that I truly want to dive deeper into.
I had already worked with resin and molds, but working with cement sparked something different in me — and that’s when I decided I wanted to create a home decor collection in addition to my lamps.
I’m excited to keep experimenting, to continue working on the second lamp in my collection, The Jump, and to keep pouring my heart into every corner of Monae Studios.
My dream is to conquer every branch of Monae Studios — to grow into a brand that people are excited to work with, a brand that helps create lively, organized spaces filled with custom, functional art pieces designed with purpose.
Monae Studios is my heart, and I hope everyone who experiences it can feel the love, effort, and passion behind my work and my business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a tough question — I love this city, but I haven’t even explored it to the fullest yet.
That’s actually one of my biggest goals this year: to really dive into the art and creative scene of Atlanta and immerse myself in everything it has to offer.
Since I’m a bartender, though, I definitely know a few cool spots I’d take my best friend to experience.
I love days when the weather’s nice and you can just be outside — we’d spend a day walking the BeltLine, hopping on scooters, stopping at bars, restaurants, and cute shops along the way.
The BeltLine eventually leads to Ponce City Market, a huge shopping center and food hall, so we’d wrap up the day there — grabbing drinks, exploring the shops, and just soaking it all in.
For nights out, I’m all about a classic girls’ night in the city.
Atlanta’s rooftops are the move! I’d take us to Moonlight, Spaceman, and the Clermont Hotel rooftop — those are my top three for the best city views.
Moonlight holds the number one spot in my heart — it’s on the 30th floor of the 4th Hotel, and the 360-degree view of the city at night is just unreal.
The rest of the week would be all about exploring: trying new cocktail bars, checking out the High Museum of Art, spending time at Piedmont Park, and discovering all the cute little hidden gems around the city.
There’s just something about Atlanta — its vibrant, unapologetically loud, full of life, and like nowhere — and I’d want my best friend to feel every bit of that while they’re here.

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?
There isn’t one person, group, organization, or even, unfortunately, a book that I can dedicate a single shoutout to for being a part of my story.
I’ll say it again: there isn’t one person — and for a while, there wasn’t any person. I always felt uncomfortable in school when we had projects asking us to present our biggest inspiration or the person we admired most. I was that kid in class who never really felt that level of “awe” for someone or thought, “That’s who I want to be when I grow up.” I didn’t understand why. I questioned myself—why didn’t I feel like the other kids who easily said their mom, their dad, or some celebrity?

No matter what, I couldn’t just make something up, because that wasn’t my truth. And honestly, it’s okay. It’s okay to not always have someone to give credit to, or to feel like it’s not just one individual who made a difference.
The realest truth of it all is that I didn’t experience that feeling — that desire to give credit and recognition — until I was in my twenties. (And another truth- I am thankful that it wasn’t until my twenties that I encountered, as I know now, these blessing because I wasn’t in a position to fully hear, feel and simply understand them anytime before)

I probably don’t have to explain this but I find it important to make this part clear. My mom is, hands down, one of the most relentless, selfless, strong, independent, and beautiful-inside-and-out people I have ever known — and not just known, but been blessed enough to call my mommy.
She will always have her flowers in my story.
But there’s a distinction I want to make.
Yes, my mom will forever be the most significant, untouchable person in my life — a level no one else can reach. Her love and support have been the foundation of who I am.

But when it comes to the people who made a mark on the journey I’ve been on — who helped me believe in myself, who encouraged my dreams of going to art school, who told me I had no choice but to make The Drippy Trippy Paint Co. an LLC because the fee for the LLC wasn’t a good enough excuse anymore and paid for it, who gave me the space to turn our entire apartment into a makeshift studio, who made me feel capable, talented, and like a real artist when I needed it most, who hyped me up in ways I had never experienced before, who hired me on the spot and fully bet on me for a position I had never done before simply because they believed in my potential, who gave me the opportunity to use their basement as my studio for a year —
how could that credit possibly go to just one person?
It couldn’t. Their impact was different. They provided the push, the affirmation, and the opportunities that showed me the light at the end of the tunnel that was always dark and for the first time I could see clearly.

This doesn’t diminish my gratitude for my mom; instead it gifted me individuals that where necessary for theses stages of my life to guide me into the right direction even if at that time I couldn’t fully understand the reason or their purpose.
Each contribution has been invaluable in shaping the person and professional I am today.

It took a really long time for me to experience the blessing of having people who truly made an impact on my life, my future, and my dreams.
But it’s not about how many years I went without them — it’s about the fact that they came, each and every one of them, exactly when they were meant to.

I get a little choked up thinking about these people, because they showed me how special I am, how special I can be, and they taught me how to love and trust myself.
They don’t just deserve “a little credit.”
They deserve huge hugs, big credit, and they will always have a comfy, warm space in my heart.

My story is my story — but my journey will never be a solo experience.
I absolutely have the capability to become everything I desire on my own, but it would have taken me so much longer to realize, believe, and trust in myself without the many beautiful souls who stepped into my story at exactly the right time.

So, no, I can’t shout out just one individual…
But I am so incredibly blessed to shout out a handful of people who deserve so much credit in my story.

I love you all more than you’ll ever know, and I’m more thankful than I could ever fully show.
(You know who you are — thank you for believing in me.)

Website: https://Monaehomedesign.com

Instagram: @Monaehomestudios

Other: @savannahmonae_ (personal instagram)
@thedrippytrippypaint.co (first business)

Image Credits
Wynton Harvey – Black and white photos