Meet Starr Simpson | Interior Designer

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

Hi Starr, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always had a passion for all things home—from real estate to interior design. What started as designing for my own real estate and business ventures, running renovation projects and furnishing short-term rentals, eventually evolved into something more meaningful. Friends and family would often ask for help with their own homes, and I discovered how much joy I felt creating spaces for others.

Over time, I realized I was most inspired not by creating for investors, but by designing for individuals and families. There’s something deeply personal and special about shaping a space that reflects who someone is, beyond just trying to appeal to the masses. Helping people feel more at home in their homes is what continues to drive my work today.

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?
Live&Gather Co. is an Atlanta-based, turnkey interior design firm specializing in residential projects. We’re known for combining thoughtful design with seamless execution, creating homes that are both beautiful and deeply personal.

What sets us apart are our three core values:
1. Personalized Design
We don’t believe in cookie-cutter or trend-driven spaces. Every design is thoughtfully tailored to reflect the unique style, preferences, and lifestyle of the people who live there.
2. Executional Excellence
With a professional background in project management and operations, we know that great design is only as successful as its execution. We bring structure, clarity, and proven processes to every phase of the project to ensure things move efficiently from concept to completion.
3. Client Experience
We believe the experience matters just as much as the end result. Our goal is to make each project feel as seamless and stress-free as possible, continuously refining our approach to better serve our clients every step of the way.

I’m most proud of how quickly we’ve been able to establish our firm as a go-to interior design resource in Atlanta. That growth is a testament to the strong foundation built from previous careers and experiences. We’ve been able to pull best practices and lessons learned from real estate, social media content creation, project management, and other ventures, giving us business acumen to help us, in many ways, leapfrog typical early-stage hurdles.

Behind the scenes, I’ve also invested in professional development and resources to deepen my expertise in both the practice and business of interior design. It hasn’t been easy and the journey has not been linear. Creative careers are incredibly subjective, and I’ve had to work through imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and a long-standing tendency to people-please.

I consider myself both a creative and a business professional, and sometimes those two sides are at odds. After years spent primarily in business roles, I now find more joy in the creative process; but as a business owner, striking a balance between the two is key.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Where We’re Eating:
• Antico Pizza – the best pizza hands down!
• Mango’s Caribbean (Downtown location only) – best ordered as takeout
• Heirloom BBQ
• Morningbirds – a great spot for tea service and a slower pace
• Rumi’s Kitchen – consistently great food and a beautiful atmosphere

Where We’re Going:
• Ponce City Market – great for walking, shopping, and rooftop views
• The MLK Center and House Tour – meaningful, inspiring, and a must-see
• The Avalon – for a nice shopping and dining experience
• The Battery – energetic and fun, especially if there’s a game or event
• The Beltline – perfect for exploring local spots on foot or bike

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 my shoutout to my husband, David, by far my biggest supporter. When I was full of fear and hesitation about starting to work with clients, he was the steady voice encouraging me and affirming my gifts.

Once I got started, he saw a need in my business for more support on the sales and operations side. With his expertise in those areas, he didn’t hesitate to step in, even while continuing to excel in his own full-time career.

There’s truly nothing he won’t do to see me succeed, whether it’s rearranging his schedule to be home with our boys when I’m working late or showing up hands-on for our clients. I’m beyond grateful to have him by my side, both in life and in business.

Website: https://www.liveandgather.co

Instagram: @liveandgatherco

Image Credits
Joshua Eller