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

Hi Ashley, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I went to school for textile design and always dreamt of starting a business where I sold handmade home goods. However, it always felt like a distant dream that wouldn’t come to be anytime soon. I met my now business partner, Maddy, during my first year out of college and we became friends instantly. We’re both independent, strong-willed, and passionate about design so it felt natural when we spoke about one day starting something together. In 2021 we each experienced specific circumstances with our jobs that felt like the universe was deciding for us; so we took the jump! At that point, we had worked for various design and architecture firms so we had the experience under our belt and felt we had seen enough of “how to” and “how not to” run a business to where we felt confident… the adrenaline likely played a role too!

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?
It’s our goal to design a home that reflects our clients and their lifestyles. I grew up in New England so I was surrounded by traditional, modern, and coastal design styles and Maddy is from Oregon, which exposed her to a similar list. As a result, we’re drawn to many different aesthetics and didn’t want to pigeonhole ourselves into working with a specific aesthetic when starting our company. There will always be clients who choose a designer for their aesthetic, however, we’ve found that people can feel intimidated by working with a designer and feel more comfortable with the investment when we ensure them that we’re putting their design aesthetic first. Our job is to ensure the home feels elevated, cohesive, and personalized while pushing clients out of their comfort zone by suggesting things they wouldn’t have considered otherwise.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ironically enough I have a few Arizona itineraries in my notes that I curate based on my friend’s or family’s interests.
One of my favorite things about Arizona is that there’s something for everyone, any time of year.

Food Itinerary:
Taco Chelo – they have the best tacos in the valley, it’s trendy and close to the airport
Valentine – great breakfast options and a unique “Matcha Melon” which I love. For the artsy crowd, I love that it’s connected to Modern Manor so I never turn down an opportunity to check out all the Midcentury furniture.
AZ 88 – they have an entire section of their menu dedicated to chicken sandwiches which everyone seems to love, not to mention their XL martini glasses filled to the brim

To Do:
Superstition Mountains – If they’re up for a hike I take them to Flatiron/Siphon Draw. If they don’t want to hike I take them to the ghost town across the street! Either way, it’s beautiful out there.
Prescott or Sedona – If they’re here long enough I make sure to take them up north. If the weather is nice you can walk around Watson Lake in Prescott and they also have kayak rentals. Sedona has so many shops but they also have hiking trails at all levels and everyone loves Sedona!
Botanical Gardens – the Desert Botanical Garden is huge so there’s so much to see. I try to plan this at a time when I can bring them to watch the sunset at Hole in the Rock afterward.
Sporting Event – There’s always a sporting event taking place in AZ whether it’s an ASU game, Diamondbacks game, Coyotes game, Spring Training, Waste Management, or even Polo

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Morgan Design Studio wouldn’t be what it is without my partner Maddy. We always say we wouldn’t have had the courage to do this alone and it’s true. Having a partner in a business changes the dynamic of course, but it makes a huge difference when you have someone to bounce ideas off of, celebrate the highs with, and truck through the lows with. She’s an extremely enthusiastic individual who truly prides herself on her client relationships and I need that half to balance out my type A, process-driven personality!

Website: https://www.morgandesignstudio.com/

Instagram: morgan.designstudio

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/morgan-design-studio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morganinteriordesignstudio/

Image Credits
Alexandria Whitefeather + Christina Zolotaia

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