Today we’d like to introduce you to Aston Moody.
Hi Aston, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am Aston Moody. I live in Columbia, SC with my husband, Kyle, and kids, Mills (11) and Betsy (7). My husband and I are both originally from Walterboro, SC. I went to USC, he went to Clemson, and we landed in Irmo 15 years ago because of our jobs. I came to decorating as a second career. I got the guts to follow my dreams after 12 years of teaching high school English at Irmo High School. The stars aligned with my need to leave for family reasons…because of my husband’s support, a job offer from a contractor where I got a year’s worth of good training, and a friend saying come help me decorate my house and I’ll spread your name… and the rest was history.
The first house I decorated was in June of 2017, and my first post was on July 8 of 2017. Over the past five years, I’ve learned a lot in both business and design. I have hired an assisstant, opened trade accounts, gotten business licenses, gone to market, learned how to use design software, leaned into social media marketing, met so many fabulous fellow designers, started the event TheColaEclectic with three besties, developed my Design skills, shopped til I’ve dropped and staged til I’m satisfied. The learning curve has been huge, wide, intimidating, and challenging but what adventure doesn’t provide that?
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My main struggle has been the fact that I have no formal training in design. Also, I did not work for a designer before going out on my own. I did work for a year with a contractor which was extremely informative. However, most of my training and learning has been through trial and error and through teaching myself. Fortunately, I have found a wonderful network of fellow decorators.
And I have found that most people are always willing to help and share their expertise if you are willing to be vulnerable and ask questions. It has also been a slight challenge that I am not from the Columbia area. So I have had to work really hard to build my clientele. I have utilized social media to the best of my ability to help with my marketing and have relied heavily on word of mouth.Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in COLOR!! My ideal client is not afraid to be bold, and if they are afraid, they are willing to trust my vision. My style could be described as classic with a twist or funky traditional. My designs usually have a bit of a glam element to them be it in the mix of metals, the glossy paint, or the vibrant fabrics and textures. I love to mix the old and the new for a soulful, eclectic room. I always want it to reflect the client’s style and preference just as much as my own, which is why it is so important that clients choose me for my style and not as a generic “she can put this room together” reason.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
You are going to make mistakes!!!! Although no one enjoys making mistakes, I am extra hard on myself by nature. So I have had to learn to embrace each mistake as a humbling experience. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn something new and to grow. And I repeat to myself often the mantra that most anything is fixable. It might take time or money, but it can usually be fixed!!
Contact Info:
- Website: Astonmoodyinteriors.com
- Instagram: @astonmoodyinteriors
Image Credits
Christina Hussey, Alex Salmon, and Kyle Jones
