When Carly Ellsworth was a kid, she redecorated her room regularly. “I changed it based on how I felt at the time,” she says. So it’s no surprise that today Carly makes a living helping people design their own spaces. “Interior design is ingrained in who I am,” she says. “I’ve done it all my life.”
Carly always knew she wanted to be a designer, but getting a business degree seemed safer, she says. At Montgomery’s, Carly can combine a love for design with a brain for business. “It allows me to blend what I know with who I am,” she says.”
As manager of outside design, Carly works with contractors and their clients. But she’s equally comfortable working with homeowners. “I love working with a variety of clients on both large and small scale projects,” she says.
Regardless of the project, Carly always starts the design process similarly: a catalyst item. What’s a catalyst item? “It could be anything from an item to a feeling,” Carly says. “It’s one thing that the homeowner loves, and we build off that.” The catalyst item allows Carly to start a project in an abstract mindset. “Then, I break it down with a logical approach. I am creating a room for someone and know they will be here daily. Therefore, I try to understand them completely and determine what will make their project most fulfilling.”
Beyond the catalyst item, Carly draws inspiration from everything around her. “Other artists inspire me,” she says. “I love looking at other rooms/designs and analyzing what I would do differently and what I like and how it makes you feel.”
Carly excels at designing rooms in any style, but she’s drawn to the transitional look. “You can bring the best of every design style into transitional,” she says. “It’s an easy way to capture someone’s style. You can bring in pieces that they love as well as what they inspire to have.” Her best advice? “Never neglect a window treatment,” says Carly, Hunter Douglas certified. “They are worth every penny. They make the room.”
Carly’s style is a marriage between minimalism and homey. She likes to blend simple pieces with organic textures to create a welcoming and modern space. Never one to shy away from bold, Carly tends to add one or two “wow” statements in her decorating. For example, her kitchen features modern black cabinets with rich, warm wood floors. As a mom of two young boys, Carly understands the need to balance durability with style. “It was important for me to have beautiful pieces that could withstand everyday family use on a budget.”
Carly recommends following your favorite designers on Instagram and Pinterest no matter what style a client likes. “That way, you can begin to understand what style you like.” For example, Carly likes Studio McGee and HGTV’s Emily Henderson and the Boise Boys. “I love when clients bring in ideas, but I’m glad they come to me because I can make that Pinterest dream a reality,” Carly says.
• Mixing organic and modern pieces
• Window treatments make the space
• Multifunctional furniture
• Wow statement pieces liking lighting or amazing tile
• Love getting to know my clients so I can help them create a home they love!