A WELL-DESIGNED SOUTHERN HOME IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN HOW it looks. How it embraces the people who live there and visit is vitally important to a region steeped in hospitality and cultivated relationships. It’s the respect for this inherently welcoming culture that sets the tone for the Ansley Interiors Furniture and Design experience, where detailed attention and service are at the heart of every design project.
At the Ansley Interiors furniture showroom and interior design studio, which is located in the Miami Circle Design District, every project starts with a conversation. The design team listens when their clients explain their interests, how they want to live in a home, and what styles and colors inspire them. That conversation evolves into a relationship built on care and trust. An attentive, caring attitude is one of the characteristics that clients love most about the store’s design team.
“I’m opinionated and bring my ideas to the table,” says homeowner and repeat client Tina Plowman, who has worked on three residential projects with Ansley Interiors’ business partner and interior designer Shane Evans. “Shane really listens to what I want and then works hard to accomplish it. His gift is that he remains open to ideas and can fit furnishings into the available space.”
“We take a laid-back approach, starting first by listening to what homeowners want and working to stay within the confines of their budget,” Evans says. “While we have an easygoing atmosphere, we push our clients to think outside of the box when it comes to designing their homes.”
Evans, along with the small but mighty Ansley Interiors team, takes clients from the first design meeting to the final installation of new furniture, accessories, lighting, rugs, bedding, custom window treatments and every finishing touch that brings the designs to life. Plowman has leaned on the team over the course of three home renovation and construction projects. “It was a happy accident when I first walked into the Ansley Interiors furniture store when we started building a home on Lake Oconee,” she says.
Ansley Interiors helped Plowman design a soothing color palette of soft greens, shades of blue and camel, working the palette throughout the home into a style that Evans calls “new traditional.” Vintage wood finishes and artwork with rich blues provide the feel of being on the lakeshore. By listening to each of the children’s interests, Evans was able to work details into their individual bedrooms that suited their personalities. The daughter, for example, received a room filled with soft floral fabrics. For the son, who enjoys hunting, Evans sourced a fabric with dog scenes.
Currently, Ansley Interiors is helping Plowman renovate and redesign a historic cottage in Augusta, the third project on which she has collaborated with Evans. “Shane is very humble, but he is an amazing designer,” says Plowman. “I have worked with many designers, and he is by far the best, with a responsive team that truly cares that their clients are happy.”
While clients express pleasure with the company’s design services, Ansley Interiors is also a well-respected furniture showroom, with 6,000 square feet of high-quality, American-made furniture. The store carries about 30 product lines, including esteemed brands that are still made by hand, such as Sherrill Furniture, Hickory Chair, Hancock & Moore, Century and a solid-wood Amish line of furniture manufactured in Ohio. “We carry lines that are heavy on fine craftsmanship,” says Evans. “Our upholstery lines focus on details like eight-way hand-tied construction and hardwood frames. The products are all made to last.”
The showroom is available for clients to sit-test chairs and sofas. “I don’t know how anyone can buy a sofa online without trying it out first to make sure it’s comfortable,” Evans says. “Coming into the showroom is the easiest way to find the furniture style, size and fabric that works.”
Evans, who holds a degree in architectural studies, has been immersed in the high-end furniture and design industry since he began his career. He has designed for interior design showrooms in Mississippi, Alabama and Atlanta, and served as the lead furniture designer for John-Richard, a brand that Ansley Interiors carries today. Evans and his business partner, John Barbone, with whom he worked at Domestic Comfort in Ansley Park in Midtown, opened their existing showroom on Miami Circle and rebranded it as Ansley Interiors in 2019.
The Ansley Interiors team has a proven process for helping clients achieve a home design tailored to their goals, even if they struggle to envision the final look. After listening and viewing inspirational photos, the designers create visual presentations, such as mood boards, to help homeowners see how their wishes translate into design reality. By spending time at home, meeting in the showroom to see furniture and fabric swatches, and participating in back-and-forth discussions amid several design-focused meetings, homeowners get a chance to have their ideas brought to life. Evans and his team produce 3-D renderings so homeowners never have to “guess” what the final look will be.
Design doesn’t stop within the four walls. Ansley Interiors’ Lake Oconee clients appreciate the depth of expertise and accessibility of fine outdoor furniture lines that the showroom brings to the local community. With brands such as Century, Lexington, Woodbridge and Southern Home Outdoor, the team can furnish a lakeside patio or terrace with upscale, comfortable furniture designed to withstand the elements while creating an inviting outdoor living experience.
While Ansley Interiors carries every design element needed for an entire home makeover, the team also welcomes those who simply want to refresh one room. For a small design fee, the designers will come to a client’s home to take measurements, discuss needs and find the furnishings that fit the client’s aesthetic. With a color specialist on staff, homeowners are assured that every detail—color, finishes, size, scale and overall look—is impeccably designed. “We can handle the small jobs as well as new construction,” says Evans. “Even if a client just needs new window treatments, we have the capability to offer custom draperies, shutters and motorized shades—whatever is needed for a refresh. It’s all about listening to what a client wants and translating their wishes into a professional design they’ll love. Our laid-back approach helps the process to be hassle-free and stress-free.”
Ansley Interiors’ passion for design shines through to its clients. Plowman says she has referred the team to several of her family members and friends. “I love that Ansley Interiors can help homeowners who have all types of budgets,” she says. “Shane can find the same type of furnishings at different price points so that they fit both into the space and the budget. And I 1000% agree that Shane and his team are the easiest to work with. They really listened to what I wanted and worked hard to accomplish it.” *
Dana W. Todd is a professional writer specializing in interior design, real estate, luxury homebuilding, landscape design, architecture and fine art.
