DESIGNER DIALOGUES - BETH WEBB OF BETH WEBB INTERIORS

When many think of art, the first image that comes to mind is a painted canvas hung on a museum wall, perhaps a sketch on parchment, or a perfectly proportioned pot. And though all of these works fit the definition, many creative expressions don’t fit within a gilded frame or perched neatly on a shelf.

At its most rudimentary level, art is the intentional expression of human creativity. It is anything created to communicate ideas, emotions, beauty, meaning, or questions. It is what speaks when words fail. And when we expand our understanding this way, we begin to notice art not only in galleries, but in the spaces we inhabit: rooms, textures, light, and form shaping how we live and feel.

In today’s installment of Designer Dialogues, I am honored to introduce Beth Webb, an accomplished interior designer based in Atlanta, Georgia, who uses her previous experience as an art dealer to create homes that feel like works of art: polished, peaceful, and deeply personal.

In our conversation, Beth shares her approach to design, what it means to her to embrace beauty, wisdom for those who may feel stuck in the design process, and more. I hope you enjoy.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN STYLE, AND HOW HAS IT EVOLVED SINCE YOU FIRST BEGAN INTERIOR DESIGN?

I would describe my design style as serene, elegant, and comfortable. I do what I do with passion because I care as deeply about how a house feels and how it lives and looks. For posterity, I would like to be known for timeless, elegant design. Also, and more importantly, I design with comfort and livability always at the forefront of my mind.

IS THERE A DESIGN RULE YOU SECRETLY LOVE TO BREAK? 

Are there any rules anymore???!

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE EMBRACING BEAUTY, AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE READERS TAKE AWAY FROM IT?

My first book, An Eye for Beauty, came out in 2018, so we had close to a decade of new work by the time we went to press with Embracing Beauty. Charles Miers, my publisher from Rizzoli, came for a visit and asked me to do a second book shortly after the pandemic. I was so flattered—how could I say no?

WHAT DOES “EMBRACING BEAUTY” MEAN TO YOU IN BOTH DESIGN AND EVERYDAY LIFE? 

In all of our projects, my primary objective is to create a sanctuary. I want a home to be well-designed, I want it to be beautiful, but more than anything, I want it to provide peace, to be a place of connection and embrace.

CAN YOU SHARE A RECENT PROJECT YOU LOVED WORKING ON, AND WHAT MADE IT ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL? 

One project in particular—featured in Chapter One of Embracing Beauty—stands out as a sincere challenge for both the architect and myself. It was a sweeping renovation, layered with aesthetic complexities, yet the transformation from before to after is nothing short of extraordinary. Most meaningful of all was a client who trusted the process and allowed us the freedom to be the absolute best we could be.

IF SOMEONE FEELS STUCK ON A HOME DESIGN PROJECT, WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE THEM? 

When a client finds themselves stuck, I offer this guidance—what I call the Domino Effect: make one decision, and it will quietly inform the next, and the next...etcetera, etcetera.

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ROOM IN A HOME TO DESIGN? 

I truly love designing all spaces in a home, but one in particular seems to be brought up more often than any other, and that is the Primary Bedroom. I love a soft, dreamy bedroom. After all, we spend one-third of our lives in that room!

IF YOU WEREN’T A DESIGNER, WHAT OTHER PATH COULD YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF PURSUING?

Before interior design, my first career was as an art dealer. I love art and antiques. I still get to play in that world as an interior designer, only now as a consultant to our clients in an advisory capacity. 

WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF DESIGN ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED, AND HOW HAS IT SHAPED YOUR WORK? 

I once heard Bunny Williams interviewed, and she said you should interview a client as carefully as they interview you. Very true, as I always say, “I can only be as good as my client lets me be.”

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO STAY CONNECTED WITH YOU AND FOLLOW ALONG WITH YOUR LATEST PROJECTS?

I’m most active on Instagram at @bethwebb and look at it daily. I do my best to post Stories frequently. You can also visit my website at www.bethwebb.com to see the latest press. 

Thank you so much to Beth Webb for taking the time to share her insights with us today. I have long admired Beth and her work, so it is truly an honor to feature her here. I hope you enjoyed learning from her as much as I have.

xx,

Brooke