Tobi Fairley on The Skirted Roundtable

 

Tobi Fairley’s project on the cover of the March House Beautiful.

 

This week Interior Designer and blogger Tobi Fairley from Arkansas stops by The Skirted Roundtable to chat it up with Linda, Megan and me.  Tobi was recently honored with the cover of the March issue of House Beautiful and we couldn’t wait to ask her how that came about!  Yes, we admit it – we are JEALOUS that Tobi, a fellow blogger friend, was on the cover!!!   Or should that be envious????    All kidding aside,  we were thrilled for her and she told us all about itf. 

 

 

Tobi, at home.

As it seems to be with most everyone we interview, Tobi is a workaholic powerhorse.  Armed with a MBA, she started her stint in interior design with an eye on the business side, a real rarity.  Tobi talks all about her company and what drives her.   She’s been very successful running her own design business:  even in this terrible economy she hasn’t suffered at all.   I can’t speak for Linda or Megan, but hearing Tobi talk about her firm really motivated me to get more serious about my own business, which Ben likes to call my “hobby.”  Listening to Tobi, he may have a valid point.   Hmmmm.   I hate it when he’s right!!!

 

 

Tobi is known for her vivid use of color.  Her interiors are always bright and packed with interesting prints and patterns.  

 

During her visit, Tobi discussed how she approaches each project, how she comes up with a design and how she then presents it to the client.    She has a 12 person team which allows her to work on many jobs at one time.   It is so interesting listening to other designers talk about their work ethic and business model and Tobi doesn’t disappoint.  She is open and honest with us, sharing many stories about her rise to the top.    

 

 

In the House Beautiful spread, this velvet tufted bench is found in the dining room.

 

  The dining room in Tobi’s own home.

 

In this breakfast room, Tobi used the fabulous turquoise chandelier that the design blogosphere went crazy for.  I love the painted striped floor.

 

 

I adore this pink and cream damask Tobi used in a guest bedroom.  Her web site  HERE is filled with pictures from all her projects.  

 

To listen to Tobi Fairley on The Skirted Roundtable, please go HERE.   Coming next, the three of us dish on Stephen Drucker’s lament on the nastiness in blogging commenting in this month’s House Beautiful.   Uh-oh.    I doubt any of us are going to ever be on the cover of House Beautiful now!!!!