Leap of Faith

By: Carolyn Kemmett

Frog Level designers share their simpatico approach 

The revival of Waynesville’s hip Frog Level district includes a particularly eye-catching storefront: Guilded Home, a firm that launched a new look last year, is a full-service design operation owned by best friends Mae Hight and Kristen Levy. 

Levy, a Philadelphia native, cut her teeth designing retail spaces for ubiquitous brands like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie, while Hight, who grew up in Alabama, began her career in Telluride, Colorado, working for an architectural firm with a focus on high-end Mountain Modern residences.

The dynamic design duo met working at an Asheville firm and now, in their current brand, cater to both local and farther flung clients in New York, Tennessee, and Florida. They describe the growth of their business as a mixture of logical progression and “happy accident,” although the name also reflects a deeply collaborative approach. 

“Naming the business Guilded Home [rather than Gilded Home] harkens back to the days when people in creative industries formed guilds. It seemed appropriate, since the success of our work often hinges directly on the relationships we have with many talented craftspeople and building pros,” says Levy.

How did you gather the courage to go out on your own?

Mae Hight: I started working for myself in early 2019. Motherhood and a second pregnancy led to a deep desire for flexibility. My family and my children have always been my motivators. … Working alongside other independent designers, I was able to secure enough work to convince Kristen to take a giant leap of faith.

Kristen Levy: We’re both moms of young kids, and Mae said, “Hey, I have a good stream of work now — why don’t we join forces?” … COVID was a motivator, too, since, like many others, we couldn’t work as we did previously.

MH: A COVID silver lining was the mass exodus of people from places like Los Angeles, New York, and larger cities in Florida to the mountains.

KL: We ended up being an essential business, like real estate. Not only were many relocating and building here, they were rethinking their homes too. Suddenly, they became workspaces, classrooms for remote school, and more.

MH: There was synchronicity involved … but you do have to be brave. 

What are you proud to offer your clients?

KL: The planning and design services we offer allow us to work closely with clients on residential new build and remodeling projects, but we can also come into a home and redesign one space that a client might want to refresh. We’re truly full service. We often say “From concept to curtains,” implying we love the long game.

MH: We want our designs to stand the test of time — to speak to what it is to live both today and 100 years from today. We don’t promote any one style … we understand traditional, contemporary, and transitional design projects. We love coming in at the beginning of a build and doing early-stage work with the architects. 

How do your skills complement one another? 

MH: Kristen is a wizard in plan design, which helps us see things that might need to be tweaked as a project starts for a space to work efficiently. Design is really a big puzzle. 

KL: And Mae inspires me when we get to play with the fun details in a space, like trim on furnishings and other additions that customize a space.

Does this simpatico approach extend to your clientele?

MH: At the end of the day, it’s not about us. We need to be deep listeners. It’s interesting, but interior design is rooted in the school of human science, not architecture or even building sciences. We often need to wear therapists’ hats too, and that’s an honor.

KL: We want to challenge clients to stretch a bit. I love making [homeowners] aware of something new — a different approach. Often, they enthusiastically adopt it. 

Any interesting trends to share from an insider’s perspective?

MH: Lately we’re seeing color warming up temperature wise, and people are more comfortable playing with pattern and mixing the old with the new. Also, our clients are often making a fresh start, like a retirement or second home, so they’re invested in really getting it right this time. That’s special for us because we get to create [their] space at a time in their lives when they feel the most free to live and enjoy their homes.

KL: We’re also seeing less emphasis on the open floor plan, with people wanting separate spaces. … This is exciting for us. We love creating intimate spaces with purpose.

Guilded Home, 90 Depot St., Waynesville, 828-246-9122, guildedhome.com.