How did you end up in the design industry?
I grew up with serial renovators and antique collectors — every three years, my parents would buy, gut, sell, rinse, and repeat. The architecture and design of my childhood homes still influence my sensibility today: traditional roots with a little unexpected flair.
In 2018, I was working in the art world in New York when my father passed away. That loss forced me to take a hard look at my life and admit I wasn’t really living my dream. Working through that grief gave me the courage (or maybe the delusion) to finally make the leap.
What does your team look like?
For now, it’s just me! I bring in contracted help for bookkeeping, drafting, and the occasional admin support.
Tell us about the project you're sharing.
This 1930s Tudor-style home, located in Austin’s historic Travis Heights neighborhood, underwent a series of thoughtful cosmetic updates designed to enhance its character while gently modernizing its interiors. We refinished the original wood floors and preserved the home’s charming double-hung windows, pairing them with fresh paint and period-inspired wallpaper. A full furnishing scope introduced a curated mix of antique pieces and layered textiles to complement the home’s history, while updated lighting added warmth and intention—balancing old and new in a way that feels collected, lived-in, and entirely at ease.
When we took over the project, the biggest hurdle was that the home had been whitewashed and over-modernized over the years. The kitchen, for instance, featured bright white cabinets, black hex floors, black roller shades, and brass sputnik lights. No disrespect to those elements—but they just weren’t the vibe we were going for. Our focus became finding strategic ways to infuse more charm back into the space. The budget wasn’t endless, but we made a few intentional splurges (ahem, Soane Britain wallpaper!) to bring the vision to life.
What was involved in this project?
For this 3,500-square-foot Tudor-style home, our primary focus was to give it a light cosmetic facelift—wallpaper and paint, new window treatments, updated light fixtures, fresh kitchen tile, restored windows, refinished floors, and full furnishings throughout. The original windows (and there were a lot of them) were in rough shape, as were the floors. Less glamorous, perhaps, but investing in those restorations made an enormous visual impact.
We touched almost every room in the house but invested most heavily in the high-traffic spaces, including the primary bedroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, two guest bedrooms, office, and playroom.
What's something you were really excited about creating for this project?
WE LOVE OLD HOMES! Any chance to work with antiques and wallpaper brings us immediate joy. The clients were interested in layering color and pattern over a neutral foundation—a balance that perfectly aligns with my own design sensibilities.
What was your biggest learning from this project?
Old homes always come with surprises you don’t anticipate, and those surprises can quickly cut into a design budget.
While a standard contingency is typically around 10%, I’ve learned that for older homes, it’s wise to bump that up to 15–20% to help both you and the client stay prepared (and sane).
Is there a tool, tip, or business resource from Hot Young Designers Club that you use in your business?
So many tips! The Furnishing Budget Calculator is definitely a go-to resource. There are countless tidbits that I have woven into my business thanks to the podcast- receiving warehouse tips, photoshoot prep, the sense of community, and knowing that so many other designers are facing similar challenges. It can be an isolating experience to be a creative business owner, and being able to listen/connect with other hotties has been a game-changer for my mental health.
Thank you, Mary Beth, for sharing more about your business and sharing this beautiful home with us! You can visit MB Sullivan Design on their website or Instagram.
Designers, we want to learn more about you and see your recent projects! Click here to submit a project to be featured on Hot Young Designers Club
Photography: Madeline Harper, @madelineharperphoto
