Meet Ashley Evans, local boy mom and entrepreneur of her own interior design business, AE Interiors. Ashley has been in professional design for many years in California, but just this year began AE Interiors here in Katy. Ashley has worked in design in multiple large cities and this has broadened her vision and given her experience with a range of design styles. She LOVES when her clients are happy with their space, but even more so, she wants to create that feeling for her clients – when you want into a room you love: pure happiness and serenity. Ashley’s work is beautiful, Mamas! Whether you need help with a room in your home, starting renovations on your current home, working with a home builder to create a custom look in new build, or anything in between, Ashley can help!
We sat down with Ashley to learn more about her experience, her passion for interior design, her favorite things about raising a family in Katy, and her future hopes for her business.
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the Katy area?
I am originally from Orlando, Fl. I moved out to Santa Barbara, CA at 20, which is where I met my husband. We moved to Orange County, CA and had our two boys. After 5 years in Orange County, we spent a brief year and a half in Atlanta and then relocated to Katy. We have been in Katy for 1.5 years.
How many kiddos do you have and how old are they?
I have 2 boys, ages 6 and 4.
What’s your favorite thing about raising a family in Katy?
Katy is a very family friendly and safe community. We have lived many places and Katy offers a lot for young children and we have found the people within the community to be very kind and welcoming. We love that when we go out to dinner we are surrounded with other young families and kids are always out playing in the neighborhoods.
Least favorite mom job? (i.e. packing lunches, dishes, bath time, etc.)
DISHES and laundry. The never-ending piles of dishes and laundry are daunting and overwhelming. Even when I finally get through all the dishes, the mountain seems to be back again by the end of the day!
Best mom hack that makes life easier?
Baskets. I know, this doesn’t quite make sense right? But hear me out. I put baskets in most room of our house. If your kids are anything like mine, they have toys, rogue socks, clothes etc. in every room even though they are “supposed” to stay in the playroom. Baskets are an easy catch-all that also double as part of your room décor. If I need to do a quick clean up of the house for guests or at the end of the day, I can literally throw everything in the baskets to be sorted and put away at a later time.
What are your favorite local things to do in Katy? (with kiddos or just for mom!)
My husband and I love to go to Tobiou and get sushi, we can be found there almost every week! We love that it has great food and the ambience feels like you are in the city! We also love to let the kids run around the Green at La Centerra and enjoy brunch with the family on weekends.
We’re big on self-care for moms, as hard as it is to find the time, what’s something you do just or yourself?
I am a big gym lover and I go to the lifetime at least 5 days a week. I plan my week with my workouts, whether cardio, weights, or yoga then commit to doing it on those days. It makes me feel accomplished and ready to take on the day. I also enjoy my monthly facials with Sara at Spotless Skin Spa in Cinco Ranch. She has transformed my skin and I make sure I commit the time every month to keep it up which helps me feel good abut myself!
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I am certified as a yoga instructor and am a Certified Holistic Nutritionist. I have always had a passion for a healthy mind, body, and spirit, and find that helping client’s design their spaces can contribute to enhanced mental and emotional health and wellbeing for them and their family!
When did you launch your interior design business and what was the inspiration behind it?
I started my original interior design business in 2014 when I was still living in California. I have been doing design work professionally for many years, but you can say I started doing design as a child. I have always had an innate passion and eye for creating beauty in a space. I loved how I could be creative but still challenged with creating functional and purposeful designs. My mother is a designer and I remember how much fun I had going with her to appointments and collaborating with her on projects she was working on. (I even remember drawing layouts of my college apartment, and space planning where I was going to put furniture!) When we relocated to Katy, I sold my design business in Orange County, although I knew I wanted to continue working in the design industry. I started AE Interiors in Katy in 2020 to bring my designs to Texas.
What makes AE interiors unique and special compared to similar businesses?
Living in multiple large cities and geographical locations has allowed me to have a broadened vision and more experience with a range of design styles. The locations I have lived and worked in have all been very cutting edge in the design world, which has allowed me to gain insight and see designs from renowned designers and trade professionals. It has also allowed me to stay on trend in design and current with what is going on in the industry. I have been able to build connections with great vendors and manufacturers and can bring unique finds to a design.
What’s your favorite thing about what you do?
I love the feeling I get when I see our clients happy with our work. There is a proud and joyous feeling that comes from giving our clients what they envisioned and more. Design for me is so much more than creating beautiful spaces, it is creating a space that evokes feelings of serenity and pure happiness when you walk into a room. My goal is to create a feeling for others…
What’s been the biggest challenge in launching into your own business?
COVID…. Not only has this pandemic affected most face-to-face businesses, it has also slowed down the back end part of the industry. A lot of manufacturing has delayed and shipping times have been affected, leading to longer lead times for furnishings. But as an alternative angle, COVID has also forced a lot more people to stay home and have the desire to create a more beautiful and functional space that works better for their families since they are spending more time indoors.
Best advice for moms who experience the inevitable and dreaded MOM GUILT? How do you balance being a business owner and Mama?
I know that when I feel happy and fulfilled in my professional life, the goodness trickles into the other areas of my life. It has taken some time, but I know the kids get a “better” mom when I am doing something I love, outside of being a mom.
Who has most influenced you to be the mom you are today?
My Mom and Dad. Both my mom and dad are entrepreneurs and have always shown me that there are no limits to what I can accomplish, as long as I get out there and give it 100%. Both of them have taught me the value of hard work, which I think is such an important value to teach children. They have also always supported me in whatever I am doing, and have given me the guidance and support I need, which I hope to do for my kids as they get older and get more involved with their interests.
When parenting gets hard, what’s something you tell yourself that gets you through?
“Nothing worth doing is ever easy” and “feel the fear and do it anyway.” Parenting is hard and scary but its also so rewarding and brings so much happiness. Even those who make it look easy, struggle along the way and it brings comfort knowing that most of us moms feel emotionally spent at some point or another so we are not alone!
Future plans for your business?
Due to COVID, I have just started getting into virtual designing which is also a good way for me to expand into a national presence. I also would love to work with builders to be able to be involved with the building process and bring a less “builder grade” and more custom look to new homes.
To learn more about AE Interiors:
Website: https://www.aeinteriorskaty.com/
Instagram: @aeinteriors_katy/
Facebook: @AEinteriorskaty