Meet Shavonne Winston | Home Stager and Professional Organizer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shavonne Winston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shavonne, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, my parents introduced us to the arts at a young age. I started with ballet at the age of 3 and eventually branched out to modern, lyrical, and hip hop dance, but it didn’t stop there. In middle school, I decided to learn the viola which I continued to play up until high school where I then started to learn more about photography and theater. Looking back I never truly understood the impact this had on my life. I always loved the arts and my parents saw that in me as well providing me with whatever I needed to express my creativity from; an artist kit at the age of 6 (you know the ones that had like 100 pieces that included crayons, colored pencils, markers, and even watercolors), to eventually a sewing machine that I received on my thirteenth birthday and I learned how to sew from my grandma.

This stuck with me all the way to college but again I truly didn’t understand the significates art and design had in my life. So I entered college at Tennessee State University as a criminal justice major and boy was this the wrong field for me. LOL Finally in the second semester of my freshman year I decided to look into the art department. At this time in my life, this was a huge hurdle I had to overcome I always saw art as a hobby and feared ever becoming the “Starving Artist” but once speaking with Dr. Johnson the head of our Art Department he opened my eyes to the world of Graphic Design. There I saw that art was more than just what meets the eyes and with Graphic design, I could do anything from, logos to web design and even movies or news media the options were endless.

Fast forward to today, I know you’re wondering then why Interior Design I get asked that a lot. Unbeknownst to me I’ve always enjoyed designing my spaces. It was almost every 6 months my room was changed somehow and on top of that my family has a real estate company where I learned how to tile floors, add backsplashes, paint walls, and even landscape. As a kid, this just seemed like tedious work we had to do every time we got a new tenant. I never minded it, I actually loved it, but it wasn’t until 2013 a few years after I graduated that I was asked “Why don’t you design Interiors, your house is always welcoming and well designed”. This comment stuck with me, and the next year I applied to get my certification in Interior design and I guess I would say the rest is history.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve always had a natural passion for art and design and an appreciation for organization, especially in the home. However, it took years to transform this passion into my career. My journey has passed through a handful of career paths, from criminal justice to Graphic Design, but I’ve truly found my calling within the interior design and organizing industry! My mission is to help create well-organized, designed, and functional spaces that will give you peace of mind and get rid of the chaos in the process.

My path took me in many different directions before landing in this field. It wasn’t that it was hard it just took me a while to understand what I truly wanted for my life and now that I’ve taken the leap of faith leaving my 9-5 to pursue my passion I’ve discovered this whole new world of entrepreneurship which has its own challenges in itself. Through this process and with the help of my husband and life/business coach (Whitney Sam) I’ve learned I need to switch my mindset from my old 9-5 mentality to see my business through this new entrepreneur lens. Creating systems and habits that will allow me to continue to grow especially as my business starts growing and expanding.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It’s been less than a year since taking the leap and moving from Nashville to Atlanta. I’ve enjoyed every moment thus far, but am still getting to know the area and everything Atlanta has to offer. Thanks to TikTok I’ve compiled a list of Atlanta must-haves that make me as a creative so excited; Spin Art, Thrifting, Ponce City Market, Iwi Farm Oasis, DIY candle making, DIY terrariums, Self Museum, Painted Pin, the crystal loft, piedmont park, tubing Chattahoochee river. As for food, I will try any place at least once lol.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes to my family, My parents for embracing and acknowledging my love of arts at a young age always allowing me to be as creative as I wanted, and supplying me with the tools I needed to grow as an artist and discover my passion for the arts. My Grammy for teaching me everything there is to know about sewing. My older sister for the guidance and courage to tell my parents I wanted to become an artist instead of a criminologist (even though they didn’t care and supported me 100%) My Uncles for allowing me to test my interior design skills in some of our rental properties. Last but definitely never least, my husband who continues to push me to be the best business owner I can be. Before I met him I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would become an entrepreneur and he has guided me every step of the way in turning my passions into a reality.

Website: www.restyleliving.com

Instagram: instagram.com/restyleliving

Facebook: facebook.com/restylelivinginteriors

Youtube: youtube.com/restyleliving

Other: TikTok: tiktok.com/@restyleliving Pinterest: pinterest.com/restyleliving

Image Credits
Photographer: Kevin Wurm