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

Hi Ashley, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In 2021 I left my career to join my mother in her interior design career. My mother had another store front growing up but had since “retired”. After joining her we were searching for unique finds for our clients and could not find what we were looking for locally. Thus The Feathered Nest was born.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art in design, I love creating spaces for my clients that reflect who they are and how they use their home. What sets me apart from others is my attention to curate and collect pieces that help tell their story, to use family heirlooms and bring them new life, to create spaces they can love for years to come.

Lessons learned along the way: Stay true to your style. Do not jump on the bandwagon of every single trend. Your design will often fall flat and have no lasting personality.

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?
Our store is located off the Collierville Town Square, there are so many local shops and restaurants. Its the quintessential Gilmore Girls town square.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother had always encouraged me to pursue Interior Design full time. Growing up with her in design, I always leaned more towards apparel and accessories. In 2019 my husband and I bought a project house and embarked on a very large scale renovation project. Throughout this project she was so encouraging to me to think about Interior Design. Seeing how much I loved the renovation and then decor project I realized she was right all along, and I fell in love with design.

Instagram: @featherednest.901

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefeatherednest901

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.