Laura Sullivan: A Leader in the Asheville Design Industry
Photo Credit: Ryan Theede Photography
Amazing things are happening in the Asheville design industry, and Laura K. Sullivan is leading the way. Laura established her design business ID.ology Interiors & Design in 2012 and has grown it from herself as an individual designer to a team of twelve talented women. Year after year, the business has grown by three-hundred percent, and it is not slowing down. She now works alongside her “ID.ologists,” as she lovingly calls her team, to create beautiful, healthy sanctuaries for her clients while mentoring “up-and-coming designers.” She is also the nominee for Asheville’s Prestigious Women Entrepreneur Best in Business Award for the difference she’s making in the Asheville community.
And that’s no real surprise; Laura is the kind of person who dreams big, thinks big, and makes big things happen.
Laura collaborated with her husband Sean Sullivan, owner of Living Stone Design + Build, to establish Atelier Maison & Co. in July of 2020, a 20,000-square-foot furnishings studio that offers design-forward, heirloom quality, non-toxic furniture to the community as well as To-The-Trade. The store has quickly become an indispensable resource for designers and homeowners looking for premium, benchmade, healthy furniture and decor.
With the opening of Atelier Maison, Laura had her sights set even higher than creating a premium furniture destination. She sought to revitalize an area in need of life to be breathed back into it and to cultivate the creation of jobs and growth, thus the birth of the Asheville Design District soon followed.
Laura’s decision to bring Atelier Maison to the Sweeten Creek Road and Swannanoa River Road corridors afforded her such an opportunity. This area of Asheville is designated as an Economic Opportunity Zone, meaning it’s part of a federally-backed initiative designed to help elevate and revitalize underserved areas across the country.
Renovating a building on Sweeten Creek Road for Atelier Maison was the first step in bringing new life to the area. Establishing the Asheville Design District alongside it will go a long way toward bringing economic growth, artistry, and beauty to one of Asheville’s most deserving communities.
But that’s not the only way Laura seeks to help those around her. A strong believer in taking a holistic approach to life, she’s deeply committed to educating people on the dangers of furniture manufactured using toxic materials and finishes, which can off-gas into people’s homes, compromising their health and well-being.
Laura expresses her passion for design, her desire to serve others, and her entrepreneurial spirit, honestly.
“As a child, I was always involved in art in some form or fashion,” Laura explains. “I loved drawing, painting, pottery — anything that allowed me to create. It brought me a lot of joy to bring something new to life, and even more joy to share it.”
Laura’s father worked in real estate, and often purchased investment properties and fixed them up. “His goal was always to put something back into the market that was better than what he took out,” Laura recalls. “I loved being his sidekick, tagging along to job sites, cleaning, fiddling around, pitching in wherever I could. I also loved the idea of making a home for someone to live in and enjoy.”
As a designer, Laura frequently worked alongside her husband, Sean, in his career as a builder. Through him, she learned the value of green building, and subsequently, the need for healthy selections and furniture options.
“The homes he was building were tightly designed in order to conserve energy,” she explains. “I started researching furniture toxicity, and I realized homeowners were trapped with the fumes and off-gassing from toxic materials and finishes.”
That was her lightbulb moment. Laura realized that she could help people do more than just create beautiful homes, she could help them achieve better health and wellness in their day-to-day lives. She recognized the need and value a concentrated, curated source for healthy, natural, eco-friendly furniture could provide, both to Asheville designers, and to homeowners. The idea for Atelier Maison was born.
“It’s amazing what actually goes into mass produced furniture. And it’s the reason we created Atelier Maison. We’re not just a home furnishings studio, we’re a wellness studio,” says Laura.
In spite of the fact that the store was established during a pandemic, it continues to grow in popularity. People come from all over the Southeast to shop in the store. In fact, they’ve recently opened a second location in the picturesque mountain town of Cashiers, North Carolina. This stunning area is a family favorite that hosts generations enjoying second homes all throughout the year.
Through Atelier Maison, Laura teaches younger designers, and the community at large, the importance of choosing non-toxic, natural, sustainable furniture, both for the environment, and for the health and wellness of their living space. She sees this outreach as part of a larger purpose.
“I always say, ‘It’s bigger than me,’” Laura reflects. “It’s bigger than my success and my goals as an individual. The community, the environment, the health and wellness of families, the importance of beautiful aesthetic spaces — it’s all connected. I firmly believe in finding solutions that honor each of these things individually and collectively. I’m both honored and humbled to have these opportunities to dream big, and then to bring these visions to life in a way that helps build a better community, and a better world.”
As the Asheville Design District grows and evolves into an established destination for locals and visitors, ID.ology Studios will be there for those seeking high quality, non-toxic pieces for their homes.
Written by Jessica Martinez