Meet Bryn Westerlind: Interior Designer

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

Hi Bryn, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
To me, taking risks is what makes life meaningful. I am so lucky to have always been supported from my friends and family to take risks, go for my heart and try something new if it interested me. Starting an interior design business is one of the largest risks I’ve taken (so far!) in my life. I’ve always been the kind of person who dives into something when it interests me and thats how I found myself here! When the pandemic struck, I was furloughed from my previous job. While furloughed, it gave me time to reflect on my career plans, and what I wanted out of life. My previous job was with a good company, had a secure income, and I worked with great people. but I still felt unfulfilled and I was itching for more, despite not knowing what ‘more’ meant. I originally earned my Bachelor Degree in Retail, Merchandising, and Product Development from Florida State University (go ‘Noles!) and I thought my goal was to open my own boutique. I dreamed about it for years and even started designed my own boutique. What I realized during that process was that I was designed my boutique and was mainly focused and excited about the interior design of the space, rather than actually owning and running a boutique. Those thoughts snowballed into me realizing that interior design was a big interest of mine and started looking more into interior design programs. Fast forward a few months, still furloughed, I was working on my interior design program and LOVING IT. I felt like I was truly working towards something I was passionate and excited about. When I received a call from my employer and asked to come back to work, I knew I had to make a choice. Go back to a secure career and have a nagging feeling of being unfulfilled? Or take a terrifying leap, turn it down and devote all of my energy into starting something from the ground up on my own? I decided to take the leap. I turned down my job, moved back in with my parents, and voila, Bryn Morgan Interiors was born. Some (most) days I ask myself ‘What the heck am I doing?!”, but I also trust my gut and myself and I know that I can and will do it. There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not happy and proud of my decision and I can’t wait for the future to continue growing and learning. 

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I know the idea of hiring an interior designer can be an intimidating task. I wanted to create a business that makes interior design feel approachable and feasible for more people. I’ve grown up watching design shows and seeing these massive budgets, which I believe is what drives people away from even looking into an interior designer. Of course, interior design and the work and labor that goes into creating a space isn’t free, but it can be more attainable than people think. Having a great space, that is functional and beautiful can really impact your sanity, and make the space feel like a sanctuary. My goal is to create a space that feels like a breath of fresh air, is functional for your lifestyle and makes you feel relaxed and happy in. I want Bryn Morgan Interiors to break the barrier that you don’t need to have $50,000+ budget to get the space of your dreams and that you can hire an interior designer to start loving the space you’re in.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I know South Florida has this cliche saying “We live where you vacation”, but that saying is there for a reason. Fort Lauderdale is such a fun location to explore. There are lots of local restaurants, boutiques and let’s not forget the gorgeous beach. A fun typical weekend in Fort Lauderdale typically starts with hitting my favorite small coffee shop, Wells. It’s the type of coffee shop that makes you feel like family from the second you walk in. The owners are amazing and so community oriented, the employees are friendly, and the coffee is AWESOME. Order the cappuccino with oat milk, you can never go wrong with an amazing cappuccino! Drinking my coffee in the morning nice and slow in the morning are one of my ‘happy things’ and Well’s is the perfect place to enjoy it. It’s the perfect atmosphere to meet up with friends, work or read a book. Another hot spot I always hit up is Rocco’s Taco’s. I like to think of myself as a nacho connoisseur and their nachos never fail. When I’m actually not eating around Fort Lauderdale, I like to ride my bike along the beach, people watch and enjoy the sunshine. It’s so much fun to explore on bike because you can easily get off and explore as you please. There is always something new popping up in Fort Lauderdale so it never gets old.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that helped me get to this point and I truly couldn’t have done it without them. My family, the Decker family and all of my friends and boyfriend gave me that extra little push I needed to take the leap of starting Bryn Morgan Interiors. Every one of them have been incredible sounding boards, a shoulder for those tough days, and have even given me rooms in their house to makeover to help build a portfolio and gain experience. My parents also let me move back home so that I can fully devote my time to creating this, and for that, I couldn’t be more grateful. I feel so lucky to have such supportive relationships in my life.

Website: brynmorganinteriors.com
Instagram: @brynmorganinteriors

Image Credits
Yanelis Torres Photography