Meet Elle Rude | Interior Designer Entrepreneur

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

Hi Elle, how do you think about risk?
When it comes to risks, I jump and let the net appear! Honestly, I believe the root of my fearlessness stems from my faith and from having a loving supportive family that always encouraged me and pushed me to believe I could do anything. In the back of my mind, I have always known that no matter what, I will be OK, and that nothing is really failure as long as I try. I reflect a lot on how things play out from my decision making, and often times I see exactly where the silver lining is from the “risks” that did not pan out as I had planned. Risk taking has been the fuel for driving my career forward for UP!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
This was HARD WORK. I was fortunate to have my college degree paid for by my parents, but the 20 years to follow have been a total roller coaster. I have concluded that every stepping stone is part of a master plan for sure! I derailed my career several times from the path of interior design, but it kept calling me back. I look at all of that, and I know that all of it had to happen for me to land where I am today. It’s beautiful really!

When I rebranded and decided to go full throttle with my current brand, Styled UP, I decided that I would be the firm that could accommodate any investment range. I like to say, “there is a reason why I named my company Styled UP and not UPDATE.”

Working in the extremely high end arena of the design industry for 12 years at The Design Center of the Americas, I developed an exquisite taste level for luxury furniture and decor, which has allowed me to think outside the box when designing any space.

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?
We are fortunate to live close to so many diverse beachside communities that all have something to boast! If I had a week to host an experience of South Florida, I would start with Miami and have them tour the historic Art Deco areas of South Beach as we cocktail crawled the strip. The evening would have to include a visit to the beautiful Faena Hotel for cocktails, dinner, and entertainment.
Shopping in the Miami Design District with lunch at Mandolin would also be high on the list!

And dinner at Barton G for their signature drink. Who doesn’t love a cocktail that has a chocolate chimp hanging off the side!?

Next we would shoot to Palm Beach for the fabulous finds of Dixie Highway and to see the famous Breakers Hotel.

A casual day of boating in Fort Lauderdale might conclude my top things to do in our area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe so much to my parents. My father is a successful businessman and entrepreneur who always provided for us in a way that showed me how hard work is directly connected to lifestyle. My mother is a talented interior designer and the biggest optimistic cheerleader anyone could ever know. Next, I recognize Dolores Loeffler and David Tate, two managers I had in the design industry who recognized my abilities, and loved and mentored me.

Also, a big shout out to Katie Rodan and Kathy Fields for the opportunity to partner with them in the number one skincare brand in the world. This is what really lit a fire in me to embrace all things in the world of female entrepreneurship. Lastly, I give credit to my husband, Jordan Rude. His high standards and expectations of me have driven me to gain his recognition daily. My love for my family has truly inspired me to live in abundance.

Website: http://styledupdesign.com/

Instagram: @ellewatkinsrude

Linkedin: @ellewatkinsrude

Facebook: @ellewatkinsrude and @styledupfortlauderdale

Youtube: @ellewatkinsrude