A city can shape a designer, and Charleston does it with flair. We welcome Mary Welch Fox—interior designer, HGTV host, and founder of a woman-led studio—to unpack how place, personality, and process turn houses into homes people can’t wait to live in. From crossing a bridge and feeling the style shift to honoring each client’s taste without falling into copycat trends, Mary shares the mindset that keeps her work fresh and deeply personal.

We go inside her client journey: rich discovery, a three-round design structure that keeps budgets honest, and the unsung operations that make beautiful rooms possible—drawings, schedules, vendors, and the thousand choices between mood board and install day. She’s candid about the realities too: shipping delays, damaged goods, and why solving problems fast is the difference between chaos and calm. And yes, we celebrate that goosebump “reveal” moment when all the decisions finally become a feeling. Mary also opens up about the business behind the beauty: hiring a trusted designer, avoiding burnout, growing at a sustainable pace, and learning to love the numbers as much as the finishes.

Fans of Breaking Bland will love the origin story—from a Knoxville connection to a full HGTV series—and the next chapter: The Reveal on the Design Network and a smart, budget-forward collaboration with Walmart and Apartment Therapy. Expect timeless design talk (limewash, plaster, natural stone), practical refresh tips (Samplize paint swatches, color families, flea market treasures), and a love letter to Charleston’s artisans who make “impossible” details real. Whether you’re an aspiring designer or a homeowner with a room that needs heart, this conversation will nudge you to choose what you truly love and build around it with confidence.

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Presenting Sponsor: Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce

Studio Sponsor: Charleston Media Solutions

Expo Podcast Sponsor: ‪@PollenSocial‬

Production Sponsor: RMBO.co

Design Sponsor: DK Design

Interested in Sponsorship? Click here.

Committee:
Kathleen Herrmann | Host | MPCC Immediate Past President | Mount Pleasant Towne Centre
Mike Compton | Co-host | Marketing Chair | RMBO.co
Rebecca Imholz | Co-host | MPCC Executive Director
Amanda Bunting Comen | Co-host | Social ABCs
Ben Nesvold | Co-host | In-coming President | Edward Jones