Interior Design for Real Life

The Problem we are Solving

For too long, the world of interior design has been seen as a luxury only for the wealthy, well-established or design savvy.  The Whitley Co. is a full-service interior design studio established in 2017, whose passion for guiding deserving clients through a transformative design journey is our ultimate goal.  We are true believers that everyone should benefit from great design to love where you live.

Dynamic design is within reach.

Our Mission

Regardless of your budget, location, design style or current living situation, we believe that everyone deserves to have a home they truly love that is a reflection of who they are and their unique journey. We are passionate about improving lives through good design including organization, liquidation and overall design strategies that allow clients to increase their homes value, enjoyment and function through our customized design services in a truly unique and personalized approach.

Our Story

 The Whitley Co. has over 20 years of hands-on experience tackling the many challenges facing people who want to make a functional and stylish space on time, on budget and unique to their specific needs.  From organizing neighbors closets to helping repurpose existing furniture, we have seen it all and are excited by the challenge to create a space that speaks to who you are!  With our design expertise, major transformations are achievable to anyone striving for a fresh chapter in their lives with us leading your personalized design journey in a highly collaborative environment. 

With accessible design solutions and motivating energy, we meet you exactly where you are. 

Meet Our Founder

Founder and Principal Interior Designer, Marissa Whitley Tago, found her entrepreneurial spirit despite facing adversity early in her life. Her lifelong passion for improving spaces has been nourished from a young age.  It's not what she does, it's simply who she is. Growing up, her mother was a selfless single mom of 4, working and attending college while struggling financially to raise a family.  She died suddenly of a brain aneurysm when Marissa was three years old.  She relocated to Springfield, Missouri, where she was raised by her Aunt.  Finding her way to a greater purpose, Marissa realized that her greatest challenge was finding authentic connections as a biracial little girl in her new predominantly white community. 

Marissa worked diligently with extracurricular activities throughout her youth and found her greater purpose while fundraising in her neighborhood.  Genuine connections with her elderly neighbors through the years became a beautiful bonus in her life as she listened to their life stories and saw how they lived in their homes and began helping clean out closets, organize and improve their spaces--her love for interior design was born.  Fast forward to 2016, Marissa received her Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design with honors as a stay-at-home mother to 3 young kids and Navy wife.

Our Design Services

The Whitley Co. has a genuine desire to improve the lives of our clients. We extend design services to residences, offices, custom-built homes, major remodeling projects, short term and luxury rentals, and property staging along with e-design, organizational and liquidation assistance. Big or small, we help ensure an enjoyable process that saves you time, money and headaches by assisting you with your specific needs.

 Our Larger Purpose

Simply put: everyone can benefit from working with a knowledgable interior designer who understands that change is inevitable and people are beyond busy trying to juggle it all. We hear you and have been there! Hiring a knowledgable interior designer is a beneficial act of self-preservation that improves your emotional and psychological well-being. 

Life is messy, chaotic and ever-changing, allow us to help make sense of it with you! 

Whether you're a busy professional, stay-at-home parent or simply wanting to put yourself first, our ultimate goal is uncovering the soul of your space that you see and feel.  In every season of life, changes and challenges are simply part of our every day.  Through life's transitions allow us to create a functional home that embodies who you are, what you love and is as unique as you are.

Our clients have organically found us when they need us... and we wouldn't have it any other way! 

Our Clients

Our Market Size & Opportunity

Due to a global pandemic, the demand for interior designers is at an all-time high. In 2020, the worldwide interior design market was worth $150.7 billion with the U.S. Market grossing an estimated $40.7 billion. According to recent data, the global market for interior design services is forecasted to increase by $24.13 billion during 2021–2025.  In 2021, about 26.4 million people, or 8% of the population in the U.S. moved, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Remodeling homes in 2023 will reach $400 Billion and for the majority, lack of extra money, time and expertise derail the design process long before it begins. Whether organizing your space, setting up your home after a move, picking the perfect paint colors or redesigning a space from start to finish, we work with clients to make a daunting task like designing a clear and cohesive space a synch.

Love where you live today.

And every day.

Our Solution

If you don't have a reflective space that you love to be in, we are here for you! Through resourceful design strategy and intentional methods for increasing your homes potential and function, we help improve how you live. There are 78 million homeowners and 44 million renters in the US, making interior design a much-needed profession that anyone, yes, anyone can benefit from-- regardless of your living situation.  With affordable design packages and easy payment plans, we work with you to make your design dreams a reality.

Our Process

The Whitley Co. offers virtual or in-person interior design guidance for anyone searching for innovative ways to create a home you've always wanted.  With a diverse design menu, our design studio will streamline your design process through virtual calls, sourcing budget-conscious products and overseeing your personalized design journey from start to finish. 

Working diligently, we provide passionate 5-star customer service to each project regardless of scope or budget. Our vision is to be a major motivating force in people's lives more than merely designing spaces. Through our dedication to creating functional spaces for everyone, we are here to improve lives one space at a time.

Our Funding Dream

We are seeking $30,000 in order to broaden our reach and expand our services to deserving clients.  Scaling our design studio from primarily a virtual platform during the pandemic to a brick and mortar location with client presentation space and inventory is the largest portion of our funding goal. 

Secondly, Founder and Principal Interior Designer, Marissa Whitley Tago, has been a one-woman show at the helm of all aspects for The Whitley Co. for 5 years. By hiring a design associate to share the workload and creative ventures with your contribution, you will ensure the proper growth that will enable us to continue to broaden our scope in the world of interior design. 

Ways to Support Our Mission

We are so grateful for any support you can extend towards our mission. Thank you for your solidarity in these unprecedented times as we push forward in our pursuit of creating genuine transformations of spaces and self through attainable design solutions.

*If you are a fellow entrepreneur, artisan or small business who would like to collaborate with us, please email us at [email protected] to discuss the project/idea. We strive to highlight other self-made businesses, artisans and talents in our design projects!