Atlanta-based interior designer Erika Hollinshead Ward helps us curate our sanctuary spaces for a balanced, well-designed life.

Ward’s design from Seasonal Living Virtual Showhouse PHOTO: BY RUSTIC WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

“I do believe we all need a soft place to land each day, and as a designer, I am to make my hardworking client’s homes their personal sanctuaries,” says interior designer Erika Hollinshead Ward, founder and principal of Erika Ward Interiors, a design firm and showroom specializing in a contemporary-meets-classic aesthetic. Ward has been in the business for over 14 years, designing spaces with natural materials and juxtaposing textures, blending old and new items to create warm, nurturing spaces with tons of charm and character. These design sensibilities have elevated her to become a prominent East Coast design leader nationwide.

Ward’s grandmother called their home a “House of Refuge” growing up. Ward says it certainly seemed that way. “Family, friends, and even strangers always made a way to our home to find a resting place,” says Ward. It wasn’t until Ward’s son received a sudden cancer diagnosis that Ward truly understood what her grandmother meant by her nickname—the home as a sanctuary space. “[It] made me a more conscientious designer as it relates to using the home to nurture mental and spiritual well-being. I carved out a space where I meditate, pray, visit with closest friends and sometimes do light office work,” says the designer. “Having a respite within my home provided a place to quiet my thoughts and to find peace amid the emotional chaos. I take pride in doing the same for my fabulous clientele.”

PHOTO: COURTESY OF SEASONAL LIVING MAGAZINE

Wondering where to start? Ward says you must ask the question, “Where do you find solace?” Leaving you to null over this answer, here are some musings and past projects from the designer herself to aid in your soul search. erikaward.com

TOP RIGHT, PHOTO BY RUSTIC WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY; ALL OTHER PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRANDS