Ayanna Govan

What was your entry point into the interior design industry?

My path into interior design wasn't completely linear. I studied and graduated with a bachelors in both interior design and architecture, but before starting AG Interiors, I worked in different areas of the home industry, including property development and luxury home furnishings. In the latter, I worked with clients on custom furnishings and in-home design while also managing showroom buying and merchandising.

I originally thought I would pursue business in some capacity, although I wasn't quite sure what that would look like. Eventually, those different experiences came together in a way I hadn't necessarily planned, and business ended up looking like building my own design firm.

How would you describe your signature style?

I tend to describe my work as residential design with a hospitality influence. I'm drawn to clean lines, uncluttered spaces and a sense of quiet luxury, but I never want a home to feel sterile or overly designed. There are usually layers of texture, a mix of old and new, and details that give the space depth.

More than having one specific aesthetic, the consistency in my work is really in how a space feels. I want it to feel elevated but approachable, intentional, comfortable and very specific to the person who lives there. The client's personality should still be more recognizable than mine.

How does Milwaukee affect your design style?

I don't know that Milwaukee dictates my design style, but it definitely influences the way I experience design. I love the city's mix of architecture, neighborhoods, cultures, arts and history. I'm drawn to buildings with some existing character and the challenge of understanding what was there before and how it can work for the way someone lives now.

I'm also very inspired by our relationship with water. I love being near the lake and rivers, and I'm always aware of things like the view, natural light and even what you hear when the windows are open. I think I'm influenced as much by the experience of a place as I am by what it looks like.

Do you have a favorite color/ palette to work with?

I'm naturally drawn to earth tones, warm neutrals and rich hues. I especially love monochromatic palettes because they give you an opportunity to create depth through texture, material and subtle shifts in tone rather than relying on a lot of different colors.

That said, I really love color when a client isn't afraid of it. I'm probably more drawn to warm, saturated colors than cooler ones, but ultimately the palette has to make sense for the person and the space.

What are your favorite types of projects to work on?

Whole-home projects are probably my favorite because they allow us to think about the home as one experience rather than a collection of individual rooms. So often, people approach their homes one room at a time and eventually realize the spaces don't really speak to one another. I love being able to carry a story throughout the entire home and give a client that feeling of it finally being complete.

I'm especially drawn to remodels because I enjoy working with some existing character and history. I love the puzzle of looking at something and thinking, "Why did they do it this way, and how can we make it better?" But I also enjoy new construction, condos and furnishings, particularly when we're involved throughout the home.

For individual spaces, bathrooms, bedrooms and basements are favorites. They're often some of the most personal rooms in a home. People tend to make decisions about kitchens and living spaces with family and guests in mind, but their bedroom or primary bathroom tells you much more about how they want to live. I really enjoy getting to know clients at that level.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Almost everywhere. Travel, culture, fashion, hotels, restaurants, architecture and sometimes something completely random I notice while driving. I'm especially inspired by hospitality spaces because they are designed around creating an experience, not simply filling a room.

Clients are also a huge source of inspiration. I pay attention to what they wear, where they travel, what they collect and how they live. Fabrics are a big one for me as well. My interest in textiles is heavily influenced by both fashion and functionality.

How do you balance function/style?

For me, function is part of the design rather than something we address separately. A beautiful room isn't successful if living in it is frustrating or if it becomes a museum that you can't actually use and is just for show.

I spend a lot of time understanding the smaller details of how someone moves through their day. How do they get ready in the morning? Where do they naturally put something down when they walk into a room? Who uses the space? How do they entertain? What has never worked for them?

Once we understand those things, we can create something beautiful around them. The goal is for the functionality to feel almost invisible because the space simply works.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In five years, I'm looking for impact more than anything else. I want to continue growing AG Interiors into larger, more comprehensive design and remodeling projects and taking on work that allows us to really shape how someone experiences a space from beginning to end.

I'm also very interested in expanding into hospitality design, particularly hotels. Hospitality has influenced my residential work for years, so I would love the opportunity to explore that on a larger scale.

Beyond that, I think I'm intentionally leaving some room for the next five years to surprise me.

Advice for someone starting out in the industry?

Find your own voice and trust it. It's very easy in this industry to look at what other designers are doing and start believing you should be doing the same thing, offering the same services or designing in the same way.

Ironically, that's often the exact advice we give our clients: don't make a decision simply because your neighbor or friend did it.

I think the same applies to building a career. Stay curious, but don't let inspiration turn into imitation. Learn what you like, establish boundaries, don't be afraid to make mistakes and give yourself permission to build a career that actually fits you.