Holly Phillips @ The English Room

Holly Hollingsworth Phillips is a residential interior designer and co-owner of The English Room, which is based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Holly’s style is elegant, eclectic and colorful. She has completed homes all over the east coast that have ranged from the super modern to very traditional while keeping it true to her style. She loves overseeing the design process from beginning to end. The best part is when your clients really trust you and set you free to do what you do best. Her love of color, pattern and layering of old and new can be seen in all her work. According to Holly, “Color makes people happy!” She loves the mixing the tradition of the past with the modern style of the future. Holly has worked in the design world from and early age. Her mother took her to antique shows all over the east coast and she went on her first buying trip to Europe at age 12. The home Holly grew up in was designed by Mario Buatta. She has fond memories of introducing Mario “the Prince of Chintz” to Chick-fil-a nuggets while discussing “decorating” as a third grader. Her mother, Nancy Hollingsworth, is a well known interior designer, and specializes in the English Country style. Childhood play dates could turn into magical discussions with mothers while they moved around furniture. Her lifelong passion for the arts has never waned. Holly has a strong educational love for antiques and the history of the decorative arts led her to this business. Holly’s early design experience includes working with Alexandra Stoddard and Sotheby’s – both in New York City. Holly completed a Mint Museum Senior Study and worked at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. After College, Holly lived in London while completing Sotheby’s 17th and 18th century decorative arts program. She has also completed The Winter institute at Winterthur, which provided a deep exposure one of the most complete collections of American Antiques in existence. Her first “professional” job was with Travis & Company in Atlanta where she ran the Antiques side of the showroom. In 1999, Holly joined her mother full time at the English Room in Charlotte. Her educational background includes a degree in Art History from Rollins College and a degree in Interior Design from the American College.