Hi! Is this thing on?

Bold Ideas, Home Finds, and Real Price Tags

Why hello, there! I'm the new kid on the block (block being Substack) so I figured I should start by introducing myself. You know… who I am, what I do, and why following along is worth your while.

Just a Small Town Girl

Yep, that’s me! Born and raised in SE MN, where there are no stoplights and the local gossip travels faster than the internet. We’re talking “everyone knows your grandma's cat's name” small. And yes, my prom was indeed in the gym.

As soon as I graduated high school, I headed to the big city of Minneapolis for college, where I studied accounting and finance. For 12 years, my life involved pivot tables, variance analysis, and month-end reporting (IYKYK). In the middle of all that, I met my incredible husband (while working at Target HQ, no less) and gained two amazing stepkiddos.

But you’re probably wondering why I’m talking about spreadsheets and marriage instead of throw pillow combinations, so let’s get to it.

Here’s a photo of the four of us circa April 2022. We struggle with family pictures, likely because I greatly dislike having my picture taken. And yes, I probably should discuss that with a therapist.

The Design Pivot

Three years ago, I made a bold career pivot and launched Wray Design Co.—my way of proving that great design isn’t just for the elite. My mission has always been to tear down the barriers of interior design and create spaces (and homes) that are truly attainable. At Wray Design Co., we focus on direct-to-consumer products, and we pride ourselves on being collaborative, transparent, and unafraid to get creative with a value-engineered approach.

A bulk of what you’ll find here is an interior design playground of sorts. A place where we kick industry gatekeeping to the curb and make home design fun, approachable, and totally doable. After countless hours of self-teaching (and a few meltdowns along the way), I’m here to share the insider scoop—from design mistakes to avoid, trending home finds, and even the real cost breakdowns. My mission? To help you create a home you can be proud of.

Beyond design tips and home finds, I hope to mix in the real stuff – the stuff that happens when you're just living. Because behind every beautiful home is a real person with a real life. So, expect some honest stories that'll make you go, 'Yeah, I get that,' and hopefully, make you feel like we're all in this together.

That’s it! Please do comment and tell me something about yourself (or your most recent design disaster). And if you’re still reading this, thank you. Truly, thank you!