Meet Ann O’Leary | Interior Designer, Author, Distiller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ann O’Leary and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ann, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Necessity is the mother of invention.
When I was in my early 20’s living in a NYC 3 bedroom with 5 college friends (all boys), I was making $9,000 a year and eating cereal for every meal. I wrote my father a letter asking if he could see his way clear to send me some $$$. His response was “it appears your outgo is more than your income. I suggest you decrease one and increase the other”.

I had a speck of talent and could illustrate. My boss had a connection with a fellow who had left a huge card company to start his own, T and A Creations. He was a beautiful gay man. I had no idea what T and A was and all of the first round of cards had off-color and bawdy gay verses inside. I couldn’t even show my mother. However, he had great ties to large department stores and with that I became his golden goose. I did the Christmas cards, bags and barware for Neiman’s, Macy’s, Lord and Taylor, Saks and Brentano’s, I made just enough to cover the bills until boss-lady was moved to Hong Kong and I got her job.

Had my father sent me the $$ this would not have happened.

My subsequent businesses have a similar theme to their inception.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My husband made some poor decisions, and our lives were affected after the crash of ’87. He came home to announce we were out of $. We had 2 small children and I had left the workforce. His solution was to move to Lake Placid, NY, which is in the mountains just south of Canada. As my father (who truly was a great guy) said “well it’s not the end of the world but you could see it from there”.

Terra incognito, I needed to figure out how to start a business and the most likely avenue was interior design. In this endeavor I was self-taught but well-traveled with good taste and an adequate business sense. ( Also, Lake Placid is a community with a seasonal upper income population). We bought a building in town for my business. I bought an XL black Suburban some shearling coats, fur boots and onward. Sink or swim. It proved a struggle at first. But I saw a revival happening in historic Adirondack architecture and my 2 sisters in publishing insisted I should write a book about this. I got a C in English, but persevered and Random House published 2 of my books ADIRONDACK STYLE and RUSTIC REVISITED, TV shows and magazine interviews followed (a stint on the Today Show). After 1996, we were on the map as the firm to go to for rustic design. The client list and projects are notable, and we have not stopped since.
We have taken over much of the paperwork and management of projects normally handled by architects and contractors. We have found that our precision and accuracy have singled us out in this field.

Had we not had a financial downturn, I would still be a housewife in the suburbs of NYC. I have always said it was easier to get up and go to work than raise children. It is, however, static.

I sold the building in Lake Placid last year and bought a place in Charleston. So, none of my story may apply to your intended audience. I am still navigating all of the nuances of Charleston and managing homes in Saratoga Springs and Lake Placid and a business or two.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The minute friends get off of a plane I whisk them to Sullivan’s Island for a meal at Fish Camp, then a beach walk or a heavenly bike ride on the hard sand beach over to Isle of Palms. Hang out at Wild Dunes resort by the pool or play golf there

I usually arrange historic walking tours in downtown with Kay Abrams because she has so much to say in her energetic fashion and I let her know not to exhaust me with the same exact tour again. She is fabulous and the city has more to reveal with each walk.

Indigo Dyeing class with Daisy Mclellan (the indigo industry once reigned supreme in Charleston). Cooking class w/ Bob Waggoner

I have been conducting a Rooftop Bar study (I own a distillery). By far the best is Citrus Club/Dewberry Hotel due to the view. Access is difficult. Next is the Pavilion Hotel Rooftop. Still working on the list.
Favorite sunset: Shem Creek at Tavern and Table

Favorite place for oysters: Pearlz, Nicos, 167

Intimate dinner great food: Chez Nous (order 1 of everything on the limited menu).

There are many festivals that are top notch: Spoleto, Food and Wine, SEWE worth checking out

Rent a boat to go down rivers, not out in ocean

Not to be missed the African American Museum, one of the plantations (Middleton), a performance at the glorious Gaillard Center.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Claudia Fox, a dragon lady of a boss, who pushed me to be the best I could be. We became great friends. I have written to thank her as someone was doing the same for my daughter in NYC.

Website: https://www.annstillmanoleary.com

Instagram: annsoleary

Facebook: Ann Stillman O’Leary

Image Credits
Profile: Joann Cancro
Remaining photos, not the spirits label: Flylisted
Label: I am Doug Fir, me