women of nt achieveme
r Inte
ior Designer
Mary Kate Bedell ary Kate Bedell’s life
philosophy is quite simple: “Life is a journey,” she says. “Carpe diem, baby. Enjoy it.” She embodies that motto, seizing every opportunity. “You need to live in the moment,” she says. “Maybe something comes up that you didn’t expect and it ends up being a great thing.” A North Carolina native, Mary Kate has called Pittsboro home for six years. She has always been entrepreneurial – as a child, Mary Kate enjoyed coming up with business ideas, from washing windows to selling handmade cards in her neighborhood. “I’ve always been creative – that’s always been a thread going through my life,” she says. She’s since put that creativity to work in the residential design world for more than 24 years. “I just kind of fell in love with it,” she says. “It’s one of those moments where you’re like ‘oh, this is what I want to be when I grow up.’” Mary Kate worked in various design roles for other firms and earned a certification with the National Kitchen & Bath Association before taking a leap of faith and starting her own business. Her portfolio since founding Fresh Air Designs in 2018 speaks for itself. The studio 44
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Pittsboro office] because people come and not only work with me, but they get to experience Pittsboro,” Mary Kate says. “I feel like I’m kind of an ambassador in a way.” Her passion for her community extends beyond the office. Mary Kate is an active member of the design committee on the Pittsboro Downtown Advisory Board. “There [are] so many things that we’re trying to develop and grow,” she says. One of the group’s upcoming projects involves a downtown pop-up park with art, a kids play area, a stage and outdoor seating. Mary Kate hopes more artwork, sidewalks, lighting and historic preservation are also in downtown Pittsboro’s future. “It’s really exciting,” she says. “I just wish we started 10 years ago.” She also volunteers at ClydeFest, contributes to the Chatham Arts Council and has recently gotten involved with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Triangle. Mary Kate is a member of the Home Builders
specializes in both interior and exterior design, with a focus on outdoor kitchens and spaces – hence the name. Association of Durham, Orange A memorable recent and Chatham Counties and project involved renovating the Professional Women in We have to prove an 80-year-old residential Building subcommittee – they ourselves more home in downtown Pittsboro recently hosted a fundraiser as women in the in collaboration with the for a local nonprofit that trains homeowners and Central work world, but women in Orange County to Carolina Community College’s learn the construction trade I think it’s also building construction – and has helped support the the way you technology department. The mission of the Chatham Habitat approach things. radical remodel included a for Humanity with her own new kitchen, family bathroom, clients. “I’m a big believer in What you throw laundry room and bar space. repurposing,” she says. out into the “It sounds corny, but I Mary Kate shares two universe is what love working with people and children with husband, local creating new spaces for them you get back. musician Bob Bedell. Their son, that improve the quality of their Griffin Bedell, currently lives in life,” Mary Kate says. Knoxville, Tennessee, and works She prides herself on being as a structural engineer, and her analytical and detail-oriented, daughter, Dylan Bedell, lives in but also artistic – which helps when your work Cary and works for her mom part-time, is unpredictable. “You’ve got to have both of in addition to her full-time job as a those things to do this job well,” she says. marketing coordinator. “Dylan was there Those traits are also what attracted Mary from the beginning and helped me blend Kate to her craft. “It’s the kind of career and shape the brand,” Mary Kate says. that’s always new and fresh because Her daughter designed the logo, created the spaces are always different and the the website and acts as Fresh Air Designs’ homeowners are always different,” she communications director. says. “You can create things that are “My whole family has been very unique to each project because those supportive,” Mary Kate says. “It’s so two variables always change.” important to have the support of your She gets a lot of inspiration from loved ones.” her clients, as well as her surroundings in Chatham County. “I love [my downtown – by Leah Berry
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