Meet the three talented Whelan women who started the casually chic lifestyle company inspired by their family’s beloved retreat on Tybee Island
Written by BRIENNE WALSH
Photography by EMMA CREIGHTON HOPSON
THE NAME “BEACH HOUSE” is visceral and evocative, conjuring up sandy feet, sisal rugs, tattered paperbacks, sun bleached fabrics, family time and the salty smell of the ocean.
This is exactly why three Savannah-raised sisters — Mimi Whelan, Katelyn Whelan and Daisy Sullivant — named their collaborative design brand Beach House Studio. Because it says so much without being too complicated. “So many people have a memory or connection to a beach house, whether it’s in the Hamptons or the Florida Panhandle, that was a special place of beauty and rest and connection,” says Mimi. “We love how the name can hit the heartstrings in a way that connects to our style, which is a collection of all of our experiences.”
Experiences such as living together in the house their parents owned on Tybee Island, where they first began collaborating as a form of free play when they were children. “There were five of us, and we were really left to entertain each other,” says Katelyn, who notes that the sisters have two brothers. To fill the time, the siblings put on plays, played dress up and worked on elaborate craft projects.
Although neither of their parents had creative professions — their father was an orthopedic surgeon, and their mother was a homemaker — they were creative people who expressed their artistry in the homes they bought, decorated and sold in neighborhoods like Ardsley Park and Isle of Hope. The family never lived in one house for more than a few years. “I think through unpacking and looking at a space and moving things around, we developed an appreciation for interiors that grew into an expression of art,” says Daisy.
“We have a hard time fitting into a box. So, with Beach House Studio, we’re just building a bigger box.”
— Katelyn Whelan
After graduating from St. Vincent’s Academy, the sisters went their own ways. The eldest, Daisy, graduated from the University of Georgia (UGA) and went to work for Kelly Wearstler’s apparel collections in Los Angeles before settling with her family in Athens, Georgia, where she currently works on bespoke textile and interior projects. Katelyn, the middle sister, whom the other sisters call their “cruise director” due to her ability to organize them, graduated from Notre Dame before returning to Savannah, where she has built a business specializing in graphic design and digital marketing for other female-owned businesses. And Mimi, the baby, who also graduated from UGA, landed in Charleston by way of New York, where she learned the trade of high-end interior design working for Michelle Gerson Interiors and Amanda Lindroth.
The sisters always knew that they wanted to work together, but they also wanted to gather experience in their respective industries first. Ten years ago, they created a brand called The Whelan Sisters that sold hand-painted gift wrapping paper to family and friends.
Two years ago, they changed the name to Beach House Studio and expanded their offerings. Currently, the brand is multi-pronged, offering interior design, product development and digital marketing services, as well as a line of wallpaper, woven throws, hand-painted silk scarves and playful trucker hats with their signature wave motif. “Our hope is that the more we cross pollinate our work worlds and showcase our creative talents, the better we can build up a brand and a client base so that we can give up our day jobs and work together under a single roof in the future,” says Katelyn.
So far, Beach House Studio has worked on projects such as painting the interior of Hannah E., a lifestyle boutique in Savannah’s Downtown Design District. The Whelans’ ideal client, they note, is someone like them — creative, curious and involved in all aspects of design. The sisters can imagine, for example, being hired by a female business owner not only to style a photo shoot for her line of products, but also to put the finishing touches on the interior of her family home.
They can also see working on large-scale hospitality, retail and residential projects, and have great admiration for Basic Projects, a hospitality brand that designs commercial projects such as Sullivan’s Fish Camp and the Post House Tavern & Inn in Charleston. Another hope would be collaborating with other artisans to develop new lines of home and interior products, such as pillows, dishes and more. “We have a hard time fitting into a box,” Katelyn says, laughing. “So, with Beach House Studio, we’re just building a bigger box.”
If Savannah is lucky, the sisters will get the opportunity to work on their dream local project, which would be an art deco-inspired beach club on Tybee Island. They envision the place like this: a small pool and a supper club where you could go to relax or get a little dressed up after spending the day in the ocean. You don’t need a beach house — or the budget necessary for a beach house — in order to enjoy the space, or really any of Beach House Studio’s products. You just need an appreciation for nature, an approachable vibe and a desire to be both collected and casual in the way that you live your life.
“We want to create impactful places,” Katelyn says. The sisters want you to walk into the spaces they’ve touched and say, “I know this. It’s Beach House Studio.”
