In Conversation with Mary “Mac” McWilliams
The multitalented designer of Mary Mac and Company looks back on her career and accomplishments
Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles: Your firm has become a cornerstone in the Atlanta design community. What do you believe has been the driving force behind its longevity and reputation?
Mary “Mac” McWilliams: I founded Mary Mac and Company in 2004 with the goal of making connections and creating beauty, wherever that may lead, and I had so many great years of construction experience before starting my own company. I was comfortable building homes as far as the Bahamas and as far west as Arizona. I am a firm believer that gratitude changes everything, and I remain so grateful for everyone who is and has been a part of my career. I have loved mentoring interns and young college grads, and my relationships with clients will always be what I love most. You hear at times that clients become like family, and I feel so blessed to say that this is something I cherish most about helping families create their most important places—their homes.
AH&L: When you look at your career path from beginning to now, what stands out as a defining moment?
MM: I would have to say getting my job at Southern Living magazine in 1992. I was 29 years old and interviewed for over three months for the associate interiors editor position. It was one of the most challenging processes I had ever experienced and one that I kept secret even to my family. After I got the job, I moved over to Birmingham, Alabama, where the magazine was headquartered. I knew if I could get in the door that opportunities would come. The editor told me that it was easier to make a designer into a writer versus the other way around. I had never written articles before for any publication, so seeing my first byline was such a moment for me! Styling a cover shot was equally as special. My focus shifted from writing about homes across the South to designing showhouses. After six years of traveling the South for Southern Living, I was ready to come back to Atlanta. I left the magazine with lifelong friendships and even a paint color named Mary Mac Red. It’s available to this day at Lowe’s!
AH&L: Your designs are timeless and full of life. What is your personal design philosophy?
MM: It’s to layer thoughtful, memorable details in every area possible. I believe that even small spaces can be elevated by punctuating special details. Trim on draperies, tiny covered buttons on a pleat, making custom lampshades with beautiful fabric to layering antique accessories into a space—I love to use collections and accessories that have a story. Most upholstered furniture will always be new, but it is how you finish the spaces with everything you place around the new layers. Details make all the difference.
AH&L: What legacy do you hope your firm leaves within the Atlanta design landscape?
MM: My hope is that my firm leaves the Atlanta design landscape feeling like they have gotten a big hug when walking in the door. I love a timeless, classic approach to design. Simmering on every inch of a project from onset to the final installation brings so much fulfillment. Adding character and age through materials is always in the forefront of my mind. I love for a new home to feel like it’s been there for a long time.
AH&L: You’ve been an editor, managed showrooms, hosted programs on HGTV, designed numerous homes and much more. Looking back, what accomplishment are you most proud of?
MM: There are so many great memories in my career. I loved working with Dixie Carter on an HGTV Christmas special and working on a showhouse inside the Opryland Theme Park, but the one that stands out the most is the 1996 Olympic Idea House. The home was over 10,000 square feet and designed by architects Spitzmiller & Norris. It was such an amazing project from start to finish. The magazine was an official Olympic sponsor, and the Summer Olympics were hosted in Atlanta. The house was built from the ground up in the heart of Buckhead. I completed 86 showhouses while at the magazine, and this one was by far the largest. The end result and grand opening felt like getting a gold medal when we crossed the finish line to completion.
AH&L: Any parting piece of advice?
MM: I always say that if I had only $50 left over after building a home, I would buy another dimmer. Dimmers always!
A Day in the Life of Mary McWilliams
7 A.M. Wake up to take out my Aussiedoodle, Baxley, and feed her breakfast. Fix a big mug of coffee and open the French doors and windows to the courtyard off of my den. Then, I head out to my courtyard garden—gardening and feeding the birds are two of my favorite pastimes. I prune, water, and make sure it looks neat and tidy.
8:45 A.M. Catch up on calls to builders, vendors, and clients.
10 A.M. Head down to my studio. I work from home—always have—and I love it. My team and I meet on Monday mornings, and when they arrive, we meet for project and client reviews. We go over schedules, procurement current and future, site visit notes, and communication with vendors and the architectural and construction teams.
1 P.M. We all have lunch in the studio. We go out for special occasions, but usually I order lunch in, or everyone packs a lunch.
2 P.M. Head to a site visit to check on the progress of the job and meet with the contractor or the architect to review drawings. Seeing a home come to life is one of the best parts of my job.
5:30 P.M. Wrap up the day in the studio and talk about what the next day holds. If we have a client meeting the next day, we will prepare for that.
6:15 P.M. Head back upstairs to finish the day, often texting with builders and clients until after dinner. I love to watch real estate reality shows on Netflix. I keep that courtyard window open to hear the fountain all evening until I head for bed.
This is the fifth installment of AH&L’s Legends of Design. To learn more about the class of 2026, visit atlantahomesmag.com/futures-legends.
