Ford Boyd Bailey

Ford received her BA degree in Interior Design from the University of Georgia and came back to Columbia and spent several years working in design related fields. In 1983, she left for London to study Decorative and Fine Arts at Sotheby’s. In 1984, she married and returned to Columbia and opened her interior design business, Ford Boyd Interiors. Realizing that Columbia needed a fine interiors shop, she created Verve in 1993, which is a shop that reflects her penchant for great style and timeless interiors. 

Ford tends to rely more on neutral textures than patterns for the interiors she creates, which, to her, tend to have more staying power. She feels that people, art and objects create the colors for a space, but she considers that color can be a neutral if used correctly. She likes pulling accent colors in through art, pillows, and accessories, which when used with a neutral background, have the flexibility to be moved around. She has a natural eye for space planning and proportions and works easily with architectural plans.

Ford retains design clients who she has worked with for over 25 years because she designs and decorates in a clean, buildable style. Ford draws her inspiration from her southern heritage, her travels, and her clients. Ford attributes her success, not only to her design talent and her honest work ethic, but also to being surrounded by a talented and dedicated staff. Ford’s work has been featured in publications, both local and national, including Columbia Metropolitan, Columbia Living, Southern Accents, Charleston Style and Design, Better Homes and Gardens, Décor, Decorating, Tuscan Style, and Beautiful Southern Homes. Her own home was featured in a coffee table book, Trade Secrets.