Colleen Waguespack, Founder of Colleen Waguespack Interiors, didn’t do Christmas decor. Her design start was in a more corporate setting, and when she moved to residential, it wasn’t with holidays in mind. And yet, clients asked. Holiday decor that fit with her design style was hard to come by, so she produced it herself.
All in a Name
Based in Baton Rouge, LA, Waguespack began developing holiday decor that would fit — beyond just the holidays. “You can’t sustain a company on one season,” she says. “The dove is a year-round symbol of hope and peace. It works for every occasion.” With her start in Christmas however, Waguespack’s collection includes neutral stockings, tree skirts and wreath sashes, many with a dove motif. Waguespack also says a key to her success is good photography. “We show people how to use our products,” she notes.
Beyond Red & Green
“Everyone asked [us to decorate for the holidays] every year,” she says. “That’s when people open up their homes to entertain.” When she finally did agree to a holiday theme for a photo shoot, she realized there weren’t decorations that worked with her style, or most interiors. After struggling to find that decor, she decided to make her own. “There really was a void in the marketplace. I decided to turn it into a product line,” she says. And Fig & Dove was born.
At the Center
An acrylic dove designed for Waguespack by artist Brad Bourgoyne is the centerpiece of Fig & Dove. The two met when creating an acrylic butterfly sculpture for the local autism center, a cause that’s close to Waguespack’s heart. With the success of the acrylic dove, and now cardinals, acrylic butterflies will debut in spring. The doves have been key to Waguespack’s expansion beyond Christmas.
What Next?
“We had always been known for Christmas, but through our own needs as an interior design studio, and at the request of customers, we’ve slowly expanded Fig & Dove — the core of what we do is celebrate,” says Waguespack. “We wanted a line that could elevate [personal style] for special occasions.” Fig & Dove now has nursery decor, tabletop and more. Wedding decor is next, as brides and event planners are asking for Fig & Dove decor. “Feedback from customers keeps us going.”
