About the Team
Southern Inspirations by Linda Gale is an artisan interior designer offering an array of services ranging from design consultation to real estate. Having been in business for 30 years, Southern Inspirations has designed homes and commercial spaces at a local and national level. Sharing the vision of Linda Gale Boyles, the team of Southern Inspirations by Linda Gale works to create spaces that speak to the grandeur of Southern classical design, while contemporizing it with dramatic color stories, subtle detailing, and an expression of individuality.
Linda Gale Boyles; Head Designer and Owner of Southern Inspirations
Linda’s design philosophy is centered around the belief that a living space should be enriching spaces, that positively influence those who dwell within them. While studying at Georgetown College, Linda received her degree in History and Communications, with a minor in Art. From those early years, Linda began developing her appreciative eye for the everlasting beauty of Old World aesthetics. After finishing school, she and her husband bought their first house and redid the entire home themselves. A gathering of family and friends was all it would take for Linda to begin fielding requests from others to help do work on their homes. Learning through experience, a deep understanding of the products used in the practice, and by participating in classes and workshops all around the world, Linda grew to expand from simpler window treatments and decorative painting to full service design work and highly detailed and complex finishing work. By 1991, Southern Inspirations by Linda Gale was born.
Since its beginning, Southern Inspirations by Linda Gale has held and taught workshops within its studio, taught by Linda. Southern Inspirations by Linda Gale has been showcased in design events such as Homearama, Bellarmine House, and Market in High Point, North Carolina- the “Furniture Capital of the World”. She has designed homes nationally, from Florida to Washington D.C. toWisconsin.
And after over 30 years of experience, Linda continues to love the design field because whether its a decorative finish or designing an entire new space, she loves meeting people in all walks of life. Linda holds a special appreciation for meeting people at just the right instance. She has seen first hand just how much a person’s attitude and overall outlook on life can change, and be improved, through redesigning their home space. And it is that sharing of joy that drives Linda to design spaces that are not only beautiful, but change people beautifully.
Shelley Hulsey; Design Consultant and Artisan Painter
Shelley began her nearly 20-year professional painting career at the University of Louisville, first studying photography, arts, and theatre. Early on, Shelley developed a practice of always using a fine hand to inform her work, no matter the scale. This philosophy came out of her time studying classical impressionism under New York artist, Ilona Royce–Smithkin, as well as undertaking large-scale projects through the act of painting theatre sets. From theatre sets, Shelley made the leap into larger scale, more complex design work by joining Webber Group. While working with Webber Group, Shelley traveled as a special effects theme painter for five years, working on projects for companies such as Paramount Theme Parks and Great Wolf Lodges. In between her seasons with Webber Group, she filled her time painting sets and murals for the Kentucky State Fair, and returning to her roots of set painting, at Louisville’s own, Actor’s Theatre. If you’re wondering around Louisville, KY, keep an eye out for Shelley’s work at Lotsa Pasta, City Cafe on 6th Street, Glassworks Gallery, and Louisville Stoneworks & Co. In addition to her extensive painting career, Shelley also worked in Philadelphia for a number of years, coordinating and curating with galleries and served the Speed Museum as its Museum Store Director & Retail Buyer until its closing in 2019. Her tastes and period knowledge served her well in the position as co-designer of the newly opened, Bellwether Hotel. While she’s in the Studio at Southern Inspirations, Shelley is an amazing wealth of knowledge, with the kind of eye for beauty that can’t be taught in any other way besides her own experience.
Aida Ramirez; Artisan Painter and Graphic Designer
As the newest member of the Southern Inspirations team, Aida brings fresh eyes and experience to the group. Holding a Bachelors of Fine Art from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), and a Masters of Fine Art from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Aida is classically trained as a printmaker. Exhibiting as both an artist and a curator on both a national and international scale has left Aida with an amazing appreciation for a variety of art, but with a special love for the kind of art people choose to live with in their personal spaces. Since she’s moved to Louisville, KY in March of 2021, she has immersed herself in interior design work as a way to expand upon that love. Having a background in various other artistic fields, Aida uses her experience in printmaking, sculpture, and graphic design to inform her hand as she works in the Southern Inspirations studio.
