Today we’d like to introduce you to Ceci Tucker.
Hi Ceci, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have ALWAYS been fascinated by interior design. And when I say always, I mean just about always. As a kid I grew up watching the TLC show “Trading Spaces”, and was completely enamored with the design process & making a space your very own. I even insisted my Mom buy me a little “Trading Spaces” design smock so I could truly play the part of the designer & contestants making over the rooms. I would spend hours drawing up designs, and eventually my Mother gave me free rein to create my very own “Blue Crush” sanctuary in my childhood bedroom. I opted for a cheery yellow paint color, made some magazine collages to truly embody the vibes I was going for, and somehow even convinced my mom to let me hang up a set of bamboo door curtains with a very revealing hula dancer design. Needless to say, no matter where I lived, whether it was my childhood room, or even my first adult house, it was important to create a space that felt safe, cozy and authentically me.
While I opted to study Apparel Merchandising & Design in college, interior design was still always on my mind. So much so, that I managed to sneak in a few courses to learn the basics when it came to interior design principles. After college, I snagged an internship at Kendra Scott in the Design Development Department, while also single-handedly building my own jewelry business on the side. I eventually decided to take my own jewelry business full-time, and had the opportunity to work alongside companies such as Free People, and even Chacos. But as the years went by, I could tell my passion for jewelry design was coming to a close. I decided to pivot, and go through a rebranding process with my business. Little did I know that rebrand was about to bring me on a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. Both financially & emotionally. However, all those ups and downs brought me to getting my foot in the interior design door, thanks to a wonderful local designer who was willing to take a chance on me despite my lack of experience.
Thanks to her, I was able to get years of experience working with clients, and seeing the behind the scenes of running an interior design firm. Once our time together had come to an end due to a crumbling economy, I bounced around from firm to firm as an independent contractor. I got experience as a design assistant, project manager and even freelance designer. However, through all these positions I kept having the thought, “what if I did this on my own?”.
In the Summer of 2025, my husband and I were given the opportunity to take care of, and move into my childhood home settled on 8 acres in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. We quickly decided to turn our-then home in South Austin into an Airbnb (a dream of mine for years) while slowly bringing my childhood home back to life.
While I had hopes of our Airbnb doing well, I didn’t expect what happened to happen…although I’m glad it did! We almost immediately started getting bookings, and glowing 5 star reviews. Guests took notice upon all the little design details, such as our luxurious bamboo sheets, and designer hand soap. It got to a point where we were no longer just hosting guests that were in town visiting family, but celebrities who wanted a quieter Austin experience away from the downtown chaos. I quickly realized I was making more money as an Airbnb host than I was at any of my other independent contractor gigs. It was providing me not only financial freedom, but complete design freedom as well.
I got in touch with a local brand designer, Meg Burke of Oava Studio, and came up with the vision of an intentional yet soulful interior design studio. She took my ideas and turned them into Wilde Folk Studio. An interior design studio made for real living.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ha! Definitely not a smooth road. There have been a lot of ups, downs, and detours along the way. Thankfully, those detours brought me exactly where I’m supposed to be.
The economy has played a role at every design firm I’ve been a part of, including my own. Whether it was being laid off due to lack of clients, clients pushing back on design budgets, or navigating tariffs, this industry has kept me on my toes in ways I never expected.
As you know, we’re big fans of Wilde Folk Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Wilde Folk Studio is an intentional interior design firm based in Austin, Texas. While we specialize in short-term rental design, we also offer commercial & residential design services.
As a certified short term rental stylist, and Airbnb Superhost, I understand the importance interior design plays in not only guest experience, but your financial success as a host. Beyond STR, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a range of commercial spaces under the Wilde Folk name, from coffee shops and climbing gyms to a silversmith studio.
One thing that sets us apart from other design firms, is that I intentionally take on a limited number of clients each season. As a solo designer, this lets me give each project the focus and care it deserves, and honestly, it protects my creativity too. It’s an approach that only works because I run a small, intentional practice, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
At the end of the day, I want people to know that your space should make you feel safe, inspired, at home in the truest sense of the word. That’s what Wilde Folk is built around. Intentionality, authenticity, and creative expression.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Growing up in Austin was a different world. The city I knew then barely resembles the one standing today, but if you look closely enough, you can still find little pieces of the old Austin peeking through. Like a flower pushing up through a crack in the sidewalk, there’s always some scrappy, beautiful remnant that refuses to be paved over. New buildings keep rising, but every now and then, an old gem holds its ground and blooms anyway.
I was fortunate to grow up on 8 acres, which meant my sister and I played outside A LOT. I have memories of us climbing trees, and picking flowers for my mom before dinnertime. Going on bike rides with friends and their parents around Town Lake. Climbing down to the Greenbelt and going swimming with friends in the Texas heat and a busted cooler of cold drinks.
Those memories are woven into everything I design. I want to bring back the soulful, grounded feeling Austin was once known for, through materials native to this land and the rich cultures that surround it. It’s my quiet way of honoring the city that raised me.
Pricing:
- Pricing is done on a scope basis 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wildefolkstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildefolk.studio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildefolk.austin
