Team
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia in 1999, Sims Patrick Studio was founded by Libby Patrick and is led by a trio of experienced Principals working in complementary roles: Libby (our conceptual and narrative guru), Jenny Rutledge (3D design, construction and architect collaboration), and Melissa Wylie (operations and FF&A quality control).
Our team is a collection of world travelers and creative explorers, designers, planners and administrators. We are brimming with a love of culture, nature, fashion, leisure, business and sport. Each team member is more than their job title; we pride ourselves in not only our work but in the passions that fuel our fires beyond our desks.
Read more about each of us below.
Libby Sims Patrick
CEO
Education
Bachelor of Interior Design, School of Architecture—Auburn University
Prior Professional Experience
tvsdesign—Atlanta, GAKPS Group—Birmingham, AL
Stevens & Wilkinson—Atlanta, GA
Libby Sims Patrick
NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED-AP
CEO
"Design should inspire all the senses!"
Libby Patrick is the founding Principal and CEO of Sims Patrick Studio. She has more than thirty years of experience in the interior design industry, is LEED-accredited, and has served as a featured panelist and speaker at many local and national events like Neocon, HD Expo and IIDA. Her award-winning work has been featured in Hospitality Design, Architectural Record, Architecture, Design & Build, Designer Specifier, Trend, the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, and Better Homes & Gardens, among other publications. Her passion for conceptual design knows no bounds, something she demonstrates by being involved in each project that comes through the studio. But if you really want to know who Libby is, as a leader, a mentor and a force in the southeastern design community, all you have to do is read the other biographies in this section. She commands not only the helm of Sims Patrick Studio, but the utmost respect and admiration of her team, empowering each of them to be the best they can be.
Education
Bachelor of Interior Design, School of Architecture—Auburn University
Prior Professional Experience
tvsdesign—Atlanta, GAKPS Group—Birmingham, AL
Stevens & Wilkinson—Atlanta, GA
Jenny Rutledge
Principal, Design + Construction
Education
Bachelor of Arts, School of Interior Design—Florida State University
Prior Professional Experience
Studio L—Atlanta, GAMarcia Davis & Associates—Atlanta, GA
Hosey Interiors—Auburn, AL
Main Street Design—Quincy, FL
Jenny Rutledge
Principal, Design + Construction
“Knowledge, fueled with passion, creates extraordinary results.”
Deeply influenced by her mother’s passion for antiques and re-purposing found treasures, Jenny learned from an early age to imagine possibilities. She transferred this love of innovation to dancing, choreography and set design, creating worlds from start to finish on stage. It was a path that eventually led her to a degree in hotel design. Today, as Principal of Design and Construction at Sims Patrick Studio, Jenny again works from concept to final performance, thinking through every aspect of branding and understanding intuitively the transfer of big idea to welcoming space. Her leadership and mentoring style fosters creativity and confidence, igniting the best in our staff.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, School of Interior Design—Florida State University
Prior Professional Experience
Studio L—Atlanta, GAMarcia Davis & Associates—Atlanta, GA
Hosey Interiors—Auburn, AL
Main Street Design—Quincy, FL
Melissa Wylie
Principal, Design + Operations
Education
Bachelor of Science, College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning—University of Cincinnati, OH
Prior Professional Experience
Constantine Commercial LLC—Oh, PAStudio L—Atlanta, GA
Marcia Davis & Associates—Atlanta, GA
Walt Disney Imagineering—Kissimee, FL
Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart Interiors—Atlanta, GA
Limited Store Planning—Columbus, OH
Melissa Wylie
LEED – AP
Principal, Design + Operations
“Design should always have a twist; something to make it yours and keep it interesting."
A Midwesterner at heart (and by birth), Melissa’s upbringing shaped her to become the practical, hardworking, compassionate team member that we know today. She’s a mom, a passionate baker, and our Principal of Design and Operations. In that final role, she is responsible for the design and management of multiple projects, as well as the day-to-day administrative operations of the firm. Melissa’s strong work ethic and management skills make her an excellent quality controller for the technical specifications of the furniture, furnishings and artwork (FF&A) as well as the construction documentation. Her flair, award-winning design skills and LEED experience help her put together our large and complex projects with style and grace and serve her well as a leader and mentor within the firm.
Education
Bachelor of Science, College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning—University of Cincinnati, OH
Prior Professional Experience
Constantine Commercial LLC—Oh, PAStudio L—Atlanta, GA
Marcia Davis & Associates—Atlanta, GA
Walt Disney Imagineering—Kissimee, FL
Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart Interiors—Atlanta, GA
Limited Store Planning—Columbus, OH
Stephanie England
CFO
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Insurance – Georgia State University
Prior Professional Experience
Synergist, LLC, Atlanta, GASilicon Audio, Inc, Atlanta, GA
Design Build Agency, Inc, Atlanta, GA
Stephanie England
CFO
"It is wonderful to work with such inspired, hard-working people."
As the CFO of Sims Patrick Studio, Stephanie manages the business infrastructure of the firm so that the studio can focus on creating the best work possible. She also collaborates daily with leadership to establish and direct long-term goals of the firm as well as manages the day-to-day finances and business operations. When she’s not crunching numbers, Stephanie enjoys yoga, gardening and spending time with her husband and young son.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Insurance – Georgia State University
Prior Professional Experience
Synergist, LLC, Atlanta, GASilicon Audio, Inc, Atlanta, GA
Design Build Agency, Inc, Atlanta, GA
Angela Zhou
Business Development
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Masters of Arts - Emory University
Prior Professional Experience
Emory University - Atlanta, GADekalb County School District - Atlanta, GA
Angela Zhou
Business Development
“The culture at SPS is very personal. We pride ourselves on our work, but a big part of the process is also understanding the people we work with as well.”
Before joining our team, Angela spent nearly a decade in the education field as a teacher and then an administrator, experience that taught her the value of process-creation and effective, creative problem-solving. It was a perfect background for her work here at SPS; today, she applies all her skills -- connecting with people, creatively solving problems of logic to creating efficiencies, streamlining processes, and making our work more seamlessly productive. She’s a problem-solver. An organizer. And a huge believer in the value of the strong bonds we cultivate within our studio. When she’s not working, she’s often spending time with her family, cooking, golfing, or traveling.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Masters of Arts - Emory University
Prior Professional Experience
Emory University - Atlanta, GADekalb County School District - Atlanta, GA
Katie McDaniel
Studio Coordinator
Education
Columbus State University, B.B.A., Marketing
Katie McDaniel
Studio Coordinator
Katie received her B.B.A. in Marketing from Columbus State University. After working in law for a decade, Katie transitioned to working for an architectural firm prior to joining the Sims Patrick Studio team. With over three years of industry experience, Katie now manages day-to-day office operations, and plays a key part in core management duties in her role as Studio Coordinator, such as collaborating with the principals on maximizing efficiency, and assisting with office scheduling, duties, and deadlines while facilitating client meetings and presentations. Her dual-minded approach allows her to find creative solutions for problems that arise, while consistently staying organized, detail-oriented, and efficient.
Education
Columbus State University, B.B.A., Marketing
Lauren Coley
Project Director
Education
Georgia State University, B.F.A. Interior Design
Prior Professional Experience
The Gettys Group, Chicago, ILStudio K Creative, Chicago, IL
Mitsch Design, Indianapolis, IN
Design Environments, Inc., Kennesaw, GA
Lauren Coley
Project Director
“Here, every project has its own personality, which in turn makes each one feel unique.”
For Lauren, the path toward a career in interior design began with pure creative exuberance: in her childhood bedroom, a space she arranged and re-arranged constantly. As a seasoned design professional, today Lauren lends a balanced mix of right-brained creativity and left-brained organization and detail-orientation to the SPS team, designing each space she touches with meticulous thought toward functionality and space-planning as well as design and aesthetics. She enjoys the challenge of the puzzle of hospitality design (her favorite project is her work on the storied Zachary Hotel in Chicago, named after the architect of Wrigley Field), and when she’s not helping us create narratives in space and surfaces she’s drawing, painting, and traveling, often exploring new cities.
Education
Georgia State University, B.F.A. Interior Design
Prior Professional Experience
The Gettys Group, Chicago, ILStudio K Creative, Chicago, IL
Mitsch Design, Indianapolis, IN
Design Environments, Inc., Kennesaw, GA
Katrina Garcia
Project Director
Education
Bachelor of Science - School of Interior Design (Cum Laude), Florida State University
Prior Professional Experience
designONE studio - Atlanta, GAHirsch Bedner Associates - Atlanta, GA
Katrina Garcia
NCIDQ
Project Director
Katrina received her B.S. in Interior Design from Florida State University. Katrina boasts nearly 15 years of experience in hotel and hospitality-centric design, having worked on a wide variety of projects for notable national and international clients throughout her career. A passionate storyteller, Katrina is adept at identifying and creating well-defined narratives for projects, solidifying strong design concepts and authentic experiences for guests and occupants. In her role at Sims Patrick Studio, she oversees project management, design direction, and quality control while facilitating communication with clients throughout phasing.
Education
Bachelor of Science - School of Interior Design (Cum Laude), Florida State University
Prior Professional Experience
designONE studio - Atlanta, GAHirsch Bedner Associates - Atlanta, GA
Stephanie Head
Project Director
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design (Magna Cum Laude), Art Institute of Atlanta
Prior Professional Experience
designONE studio - Atlanta, GAHirsch Bedner Associates - Atlanta, GA
Stephanie Head
Project Director
Stephanie pursued a B.A. in Interior Design from the Art Institute of Atlanta prior to entering the industry. Over the last 15 years, much of which was spent conceptualizing and creating luxury interiors, Stephanie has remained devoted to translating the needs and unique visions of clients into the built environment, while remaining cognizant of budget and schedule restraints. Creative and collaborative, Stephanie’s dedication to both her work and the beautification of space shines through in her efforts overseeing design direction, additional phasing, and client communication throughout the life of a project.
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design (Magna Cum Laude), Art Institute of Atlanta
Prior Professional Experience
designONE studio - Atlanta, GAHirsch Bedner Associates - Atlanta, GA
Kristiina Peterson
Project Designer
Education
Georgia State University, BFA Interior Design, Ernest G Welch School of Art & Design Georgia Perimeter College Tallinn’s Tailoring School, Tallinn, Estonia
Prior Professional Experience
Restoration Hardware – Atlanta, GADesign Consultant, Independent Contractor – Atlanta, GA
Kristiina Peterson
Project Designer
“Sims Patrick Studio is like a big happy family where everybody wants you to be the best that you can.”
Design-minded from early on, Kristiina knew she had a future in interiors when at 9 years old, she reconfigured her childhood bedroom, complete with furniture sketches. Since then she’s not lost her enthusiasm, is one of our most talented and design-oriented employees, and enjoys all tasks of her job, including ordering samples, discovering new finishes, organizing the studio library and helping our designers with anything they need. When asked why she chose a creative career, she tells us it’s fun, challenging and never boring. “Who wouldn’t want to do that every day?”
Education
Georgia State University, BFA Interior Design, Ernest G Welch School of Art & Design Georgia Perimeter College Tallinn’s Tailoring School, Tallinn, Estonia
Prior Professional Experience
Restoration Hardware – Atlanta, GADesign Consultant, Independent Contractor – Atlanta, GA
Liz Glassl
Project Designer
Education
Bachelor of Science - Interior Design, Auburn University
Prior Professional Experience
Nandina Home & Design - Atlanta, GALiz Glassl
LEED Green Associate
Project Designer
Liz received her B.S. in Interior Design from Auburn University prior to joining the team at Sims Patrick Studio. With previous experience in the residential sector, Liz brings a solutions-based, intentional methodology to her work with the firm. She is involved in the concept, schematic, design development, and documentation of each project, and is technically proficient in leading design programs including AutoCAD, SketchUP, and Revit. With an emphasis on enhancing team engagement, Liz’s empathetic and collaborative approach serves to create synergy among project teams.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Interior Design, Auburn University
Prior Professional Experience
Nandina Home & Design - Atlanta, GA
Abby Mills
Project Designer
Education
Auburn University, Bachelor's Degree, Interior Design
Abby Mills
Project Designer
Abby is a recent graduate from Auburn University, where she received her B.A. in Interior Design prior to joining the team at Sims Patrick Studio. As a Junior Interior Designer, Abby is directly involved in each phase of the design process, including concept creation, space planning, 3D rendering, and presentation building. Abby’s strong imagination and creative spirit allow her to conceptualize spaces that bring stories to life through design while remaining authentic to their locale.
Education
Auburn University, Bachelor's Degree, Interior Design
Rachel Skinner
Project Designer
Education
University of Georgia, B.F.A. Interior Design, Minor in Studio Art
Rachel Skinner
University of Georgia, Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Project Designer
Rachel joins Sims Patrick Studio with a B.F.A. in Interior Design and a Minor in Studio Art from the University of Georgia. With substantial experience in the wedding industry, Rachel brings a strong background in client interaction and communication to her new role as Project Designer. A recipient of the 2022 ASID Silver Design Excellence Award, Rachel uses her creativity and solutions-oriented approach to create spaces that positively impact the lives of users.
Education
University of Georgia, B.F.A. Interior Design, Minor in Studio Art
Shyam Ketkar
Interior Architecture
Education
Government Diploma in Architecture (Equivalent to BS Arch) – Government of Maharashtra State, Bombay, India, 1964
Prior Professional Experience
Fruchtman Associates Architects – Atlanta, GAHeery International, Inc – Atlanta, GA
Studio L – Atlanta, GA
Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart – Atlanta, GA
Osgood & Associates – Atlanta, GA
Hendrick Associates – Atlanta, GA
Stevens & Wilkinson – Atlanta, GA
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill – Chicago, IL
Friedman, Alshuler & Sincere – Chicago, IL
Shyam Ketkar
Interior Architecture
“SPS treats me like family, and I love them for that.”
“Experience” is Shyam Ketkar’s middle name. He’s been a fixture in the architecture industry since 1972 and has vast experience problem-solving projects. A virtual human library of design details, whenever our designers have a question, Shyam’s easy-going, approachable personality makes him the ultimate friendly source of information. While his simple, logical approach helps him to relate and work effectively with clients, contractors, manufacturers, consultants and designers, his international background and travel experience also gives him a unique perspective we more than appreciate.
Education
Government Diploma in Architecture (Equivalent to BS Arch) – Government of Maharashtra State, Bombay, India, 1964
Prior Professional Experience
Fruchtman Associates Architects – Atlanta, GAHeery International, Inc – Atlanta, GA
Studio L – Atlanta, GA
Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart – Atlanta, GA
Osgood & Associates – Atlanta, GA
Hendrick Associates – Atlanta, GA
Stevens & Wilkinson – Atlanta, GA
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill – Chicago, IL
Friedman, Alshuler & Sincere – Chicago, IL