Meet the Designer
Hi, I’m Shelly Gates!
I’m so glad you are here. I’m a Mississippi mom of three, and my career originally began in teaching. Teaching was such a gift, but my heart knew I was meant to create in a different way. I traded classrooms for dorm rooms and lesson plans for vision boards, and I quickly discovered how much joy there is in helping students begin their dorm life with spaces that feel truly like home.
Today, Mary Margaret Designs is a design firm specializing in dorm room design, apartment design, and home interiors. I spend much of my time traveling to southern colleges
where I personally do dorm installations and make sure every detail is styled perfectly. From the first sketch to the final reveal, I love seeing the excitement when a dorm room makeover transforms a plain space into something chic, comfortable, and uniquely personal.
Beyond dorm design, I also create curated apartment and home interiors. Whether it’s a first apartment, a family home, or a cherished space that needs a refresh, my focus is always on balancing comfort, function, and style. I collaborate with talented custom artists to bring one-of-a-kind details into each design, making every project deeply personal and meaningful.
Dorm life is such a memorable season, and I believe your room should reflect who you are. The same is true for apartments and homes — every space deserves to feel like a reflection of the people who live in it. For me, it’s never just about furniture or fabrics. It’s about creating places that inspire, comfort, and welcome. Every smile, every hug, and every tear of joy I’ve shared with families reminds me why I do what I do.
Mary Margaret Designs will always be about more than design. It’s about giving clients — whether in a dorm, an apartment, or a home — spaces that feel like home from the very first moment.
