Locklear Interiors

With a history of elegant, award-winning design, Locklear Interiors opened in Atlanta, Georgia more than 20 years ago. We are one of the region's most sought-after sources for residential and commercial interior design and historical renovations.

Gail Locklear's commitment to providing the finest in interior design has inspired a creative new approach...Home Designs by Gail. This innovative concept starts with you and extends throughout the architecture and design of your home focusing on those all too often overlooked details.

"Home Designs by Gail" enables us to translate the unique visions and desires that you possess into an enjoyable and satisfying experience, saving you from costly mistakes. It is a system designed to take the worries out of home building while saving you time and money. Please call us for a consultation to discuss our revolutionary new process in interior and exterior design.

Welcome to Locklear. Passion. Vision. Inspiration, We're ready to inspire you.

Gail Locklear
President
Interior Designer

Gail Locklear, the founder and president of Locklear Interiors, Inc., and the youngest of six children, comes from a family of artistic designers. Her parents, Braddie and Janie Locklear, pioneered a successful family-owned and operated business in North Carolina. Their custom cabinet and kitchen design business continues to be a successful family-owned and operated business today. A graduate of University of North Carolina at Pembroke State University, Gail's first taste and desire for design materialized in her parent's shop and burns evermore brightly today.

In 1987, Gail relocated her interior design business to the Atlanta area. Working from her home office in Tucker with a vision and a creative desire for interior design, Gail's business flourished. In 1990, Gail met and was joined by one of Atlanta's most talented designers, Valerie Smith. Soon after, Gail's sister, Brenda Locklear, relocated from Raleigh, North Carolina to become her Vice President.

However, as Gail began to acquire design business from builders and developers in the metropolitan Atlanta area, she realized the immediate need for a full-service interior design firm in the fast growing North Fulton area of Atlanta. The firm would specialize in the designing needs of the commercial and residential markets.

Today, Locklear Interiors, Inc., is home to a team of degreed designers benefiting the greater metropolitan area of Atlanta. Gail's vision and creative desire for interior design not only meets the needs of the local area, but includes the United States and many international clients as well. According to Gail, "With God, (vision and dreams) all things are possible."

Brenda Potts
Design Coordinator

Brenda Potts, is the vice-president and design coordinator for Locklear Interiors, Inc. and is also Gail Locklear's sister. As third oldest of the Locklear children, Brenda assumed the responsibility for the smooth operation of the family. Brenda specializes in starting companies from the very beginning, making them run smoothly and operate successful. It's not surprising that Gail asked Brenda to be a partner of Locklear Interiors, Inc.

After graduating from Pembroke State University, Brenda taught school and coached a successful basketball team. At the age of 27 and with her father's encouragement, Brenda started her first company. Brenda successfully owned and operated a wood stove, fireplace and stone products company in North Carolina, which continues today. Later, as a real estate broker she teamed with a developer in Raleigh. Brenda successfully handled the general brokerage, designed the sales office, and assisted in the design, construction and sales of new homes. Brenda also developed and handled the sales of the Presbyterian Retirement Center in Carey, North Carolina.

In the early summer of 1991, Brenda relocated to the Atlanta area to assist in the Street of Dreams Project and the opening of the North Fulton Design Firm of Locklear Interiors, Inc. Brenda not only acts as manager and liaison for Locklear Interiors, Inc., but also coordinates designers, advertising, marketing and various design projects.

Brenda thoroughly enjoys participating in various organizations, entertainment, parties and community activities. She also enjoys the fine beauty of art, theatre and the symphony. Brenda is flexible and participates in most anything creative. As Brenda anticipates, "I dream of a day when I'll be able to relax on the coast with my husband, enjoy good books and give my time back to the community."

Valerie Smith
Director of Design
Retail Buyer

Valerie Smith, director of design and retail buyer for Locklear Interiors, Inc., graduated from Georgia State University in 1971. During her college years, Valerie began working at the Davison/Paxton Department Store at Lenox. Ira Moore, store manager, hired Valerie as a visual assistant creating the store displays. She later became the senior interior designer and executive administrator. Valerie was responsible for 11 junior designers and the complete oversight of the design department. Because of Valerie's love for design, she changed her major from journalism to interior design. In 1968, Valerie married the love of her life and has three beautiful children.

Love of design began at an early age as Valerie always expressed an interest in color and form. She believes in design as the art of making rooms more beautiful and comfortable. Valerie firmly believes while reflecting the clients' tastes and interests, the designer has a responsibility, no matter the extent of the job to: 1) consider the clients needs; 2) offer a solution based on principles of good design within the budget; and 3) deliver what is promised. Valerie loves accessories and uses them extensively to create harmony in the room. Her favorite Bible verse, to paraphrase is, "whatsoever things are beautiful, dwell on these things." What a better place to start than in one's own home or workplace.

In 1984, Valerie opened Magnolia's Antique and Interior Design Studio. She maintained the studio until 1990, when she met Gail Locklear and they became friends. In the fall of 1991, Valerie dissolved Magnolia's to work with Gail and Brenda on the Street of Dreams and assisted Gail in opening Locklear Interiors, Inc., a design firm in the North Fulton area. Valerie is the design coordinator and retail buyer and is loved by her many customers, clients, friends and associates of Locklear Interiors, Inc.

Akesha Motlagh
Senior Designer
Director of Purchase and Design

Akesha Patterson Motlagh, purchasing and display manager for Locklear Interiors, Inc. graduated from American Intercontinental University. She began working at Locklear Interiors as an assistant to Gail Locklear, as well as visual assistant creating the store displays. She later had the opportunity to work on projects with senior designers. Akesha gained experience by observing the senior designers and helping organize and manage jobs while in college.

For three years, Akesha formulated the design plans and has been an integral part of the design and construction of eight New Avenues furniture stores. She has worked with architects, contractors and the corporate office to design and prepare specifications of materials and develop space plans. She was also the buyer for all furniture and accessories for the New Avenues stores and oversaw their build out and installation. She was also actively involved with all advertisement and marketing strategies and had the opportunity to design and participate in commercials for New Avenues.

Akesha believes it is important to take a particular idea from its beginning concept to final installation. Some of her talents and skills include space planning, color relation and fabrication. Akesha has extensive experience in several computer-aided design (CAD) software programs.

Juanita Hulsey
Senior Designer and Manager of Operations

Juanita Hulsey, senior designer and manager of operations has been with Locklear Interiors since 2000. Interior Design is a second career for Juanita. She received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1980. After graduating, she held banking positions with Trust Company Bank of Augusta, Georgia and Barnett Bank in Jacksonville, Florida. At Barnett Bank, Juanita was an operations officer and manager of domestic funds transfer. She also acted as project manager for the funds transfer system centralization for all of Barnett Banks, NA.

Juanita took some years off to raise her son and realized the day would soon come that she would no longer be needed at home full-time. She decided to pursue a life-long love and enrolled at Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia to study Interior Design. She found the subject matter very stimulating and completed her classes at Brenau with a 4.0 GPA. In 1999, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design and after completing an internship with Locklear Interiors, joined the firm as a designer and a critical cog in the operations wheel.

Bonnie Fedele
Interior Design Project Coordinator

Bonnie Fedele worked for Bellsouth for 25 years in the accounting/project management field keeping projects and budgets in line for over 60 engineers. In addition, she managed a group of 11 clerical employees. In 2002, Bonnie took an early retirement incentive plan to pursue her dream of becoming a designer. Bonnie's mom is an artist and her dad, a lithographer, making this artistic ability and love for art and design very prevalent in her family. Bonnie then secured her design education at the Art Institute of Atlanta, and completed many design programs offered by Perimeter College, Kennesaw State, and Chattahoochee Tech to earn her design degree.

Bonnie has been married for over 33 years to her high school sweetheart! Her husband, Tom, owns a heating and air conditioning business that has been successful for over 20 years. Together they have a son, Jason, who is currently working for the family business. He is a graduate of Clemson University and now attends HVAC school to secure the service skills and licenses needed. Looks like he will follow in his dad's footsteps!

Joy Eager
Senior Designer

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Joy Eager lived in four other states prior to her tenth birthday. After settling in Atlanta, Georgia and graduating from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, she was hired by Delta Air Lines as a flight attendant in 1979. While designing her first condo at age 22, she had several requests to help friends, family and co-workers with their residences. After taking several design courses and through sheer grit, she retired early with Delta and pursued her interest and passion of interior design. Persnickety Interiors of Atlanta, Georgia hired Joy and when the design firm closed its doors, she was up and on her way to becoming part of the Locklear Interiors design team. Joy has had a blessed and thrilling career working with her many varied clients both in the high-end residential and commercial sectors. She definitely believes that her 16 years as a flight attendant lent a natural tie-in to calming clients' nerves, meeting fast dead lines, and handling tasks in multiple decision making. When Joy is not creating personalized interiors, she is immersed in her family and friends. You can also find her with her first true love... anything horse or horsey-related!