By Interior design always came naturally to Alissa Welschmeyer. She developed a love for art and creativity early on and found that interior design was a natural way to combine expression and creativity. “Painting my room or rearranging furniture was one of my fondest memories,” Welschmeyer says.
In 2019, Welschmeyer founded Olive Tree Design Build, specializing in a design-and-build approach to home construction. At Olive Tree, experts work with clients through the design process and are able to serve as general contractors in order to ensure the process is as stress free as possible. “We are a design-build firm offering personalized, luxury design services along with general contracting,” she says. Through Olive Tree’s luxury service, Welschmeyer says clients can know that at the end of the process, they will have a beautiful space that reflects who they are and can be used for years to come to create memories.
Welschmeyer has a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Missouri, has been certified as a kitchen and bath designer by the National Kitchen and Bath Association, is an allied practitioner in the American Society of Interior Designers, a member of the International Interior Design Association and a licensed and insured general contractor.
For those interested in starting a career in interior design, Welschmeyer says it’s important to network and develop relationships with other designers and industry professionals. She also advises constant learning, from podcasts and books, to keep up with the latest. “Let your passion and persistency lead you to achieve your goals,” she says. “The most important lesson I’ve learned in my career is that it’s important to be passionately learning and ever growing.”
For Welschmeyer, one of the most meaningful moments in her career came just after establishing Olive Tree Design Build, when she took her first meeting. “Despite hundreds of previous client meetings, that one was my first step in chasing my dream,” she says.
Being a “Woman to Watch” for Welschmeyer means she is part of a group of women who are breaking down barriers and making a difference in the Columbia community. At Olive Tree, there is pride in the work ethic and the experience of the designers to create a dream space for each client, and that is all Welschmeyer wanted from the start. “It is my goal to provide a new flavor of general contracting and design services to the mid-Missouri area,” she says.
