Aubrey O’Brien is the founder and principal of Aubrey O’Brien, Inc., where she offers concierge-level interior design services with an aesthetic rooted in laid-back luxury. She partners with a select number of clients each year, who value design, trust her vision, and give her the creative space to do what she does best, translating what clients think they want into what they didn’t know they needed and bringing her vision into existence.

 

Aubrey’s approach is guided by the belief that a designed space is more than a reflection of taste; it's an environment that influences our overall sense of well-being. Aubrey's design approach is rooted in creativity and emotional intelligence. She believes hiring a great designer has the power to change the quality of your life. 

 

With design and life experiences spanning across major US cities and abroad, Aubrey brings a worldly sensibility and a depth of sourcing to her work. Her relationships with vendors, makers, and fabricators allow her to deliver truly bespoke results and access to sources unavailable to most designers in her market.

 

Aubrey began her career designing the Walt Disney World Resorts, working under the Disney Legend and EVP of Disney Imagineering, Wing Chao. Her early career at Disney was a masterclass in design and fabrication. Every element, from textiles to furniture to lighting, was designed from scratch, often with playful nods to Disney characters, such as the notorious "hidden Mickey". Disney was a place where imagination met execution, and Aubrey gained an in-depth understanding of custom fabrications. That education foundation continues to influence her work, where she brings the same level of creativity, curiosity, and custom detail to every project. 

 

Her gained knowledge of product design became intrinsic when she briefly switched gears and joined the Fossil Group, designing timepieces for international fashion runway brands. Her design journey also includes teaching interior design at the collegiate level and a prestigious artist residency at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China, where she was selected by a panel that included actor George Clooney to represent the United States.

 

A Presidential Scholar and Commencement Speaker at Ringling College of Art and Design, Aubrey holds a BFA in Interior Design. She continued her studies at NYU’s Gallatin School, exploring how the brain and body respond to art and interiors through the emerging field of neuroesthetics. She is also a LEED Accredited Professional, committed to sustainability and quality in every facet of the built environment.

 

Now based in Sarasota, Aubrey continues to serve clients locally and nationally, offering a perspective that bridges coastal ease with editorial sophistication. Whether collaborating with architects, builders, curating art collections, or designing heirloom-quality furniture, she approaches every project with intuition, sensitivity, and a belief that creativity is the true foundation of a well-lived life.