When some people finish a long day of work, they go relax in their backyards; when Venus Williams finishes a long day of work, she designs backyards.
Williams founded her own design firm V Starr in 2002 when she was merely a 23-year-old tennis champion who had finished a master’s degree in interior design and wanted to take her artistic passion to the next level (we’ll give you a moment to reflect on your accomplishments at 23 and take a deep breath).
Venus has famously decorated her sister Serena’s homes—as well as hotels across the U.S.—but during lockdown last year she turned to her own Palm Beach backyard as a creative outlet and project.
“I wanted a calm environment where I could re-energize after a busy day,” Williams says. “But in South Florida we live outside year round, so it had to be a place where I could throw a party just as easily as I could take a nap.”
It comes as little surprise that someone who lives in their tennis whites also gravitates toward the color in her own decorating. “My style is pretty modern and I tend to lean toward neutral colors,” says Williams.
“The creamy-white furniture from Serena & Lily creates a vivid contrast against the lush greenery around the pool and complements the tropical surroundings.
” Williams recommends investing in outdoor furniture that can withstand the unpredictable elements and to think about the long-term value of each purchase.
And when it comes to playing the long game, it’s safe to say Williams knows what she is talking about.
