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Catherine and Bryan Williamson came to Columbus, Ohio with a purpose. They left the corporate culture and cramped apartment life of New York City to create something new for themselves in the Midwest.
The couple chose Columbus because Bryan grew up there and they were intrigued by the redevelopment of the downtown area. After driving around the city exploring formerly grand, old homes—many boarded up—they began to see possibilities for bringing their elevated style to this Midwestern city.
The Williamsons began their Columbus building adventures by remodeling a builder’s basic style 1920s home. It wasn’t long before the couple found themselves totally energized by the process of taking a time-worn structure and turning it into an elegant property.
This began a series of home purchases, remodeling projects, flips, and other adventures that led Catherine to eventually quit her CPA job, become a full-time designer, and establish the lifestyle brand Beginning in the Middle. The couple’s new boutique hotel project—Hotel Plaas—is just another step in their evolution as a design team.
The Williamsons’ work has been featured in HGTV Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, Dwell, and House Beautiful. Total homes remodeled by this creative duo numbers well over a dozen. They possess an eye for homes that have hidden potential—and they have the design skills to see the work through to the end.
The Williamsons partnered with Graber to create spaces in Hotel Plaas that are each a distinct experience. To accomplish this, Catherine understood that every element in the old Victorian home needed to fit perfectly into the design mix. By having Graber’s complete line of custom window treatments at her disposal—blinds, shades, shutters, and drapery in thousands of fabrics and every style—Catherine could select the precise shade or drapery to give each room just the right effect.
There is a strong foundation to the Williamsons’ work: a blending of historic and chic in a way that gives a sense of sturdiness, elegance, and approachability. This is not a whimsical style of design—they create rooms that look strong, bold, and entirely livable. In the hotel, you’ll find a mix of durable surfaces and high-quality furnishings that exude modern style.
Throughout the Hotel Plaas project, Graber was there to help the Williamsons create that balance between classic and modern.
“We worked with Graber to find the best mix of products,” says Catherine. “Window treatments are one of the most important elements of a room. They just give a space elegance and softness.”
Graber brings decades of window treatment experience to the Hotel Plaas project—plus the full spectrum of design and color options. You see shades and drapery that perfectly suit their surroundings, and, in some cases, set the tone of the room.
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