Based in Young Harris · Serving the North Georgia Mountains
Interior Design, Home Staging & Rental Furnishing in North Georgia
Whether you're selling, hosting guests or settling in for good, Elissa Byrd helps North Georgia homeowners, sellers, realtors, builders and rental owners create homes that are beautiful, functional and genuinely personal — with honest guidance and a process that stays organized from the first call.
Our Work
Finished Spaces Worth Seeing
A running look at real completed rooms and design work. See the full project set — including clear before-and-after comparisons — in the portfolio.
Meet the Owner
Elissa Byrd
Elissa founded The Refined Nest in Young Harris, Georgia with a heartfelt purpose: helping people create beautiful, functional spaces they genuinely love coming home to. To her, home has always been more than a place — it's where you feel most comfortable, most inspired and most yourself.
She brings 35 years of combined design, staging and organization experience — and a caring, down-to-earth approach that starts with your style, your budget and the way you actually live.
What We Do
Three Ways The Refined Nest Helps
Most projects walk through one of three doors: preparing a home to sell, furnishing a rental property, or designing the home you live in every day.
Who We Serve
Start With Where You Are
A seller's timeline, a builder's schedule and a homeowner's wish list are very different projects. Each one gets its own path.
You own your home
You want rooms that work better and feel more like you — without redoing everything at once.
Interior design for North Georgia homesYou're selling your home
You want stronger listing photos and better showings before the home hits the market.
Home staging services in North GeorgiaYou own a rental or cabin
You want a guest-ready property that's furnished, styled and finished — handled start to finish.
Short-term rental design and furnishingFor Real-Estate Agents
A Staging Partner for Your Listings
Agents call when a listing needs a professional third voice — someone who can tell a seller, kindly and credibly, what has to change before photos. You keep selling; Elissa handles the preparation conversation.
- Pre-listing consultations before the photographer is scheduled
- Half-day and full-day occupied staging using the seller's furnishings
- Written reports delivered to you, your seller or both
For Builders
Design Selection Support for Builders
Selections meetings eat project-management time, and hesitant buyers create change orders. The New Nest Navigator service guides your buyers through confident, on-schedule selections at a straightforward hourly rate.
- Skilled selections guidance for finishes, fixtures and materials
- Product knowledge and current-trend recommendations buyers trust
- Fewer reversals, better productivity, a smoother build
Why The Refined Nest
Professional Guidance Without the Pretense
Elissa works best with people who simply want a beautiful home — nothing extravagant, nothing stuffy. Something simple, beautiful and entirely their own.
Honest, Every Time
If a design idea won't work for your space or your budget, Elissa will tell you why — before you spend money on it — and bring a better option to the table.
A Creative Eye
She looks at rooms in ways others haven't, which means suggestions you likely wouldn't have thought of — and often end up loving most.
You Stay in Charge
It's your home. Nothing is purchased and no major decision is made without your sign-off, at every stage of the project.
Practical With Budgets
Meaningful change doesn't have to start with buying new things. Elissa often begins with what a home already has, put to better use.
Organized and Dependable
Invoices, calendar appointments, prepared agendas and written reports. When Elissa agrees to do something, it gets done.
Personal, Start to Finish
One designer, answering her own phone — usually within minutes during business hours — and personally involved in every project.
Where to Begin
Four Clear Starting Points
Every engagement starts with a clearly scoped service — you'll know the deliverable and the price before anything begins.
Pre-Listing Home Consultation
$150
“Perch Prep Consultation”
A room-by-room walkthrough before listing photos are taken, with a written report covering curb appeal, decluttering, styling, lighting, repairs and the staging approach.
About the Pre-Listing ConsultationIn-Home Interior Design Consultation
$350
“Nesting Consultation”
Two focused hours in your home, followed by a personalized written report summarizing what was discussed, the decisions made and Elissa's recommendations for each area.
About the In-Home ConsultationRental Property Design, Furnishing & Setup
$5,000–$50,000+
“Feather the Nest”
Design and furnishing for rental properties: floor plans, design boards, purchasing support, deliveries and installation — seen through until the property is ready for guests.
About Rental Design & SetupNew-Construction Design Selections
$250/hour
“New Nest Navigator”
Guided selections for flooring, finishes, fixtures and colors that keep a new home cohesive — and help builders save time and reduce change orders.
About New-Construction SelectionsHow It Works
A Simple, Organized Process
No mystery, no pressure — you'll know what happens next at every step.
Reach Out
Call, text or send a message. Elissa answers personally, asks a few key questions and confirms the right service — and the pricing — for your project.
Get It on the Calendar
You'll receive an invoice, agreement and calendar appointment by email, so everything is settled before the day arrives.
Meet and Decide
In your home or virtually, Elissa comes with a prepared list to review — so the time together is focused and real decisions get made.
Move Forward
You receive written recommendations, selections or a design report. Nothing is purchased without your approval.
Client Stories
What Clients Say
“She's very good at understanding my needs and designs right. In addition to office layout for me.”
Yusuf S.
Interior Design
“Elissa did a great job of bringing to life the ideas I had in mind. She has the ability to help someone make decisions. Great job!”
Judy S.
“Elissa Byrd of The Refined Nest, LLC is truly exceptional. Her organizational skills are outstanding, and she completely transformed my space through her thoughtful design approach and impeccable color coordination. Elissa has an incredible eye for detail and a natural ability to create spaces that are both functional and beautiful. I couldn't be happier with the results and highly recommend her services.”
Laura S.
Where We Work
At Home in the North Georgia Mountains
The Refined Nest is based in Young Harris and serves the surrounding mountain communities, including Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge, Mineral Bluff, Morganton, Ellijay and Jasper — with select projects across the nearby North Carolina line in Warne and Hayesville.
Also Serving
Ellijay
Georgia
Jasper
Georgia
Warne
North Carolina
Hayesville
North Carolina
Begin Here
Let's Talk About Your Home
Tell Elissa what you're working on — a listing, a cabin, a new build or the rooms you live in — and she'll point you to the right starting place.
Prefer to start with a message? Tell us about your project