Ainsley Wallace

About Ainsley Wallace

I am a full-service interior designer based in Portland, Maine, designing across New England, Los Angeles, and select national locations.I work with clients in bold transitions: relocations, reinventions, growth, new chapters. My first question is never about aesthetics. It’s about story and direction. What matters to you? Where are you headed? What are you building toward? Who are you becoming?For me, design is strategic. I listen for a future that hasn’t quite been embodied yet. I listen for how people actually live and work, what needs to flow, what needs to anchor, and what needs to stretch. I am always solving for coherence, ease and forward momentum.Before founding Ainsley Wallace Interiors, I spent nearly a decade as a nonprofit CEO leading large-scale organizational transformation. That leadership experience shapes my process: I understand systems, stakeholders, and the emotional undercurrents of change. I guide complex decisions with clarity and steady direction.I’m deeply influenced by neuroaesthetics and how our nervous systems respond to space. A well-designed environment supports resilience and allows people to go the distance as leaders, in both their professional and personal lives.In parallel, I invest in and operate real estate and hospitality properties in Maine, which sharpens my understanding of what adds value, what makes a space livable, and what is most impactful long-term. We spend part of each year living abroad, an ongoing experiment in designing our own lives. Experiencing daily life in different contexts and cultures reinforces my belief that space is never neutral; it shapes who we become.At my core, I\'m a storyteller. I design spaces that set the stage for the next bold chapter.Navigating change? Ready for more? Let’s connect.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   Team Walrus, Llc

   Jan 2022 — Present

   Team Walrus is a small-scale real estate investment company focused on restoring dignity and possibility to slightly distressed properties in underdog communities in Maine. We currently own and operate 15 rental units in Lewiston, with a commitment to maintaining high-quality, affordable housing that feels cared for—because it is.As principal and co-founder, I lead overall vision and strategy—identifying opportunities, assessing deals, and ensuring our investments create both financial and community value. This work reflects my belief that space matters—and that everyone deserves to live in an environment that supports their best life.

Education

• ACK Language School

  Swahili Language Program

  2011

• Bowdoin College

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, English and Biology

• University of Southern Maine

  Coursework in ASL, Interpreting, Leadership and MBA Studies

  2012 — 2018

Skills

• Marketing
• Nonprofits
• Organizational Development
• Strategic Planning
• Public Speaking
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Strategic Communications
• Strategy
• Volunteer Management
• Event Management
• Program Management
• Board Development
• Facilitation
• Relationship Management
• Community Outreach
• Fundraising
• Planned Giving
• Philanthropy
• Grant Writing
• Leadership
• Program Development
• Team Building
• Management