Ashlund Dunaway

Founder & Principal Designer

Ashlund is the Founder & Principal Designer of Ashlund Elizabeth Design, a boutique design firm rooted in Highlands, North Carolina — one of the most extraordinary communities in the American South, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains at 4,118 feet above sea level.

Long before it became her profession, Ashlund practiced design. Raised by women with an instinctive appreciation for beautiful homes, she learned early on that a home is far more than a collection of furnishings. It is an expression of the people who live there and the life they are creating.

Over the years, she has thoughtfully renovated and designed every home she has called her own—from a Charlotte residence that set the record for highest sale price per square foot, to a beloved vacation home along Florida's 30A coast, and now Rosie's Ridge, her primary home in Highlands, North Carolina. Each project has deepened her belief that the most enduring interiors are rooted in place, shaped by personal history, and designed to be lived in.

Before founding Ashlund Elizabeth Design, Ashlund spent more than fifteen years leading large-scale revenue organizations, overseeing complex projects, owning multimillion-dollar P&Ls, and developing global teams. That experience shapes her approach today, bringing organization, transparency, and thoughtful execution to every design engagement.

Ashlund works with clients who are creating places to gather, to recharge, and to build lasting memories—designing spaces that feel deeply connected to both the landscape that surrounds them and the people who call that landscape home.


Design Philosophy

We believe a home should do more than look beautiful—it should make your best life possible.

Every project begins by understanding the people who will live there, the rhythms of their everyday lives, and the character of the place they have chosen to call home. We design with the landscape rather than against it, drawing inspiration from the architecture, natural surroundings, and history that make each location distinct.

Our work is guided by the belief that a home should feel cohesive from room to room, where materials, color, light, and proportion create a quiet sense of continuity without ever feeling repetitive. We value timeless foundations over passing trends, layering meaningful heirlooms, collected pieces, and natural materials to create homes that feel authentic, deeply personal, and enduring.

The most memorable homes are not simply well designed. They tell the story of the people who live there and become the backdrop for the moments that matter most.