Monica Reese
Creative leadership at the intersection of style, story, and scale.
About Monica
Monica Reese is a creative leader with over 20 years of experience shaping beautiful, meaningful environments and products. As Director of Trend & Style at Lowe’s, she leads the creative direction for the company, translating cultural insight, materiality, and deep consumer understanding into design that resonates at scale.
Rooted in a lifelong exposure to textiles and craftsmanship and refined through education at UNC Chapel Hill and Pratt Institute’s Interior Design program, as well as international study in product design in Milan, Italy, the global epicenter of design, Monica’s modern-classic aesthetic is informed by global perspective, mentorship under renowned designers, and a career spanning product design, merchandising, media, and brand building.
She believes every project tells a story, and her work consistently delivers inspiration, relevance, and delight.
Experience
Work History
Director Trend & Style
Lowe’s | 2022–Present
Monica leads the creative direction for Private Brand home décor at Lowe’s, translating cultural insight and data into trend-driven product collections. She partners across design, product, and marketing teams to shape compelling brand narratives, elevate the customer experience, and drive strategic assortment decisions at national scale.
Merchant, Home Décor
Carpet Weavers Furniture Gallery | 2018–2021
At Carpet Weavers, Monica developed and executed home décor strategies for a multi-million-dollar retail business, curating product assortments and in-store experiences that increased engagement and sales. She led upholstery selection from top brands such as Rowe, paired with impactful visual merchandising and team training, to create compelling showroom stories and deliver strong commercial and customer results.
Owner – Designer
Monica Reese Interior Design | 2011–2018
Monica led her own interior design studio, creating elevated, luxury, client-centered spaces for a diverse portfolio—from private residences to high-profile clients. She specialized in trend-forward product selection and material curation, managing everything from construction finishes and materials to furniture, textiles, décor accents, and florals, while balancing creative vision, vendor partnerships, budgets, and timelines to deliver distinctive, on-schedule results that consistently exceeded expectations.
Showroom Designer & Store Design Manager
Furniture Brands International | 2006–2011
At Furniture Brands International, Monica designed and managed immersive showroom environments for leading Drexel Heritage and Thomasville Furniture, increasing visibility and driving buyer engagement. She oversaw layout, merchandising and budgets, transforming retail showroom spaces into compelling brand experiences.
Adjunct Instructor
The Art Institute of Charlotte | 2006–2008
As an adjunct instructor, Monica developed and taught hands-on interior design courses, blending industry insight with real-world applications. She taught History of Interiors, Residential Design Studio, and AutoCAD, mentoring students, fostering creative confidence, and building an engaging learning environment that prepared emerging designers for professional success.
Showroom Design Intern
Clodagh Design Collection | 2003
Monica worked in the Manhattan showroom, presenting Clodagh-designed luxury products to prospective clients within the immersive, wellness-focused retail environments. She partnered closely with the senior interior design team to organize inventory, maintain showroom presentation, and support client selection, helping create visually compelling, high-end brand experiences.
Education
Academic Background
MASTER'S DEGREE, INTERIOR DESIGN Pratt Institute 2000 — 2003
STUDY ABROAD, PRODUCT DESIGN
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Milan, Italy Summer 2002
BACHELOR'S DEGREE, POLICY ANALYSIS UNC Chapel Hill 1991 — 1995
DIRECTORS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE Lowe’s University 2024
LEADERSHIP POINT OF VIEW
Lowe’s University 2023