Beauty by Design

Photography by Justin Robinson

Thinking about freshening up that worrisome space inside or outside your home but just don’t have the time or energy? Are you tired of the color of your living room or kitchen but have no idea which direction to go? Has the family grown to the point of needing a new bed or bathroom but you’re not sure where is the best place to put it? It’s time to give Stephanie Walker a call.

Stephanie Walker, owner of The Home Decorator Shoppe in Henderson, NC lives the art and science of creating practical and beautiful spaces on a daily basis. It's apparent in the style and grace that radiates from the way she dresses to her welcoming smile and slight southern drawl 29 that relaxes you while her knowledge of all things home makes you feel confident in your choices. Stephanie’s love for color and design is apparent in her shop and showroom located at 521 Dabney Drive. Filled with beautiful home furnishings, art, candles and other inspirational elements, the Shoppe is a great place to sit down and examine options or pick up a wonderful gift for any occasion. Stephanie notes that because everyone’s personality is different, it’s important to distinguish a client's taste to build their decorated space accordingly.

So, why hire an interior designer? According to Stephanie it’s only in your best interest. The average homeowner doesn’t have the experience or time to navigate the process comfortably and easily. An interior designer combines art and science to enhance an interior space. They plan, research, coordinate, and manage enhancement projects for the homeowner and should be able to read and execute site plan designs, handle all site inspections and anything else unexpected that could arise during the project. The finished room should be a space that the homeowner can enjoy and appreciate. Stephanie's services are expansive as she manages all work crews and sees to it that they are paid. “I want everyone to know that just because I picked something out doesn’t mean you have to like it,” Stephanie remarked. “I make sure the customer is comfortable with what they are getting. After all it’s the customer that has to live in the house. Stephanie elaborated,“Just like each personis different, each house is different. I get to know the customer and design the house around them. I’m going to work through the challenges and lead the homeowner to the results they want to get. I understand how to meet specific challenges the client may not have the time or patience to get through.” She mentioned how hopeless a person can feel when they take on a large project like a room remodel. It’s her job to take the stress out of it and she does that by focusing on the function. It can be overwhelming to try to do your own home,” Stephanie remarked. “You need a fresh set of eyes. I’ve done enough to know the tricks of the trade and I stretch your dollar as far as I can stretch it. You don’t need a million dollar budget. You don’t have to have a huge budget at all - that’s a big misconception. It’s all about the experience. I want it to be a good one for you.” Stephanie added that working with an interior designer is also more economical. “No matter how many times I go back and forth you pay one designer fee,” she said. “You put your money into what is needed for the house. The designer is an investment,” she said.

Educated at East Carolina University, Stephanie specializes in faux finishes, custom art work, murals, blinds, shades, Shutters by Norman and upholstery. “I have 15 years in color experience,” she remarked as she unpacked candles for display in the showroom. That’s no small detail considering there are over ten million visible colors. She good naturedly bragged that it takes a good eye to be able to work with all that. “I can look at a color and pick it out in a showroom and match it.” While color is one of the most important aspects of her work, Stephanie has a long list of other services to help her clients relax and enjoy the experience as they watch their living space become more appealing. Project scope depends on the client's choice of different levels of consultation and renovation. Stephanie first interviews the client to find out more about their design preferences and how they envision the new space then coordinates with industry professionals that specialize in the latest in flooring, counter tops, paints, accessories and lighting to make a place where the customer feels comfortable and at home. “It all depends on what the customer wants,” she said. “I work with the experts in their own field, whether it’s painters, electricians, flooring, counter tops - basically we can do everything. My services are turnkey.” When asked how she handles delays and setbacks,

Stephanie said, “Things come up but the goal is to get in and out as quickly as possible. And the customer always gets the final approval.” While Stephanie has worked with hundreds of customers over the years, she recently found that the hardest customer to please is herself when embarking on her own home remodeling project. The complete remodel of a traditional style house in an older neighborhood has been a long road. “We pretty much gutted the entire house,” she said, explaining that while the home was beautiful,it’s located in a well established subdivision that caters to retirees. As it was, it didn’t work with her personality. She said there have been so many modern developments in flooring, lighting and appliances since the home was built that it was time for a change. There was also the issue of space. Stephanie said that there were numerous examples of wasted space that could be better utilized to make the place more efficient and also more alluring. It took a year to complete the momentous task but she said she is very pleased with the results. The home, originally built in 2007, needed a major overhaul in the kitchen. Stephanie chose porcelain counter tops, new cabinets, a new pantry, better lighting, a new kitchen island, updated colors and wider molding, a design choice she then brought to the rest of the rooms in the home. Large white columns in the center of the home were removed to provide more space and all the floors were replaced. The HVAC system was updated and floor vents were replaced with ceiling aperture. “That right there, opened up three more feet of space,” she remarked candidly. Stephanie was also pleased with the results of the sun-room project at the back of the house in which she leveled the floor, moved windows and made the space more functional. She said it’s a lovely transition to the patio area that has also been updated. She was also quite proud of the master bath project that added several feet of functional space. “In the beginning, if you stood in the shower you couldn’t extend your arms out beyond your elbows,” she said. Stephanie took space out of an adjacent closet in the spare room, leaving more than enough to accommodate any guests, to expand the shower. “Now it’s big enough to walk in and have a bench.” Stephanie's network of the right industry professionals and many tricks of the trade helped tremendously and the finished product was worth the effort. She now has a home that reflects her personality and she feels confident about having friends over to share her space. She suggested that others interested in making changes to their living space give her a call. She’d be happy to help with advice.

The Home Decorator Shoppe is located at 521 Dabney Drive in Henderson NC and offers home accessories, gift items and a design showroom. Stephanie is a regional distributor of Stonewall Kitchen and offers top brands in home improvements. For more information call (252) 767-8218