We were lucky to catch up with Bethany Gardner recently and have shared our conversation below.
Bethany, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
For me, home is at the center of all things meaningful. My mission is to give the gift of a loved home to others.
As far back as I can remember my mom made our house my favorite place to be. She got the magic touch from her mom, my grandma. As a child, I loved getting off the bus and walking through the door. It always smelled good… this familiar scent that subconsciously reinforced the idea of being safe and comfortable. I was home.
Everything had its own thoughtful place. Everything, and most importantly everyone, belonged. It was always in style but also had a lingering sense of family tradition. Items and furniture full of sentiment mixed with pieces styled with current trends. All of it became a big hug that welcomed you into the family. It was as if our home itself told the people inside, “Sit, linger, get comfortable, stay awhile.”
As I got older our home became the place where my friends would ask to hang out. It would be the place parties were hosted, acquaintances became friends, and friends became family. It was where I learned my pain in the butt sister is actually my best friend, my parents really do know better than I do, and that there isn’t anything that can top sitting on the couch eating perfectly toasted sweet bread with butter on Christmas morning. It is where I lost and found my faith. Home isn’t just a backdrop to our days, it is the vessel that holds the most important pieces of our lives.
College taught me the history, rules, and principles that are the basis for solid design. My degree allows me to call myself an Interior Designer. But it is my mom, my grandma, and my childhood that give me the innate love of all things home. It is a true craft that I adore.
As an adult, wife, and mom, it is now where I see my children relax, learn, and play. At dinner each night our family takes turns saying one thing we are grateful for and our favorite part of the day. My heart is full as I hear them so often casually mentioning, “Getting home,” as their favorite part of their day.
Home is a constant. Making it the space that comforts, heals, and renews is my passion. As an Interior Designer my goal is tailored, familiar yet fresh, home settings that resonate with your heart, surround you in family tradition, and envelope you in an elevated style that works with day to day life.
The Home Studio is where I get to share this deep rooted love of home. I truly believe we all deserve a home that is our sanctuary.
Bethany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Bethany Gardner. I am an Interior Designer and Artist and received my Bachelors of Science degree in Interior Design from Wentworth in Boston, MA. I have worked as a residential Interior Designer up and down the east coast, from Florida to Maine since 2006. My artwork, which was once a hobby, has been sold all over the world.
In 2012, I had my first child and ultimately left my design career for a part-time remote job in a completely different industry. That job had become my full-time job by the time I had my 2nd child in 2014. Although continuing to work in the design field with side gigs here and there, I often missed spending everyday surrounded by the joy of creating. But the ability to be at home with my kids each day reinforced the importance of keeping my remote job.
As my children got older, my creativity was itching for an outlet. One night in 2017, after coming home from the gym, my incredibly thoughtful husband said he had a surprise for me. He had set up an art room for me while I was out and filled it with all the supplies I needed. I began painting, almost daily, and to my shock, people wanted to buy it! I didn’t know it at the time, but this was the first step back to the design world.
My art business was becoming more and more successful, and I could feel the desire to not only provide beautiful artwork to my customers, but to also help them hang in, pick the wall color for the room, maybe have some say in the rug… and lighting, too? The idea of some type of studio was sparking.
But then in 2021, I was diagnosed with DCIS. It is also sometimes referred to as Stage 0 Breast Cancer. I felt scared and I felt blessed. I underwent a mastectomy and follow-up surgeries in 2022. It was so hard, more than words can say… but it was also a kick in the pants. God was saying, “What are you waiting for?!”
I opened The Home Studio in April 2023. Here, I share my love of creating cohesive & welcoming spaces with curated home decor, original artwork, and a discerning eye for color, texture, & balance. My signature style can be described as tailored modern with down-to-earth textures, and vintage comfort. My absolute favorite thing to hear a customer say is, “This shop is so welcoming, I could stay here forever.” If I can use space, art, and design to create comfort and peace for someone, then I considered my job done.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
The personal aspect of my service has absolutely built my reputation in the home decor world. I can’t stress the importance of giving each and every customer attention and time. Everyone is different and so each interaction you have within a day should also be different. Personalization of service and design is crucial. New customers want to feel a connection with you and are so much more likely to shop if they feel seen. Repeat customers need to know you value their support and loyalty. Remembering them, what they’ve purchased, what they’re in need of, even details about their family is so important. Giving every person who comes into my store an experience they can talk to others about means giving personalized conversation, attention, and service. My business has grown exponentially because of word of mouth. I hear from new customers often, “I was told to come in because my friend loved the time she spent in your shop.” I am so lucky to have the incredible customers I have and because of the personalized service I strive to provide, I know that many would also consider themselves my friends. Never underestimate the power of building relationships over generating sales. The relationships will bring the sales.
Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?
Yes! Events!
After hearing so often how much my clientele enjoys spending time in my space, I thought, why not have gatherings here?! I love to host at my own home and welcoming people into The Home Studio is my favorite thing to do. So, I began organizing events, classes, and workshops in my studio. We host monthly art classes, networking events, and design seminars. These are all ticketed events. If I am the host, then I collect the ticket sales. If I have brought in another small business owner and/or artist to be the host of the event, then they collect the ticket sales and pay me a fee for the use of the space.
In both cases, The Home Studio benefits by having new people being introduced to the store and what we have to offer. It is great exposure for the shop. In addition, the energy the classes and workshops bring to the space creates a buzz that others want to check out. So, the sights and sounds of a gathering attract more foot traffic during the events.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bethanyjayart.com
- Instagram: @bethanyjayart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethanyjayart
Image Credits
Liv Mello Photography, EDK Photography, Lavender & Ivy Photography