We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Whitley Semrow a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Whitley , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

My parents always encouraged my siblings and I to pursue our passions. My Dad loved to spend one on one time with each us and ask questions to figure out what we liked to do. My Mom was very patient and let me rearrange my room over and over and she always let me decorate for Christmas. Now that I’m a Mom myself I understand how patient she was. I can remember filling out personality tests together and then discussing how to use my personality type in my future career. They also taught me to put relationships with family and friends first, and I think that trickles down to clients as well. People are always more important than business.

Whitley , 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 passion for design started at a young age, my parents built two houses and renovated several other homes. I loved seeing the joy and excitement they had while setting up a home. Our family moved across states several times, but we always looked forward to settling into a new house. I believe these experiences have helped me value the ‘feeling’ or aesthetic of a house.

DL Home Co has been a long time dream of mine. I earned my bachelors of Interior Design in 2014 and worked at a kitchen and bath studio and then at a furniture studio. I have always enjoyed helping people create beautiful interiors that reflect their story and are a retreat from busy life. In 2020 I became a Mom for the first time, and like everyone else, I had to figure work out while navigating the pandemic. My new title of Mom pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and continue doing what I love- interior design. I want my family to see me doing what I love and have the courage to do what they love as well. This was the kick in the pants I needed to pursue DL Home Co.

DL Home Co is named after the initials of my Grandfather and Dad, both of their initials were D.L. My Grandfather was a very hard worker, he was both a custom home builder and a farmer, but he always made time for family. My Dad was a Pastor and, anyone who knew him could see his love for people. I’m inspired by their love of family and their creativity. It’s my hope that my clients feel that in the DL Home Co design process.

My approach to interior design is to mix vintage pieces with modern details. This combination creates a timeless space that has lasting beauty. I also use a holistic approach to the design phase. I give my clients an in depth questionnaire to really get to know them. I want them to see their story reflected in their space. Another part of the holistic approach is to consider the health of the home, both mental and physically. We use natural materials like cotton, wool, linen or wood. Another aspect is to consider your mental health in the space, for most this means making sure everything has a place. Even if your home is a mess, you know you can spend 20 minutes tidying everything back into their space.

My services include, e-design, full service design, or hourly design. This means that you can hire me on an hourly basis to do a few things like style a bookcase, or go furniture shopping together. E-design is great if you want a plan put together for your room and then you can implement it yourself. Full service is geared towards busy people who want to come home to a house put together for them, but they don’t have the time to do it themselves.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’m driven by the desire to improve my clients quality of life in their home. It’s my mission to make their house serve them better. I’ve felt what it’s like to live in a house that feels like there’s too much stuff, or that felt bland and not like the people who lived there. I’ve also felt what it’s like when it does look have pieces of my story woven in and everything has a place. I’ve also noticed a difference when I’ve used fast furniture vs, antiques or custom furniture. This part of the story is a bit heavy, but it’s been a turning point for me. Over the last ten years I’ve lost people in my life due to pancreatic cancer and heart related issues. This has spurred me to do research into how to improve our lifestyles to be healthier. I’ve learned we can design our homes in ways that reduce stress, support healthy habits like cooking wholesome meals and working out. It’s also important to use natural materials as much as possible- less vinyl, polyester, and plastics. When selecting cleaning products there are some really great all natural brands, the same applies for soaps and candles. I truly believe designing your home in this way will serve you well long term.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

It’s been a journey to get to where I’ve landed today, many late nights studying in college while working a custom kitchen studio. Fast forward to having a baby two weeks before the pandemic and then trying to figure out whether I start my own business or got back to work while childcare was spotty. I’m very grateful I took the leap of faith and started my own business, there’s always hurdles, but I believe it’s worth it, to continue to help people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dlhomeco.com
• Instagram: dlhomeco