We were lucky to catch up with Rachelle Wade recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

I believe that every home should tell a story. It should be filled with pieces that are special to the people who live there. I want my clients to be surrounded by things they love. When selecting everything from furniture, bedding, accessories, etc., I constantly ask my clients, “Does it speak to you?” If it doesn’t, we don’t want to use it in the design. It becomes part of my dialog with clients…kind of a joke, but it helps them to be selective during the design process. I live by this when purchasing items for my own home. What sets me apart from other designers is that I truly believe that design can be done on a budget, It makes sense to spend money on certain things like furniture that is going to get a lot of use or items that the client plans to pass down from generation to generation. Pillows, greenery, accessories and even small furniture pieces such as benches and ottomans just don’t need to be costly. If a client absolutely loves something and it “speaks to them”, we are definitely buying it and using it in their home because it will bring them joy, Being selective with the more expensive items helps the client stick to a budget and allows them to better tell the story of their home and family.

Rachelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Rachelle Dewig Wade. I have been married to my hubby Jeff for 24 years. We have two sons, Hunter (21) who just graduated from Vincennes University with a broadcasting degree and Grant (17) who is a junior in high school and plays varsity tennis.

Before children, a friend and I started a business accessorizing homes for clients. I was also a designer for a furniture company. Then I became a full-time mom. Our family moved to Texas in 2012 for four years, When we moved back to Indiana, we built our forever home across the street from my parents and blocks away from most of my very large extended family. We live in a very small German community. Everyone drives their golf carts everywhere, and at night you can see the stars. It is super quiet except for the weekend of the annual Sommerfest or the cheering of the crowds and cracks of bats at the local ballfield in the summer. Oh…and the trains…we live a few blocks from the tracks, so those aren’t quiet lol. We don’t even notice them anymore

After we were settled in our new home, I decided that the boys were finally at stages where they didn’t need me quite as much, so it was time to start living my passion. The name of my business is “Love Brings You Home by Rachelle” because we lived away and love brought us back to my little hometown.

I love designing. I do everything from helping clients choose paint, flooring, tile, cabinets and counter tops to accessorizing rooms to helping with floor plans to home staging and much much more. I have also always planned events for friends and family and have recently added event planning to my list of services. I have designed two weddings and numerous baby showers and bridal showers in the past year. I am currently working on a rehearsal dinner and a spring wedding for clients.

My crew that helps my designs come to life consists of my dad, mom and husband. I would be lost without them. Love Brings You Home simply could not exist without their help. My mom is my sidekick. She does everything from helping me shop for clients, to cutting off tags, cleaning glass and fluffing trees and greenery. My dad, I call him my “Do’er of All Things”. If I need it built, he builds it. If I need it hung, he hangs it. There isn’t one thing I have thrown at him that he hasn’t figured out, and I throw a lot of ideas at this man!!! He loves me a lot!! My hubby is my bookkeeper, ying to my yang, helper in all aspects of my business from bookkeeping, helping with inventory, collaborating on designs, and helping my dad figure out my crazy ideas.

I absolutely love what I do!! Designing sets me on fire. It brings so much joy to my soul.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of my job is when I finally see my vision come to life. For instance, I have been working on a lake house for over 2 years. My team and I put the finishing touches on it last week. We hung pictures, made the beds, accessorized, put down rugs…all the things I love!! I was so relieved and happy and beyond ecstatic for my client. I knew how much this meant to her, and I was so happy to make this design everything she wanted for herself and her beautiful family.

Another one of my favorite projects was when I went to a new clients home for a primary bedroom makeover. Early into the appointment, I found out this was a huge surprise for her wife’s birthday. This was probably the most stressful job I have ever taken on because my finished design had to be completed in one day. My client and I had to communicate mostly by text, so that her wife didn’t find out. I sent pictures of bedding and chairs and artwork to get her approval. The day of the reveal, my crew and I started as soon as they left for work and left the house an hour before they were to return home. During that time, we changed the bedding, hung artwork, created a sitting area, added some finishing touches to the on-suite, and even hung a brand new barn door going into the bathroom (with the help of their amazing neighbor). It was an amazing surprise! They both loved it!!

The wonderful thing about both of these stories and many more of my client stories is that beautiful designs have also turned into amazing friendships!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Word of mouth is by far my best marketing. My client referrals to their friends and family are what keep me busy!!! My clients are simply the best!

I do actively use Facebook and Instagram to post pictures of my finished designs and me and my team out and about doing installations or shopping for clients.

I believe in giving back to my community and have done so in many ways. I have donated my decorating time to local events for schools, churches, and other organizations and have given certificates for free interior design consultations for charity auctions
I have also aligned myself with a group of amazingly talented and motivated women small business owners in my community. We help each other and lift one another up and rely on each others talents. Women helping women is an amazing thing!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lovebringsyouhomebyrachelle.com/blog
• Instagram: @life_lovebringsyouhome
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovebringsyouhomebyRachelle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelle-wade-51320a39

Image Credits
Diamond photography-Personal picture in black jacket Photos by Holly-me in red blouse standing in my kitchen