We recently connected with Stephanie Biesenbach and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

The idea for me was more of a slow bloom. It felt like there were these pieces of my life that meant so much to me and I was not sure how to use them. I am a full service interior designer and I serve families that live with multiple generations under one roof. Families that have to consider how to address a space for their young kids, teenage kids, their aging parent or parents, and their own needs. It can feel overwhelming trying to accommodate so many people with different needs and that is where I come in.

Home looks different for many families and that is true for ours. Our home is full of love and laughter and always full of people! We have five kids with the ages ranging for new born to 12 years old and… Nana. My husband and I made the decision that we wanted to open our home to his mom, so from now until forever she will be with us. That means making sure our home is built for her to age in place.

This was not the first time my husband lived and cared for an aging family member. As newly weds I came to him with my concern about my grandparents aging they need help and some one to look out for their best interest. He agreed to move into their home with me and our new baby. During this time I learned about the specific needs for some one who wants to age in place. There were many challenges that came with living in someone else’s home, but it was the hardest on my husband, who had lived on his own since the age of 15. However, the blessings we experienced from being there definitely outweighed the negative. I got to spend time with my grandmother, let my daughter sit with her, give her kisses, and talk with her. After they passed away, my husband told me something that highlighted the very reason I love helping families with elderly parents in the home to this day. Soon after we moved in, my grandpa started to notice that there was a cute little baby that would eat lunch about the same time he would eat breakfast every day. Lunch dates started increasing with Opa. At first, he would roll out of bed (disheveled) to come eat with them. Soon he was getting up promptly, shaving and dressing to be ready for lunch. In no time he was getting up before them and sitting at the table waiting for that cute baby to come in for lunch every day! My husband said during these lunches with my grandpa, he would hang out with my baby girl talking to her and falling in love with her. That sweet story he told me years later brought such joy to me! I realized that what we were doing there was so much more than just keeping an eye on things. I realized that other people are looking for these solutions too, and knew I wanted to build a firm geared towards helping families living in homes together with seniors. I personally know the struggles that these families experience. 1. Having strangers in your home that care for your loved ones. 2. Using your home in a new way. 3. The toll it takes when you are the responsible party to care for your loved one. So, before I ever set out on my own to build a design business, I wanted to make sure I had experience with senior living design. I focused on building my own level of expertise through employment with a large* senior living firm in Austin. This allowed me to gain the knowledge and experience I needed to fill a gap that I perceived existed in the Home Design industry. My ultimate dream is to help families with seniors in the home, to live together in harmony. Aging in place is such an important topic! I hope that the home industry starts to realize that. We need more people who understand the specific needs seniors have. I hope that I can be a resource to more than just my own clients, but also to other designers as well. So I found a position with one of the top firms in the country who’s focus was designing exceptional and ground breaking Senior Living Communities.

There I learned how to communicate complicated and bespoke details in an organized and well communicated way. The time I spent in commercial design field allowed me to cut my teeth on challenging situations. With eight years of experience focused in senior living design, I felt like it was time to share my knowledge with my community.

Stephanie, 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?

To be honest I had no idea interior design was even an option as a career. Entering college, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I did most of my basics and tried out different classes, but still had no clue what I was looking for in a career. When I participated in the Disney college program, I took a course called creativity and innovation. This was a course built on exploring the creative industries. This course opened my eyes to the vast opportunities in creative jobs. I found and fell in love with interior design. Up to that point my only knowledge of interior design was gained from watching HGTV. Had I known from the start the true amount of work that goes into interior design, I might have thought twice. After returning home from Florida, I started my interior design degree at Texas State University. Shortly after starting, I met my amazing husband and we started a family while I was in the process of getting my degree. I had my first two children while working and going to school. With my daughter, our first baby, I was lucky enough to have her during the summer break, but my son was born right before final exams 2 years later. The professors at the school of design allowed me to return to class with my brand-new baby in-tow so I could finish and not fall behind. So I strapped that newborn boy to my chest and we headed to class. I remember that during one of my finals, my professor held him the entire time while I took my exam. I graduated just before his second birthday. As I walked towards the stage to receive that diploma, I caught the eye of that same teacher and we both just cried as we thought about the struggle and challenges I had to overcome to be there. I learned then that no matter the challenges, if it is worth the effort then I will find a way to complete it.

As I mentioned my ultimate dream is to help families with seniors in the home, to live together in harmony. So I found a position with one of the top firms in the country whose focus was designing exceptional and ground breaking Senior Living Communities. There I learned how to communicate complicated and bespoke details in an organized and well communicated way. The time I spent in the commercial design field allowed me to cut my teeth on challenging situations. With eight years of experience focused in senior living design, I felt like it was time to share my knowledge with my community.

I help Clients who’s home no longer serves them to its full potential and those who plan to build a home that will serve them long term. Living in a home that does not suit your lifestyle adds a layer of challenges that can go unseen but not unnoticed. I come alongside my clients and their families to uncover the struggles, needs, and wants to transform a space. Time spent in your home should be life giving and full of respect and that is exactly what I offer to my clients.

CLE Studio offers turn-key bespoke interior design for families with multiple generations under one roof. I design with each generation in mind ensuring everyone’s personal space is built with adaptability where needed, paying specific attention to the unique requirements of the individuals in the home. The common spaces of the home encourage gathering together where families build lasting memories.

Full service design includes:
-Research- This is where we interview clients and ask SO MANY questions. I get to know my clients very well before I even start thinking about design. To make sure that I design a home that meets their every need.
-Concept Development- Helping the client visualize the home and give an overall direction for the final design of the home.
-Space Planning- Either re-thinking an existing home or helping make the most of a new home floor plan.
-Selections and Documentation- Based on the concept that was developed with the client I ensure every last item is selected and documented for a well planned project.
-Furniture Selection and Procurement- Again based on the concept developed with my client I help them curate furniture, art, window treatments, and accessories to style the home. Then once approved we purchase, Track, receive, and install everything at the end of the project.
-Design implementation- I work alongside the client’s GC or Builder to make sure the design my client envisions comes to fruition. Implementing the design requires following the builder schedule, regular site visits to ensure progress meets the clients expectations or help resolve issues that may come during the construction process.
-Installation and Project Reveal- Once construction is complete I bring all the products that have been ordered and are in storage ready to be placed in the newly completed home.
-Punch list and project wrap up- Wrapping up the project with my clients includes walking through the whole home to make a list of items to wrap up and sign off on the completion of the project.

While each project is different the process is the same. This is why process and communication is so important for the building process. There are so many moving parts in a new home or renovation and I make sure my client knows what to expect at each step. These days with so many options it’s not hard to make a home beautiful but it takes an expert to bring it together at the right time.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is when the final product comes together and how it transforms the way my client lives in their home. When a client loves a design and we walk away from a design presentation with over 90% or more approval is awesome and so exciting, but its when all the hard work comes to a finish and the client walks into their home for the first time. To see how the change impacts their life is so rewarding. Knowing that all the hard work and challenges that come with building a new home or renovating was worth it. It is a blessing to renovate a home and to create a space that is magical and all together yours. I want to help you make the most out of your investment and help you enjoy the process as much as possible.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The book that has had the most impact for me is Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. His simple way of explaining how to run a profitable business was a game changer. In this book he explains why he says profit first and how to archive it. He give actionable steps and many resources for Entrepreneurs to thrive in their business. If you want a healthy and debt free business then read his book.

As a designer there are many resources That I turn to to grow in my field. Before I even opened my doors I took online courses to ensure I had SOP, Pricing, and Process down before ever working with a client. I listen to different podcast and participate in industry events to continue my professional development.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theclestudio.com
• Instagram: @theclestudio
• Facebook: @theCLEstudio
• Other: Houzz Pro: CLE Studio LLC

Image Credits
The two photos from my San Antonio Master Bathroom Remodel were taken by Lux Prism Photography. All other were taken by me.