Interior designer brings expertise to new Itasca home decor shop
Picking the color to paint a room is tough. And matching the window treatments and finding texture can be overwhelming for a homeowner.
Designer Tara Gruber understands this intimidation and recently opened a business to assist in breaking down the design barriers.
TGI Interiors, a home interior and accessories boutique, is at 109 W. Orchard St. in Itasca. Working as a designer for several years, Gruber has found that clients are often uneasy about hiring someone to help them with their home.
"I'm trying to make it easy. Maybe someone is happy with their furnishings, but needs assistance with the accessories," Gruber said.
Silk trees, area rugs, lighting, art, custom window treatments, wall decor, bedding, accessories and furniture are available at the shop. In addition, Gruber is able to provide fabric samples, catalogs, wallpaper samples and many other resources, including access to the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.
Gruber can assist with everything from picking out paint colors to an area rug. She provides home consultations where she goes through a client's home and gives advice about the function of a room, adding texture or moving things around. An hour-long consultation is $100.
Before opening the business last month, Gruber specialized in residential and estate design and model home design, merchandising and home staging. She started her design career in San Diego, designing homes for custom builders across the country.
At that time, she lived in California with her husband, Johnathen Foley, while he was serving in the Marines and stationed there. He is now on non-active reserves.
Gruber, 26, grew up in Itasca, graduating from Lake Park High School. Her mother, Gigi, serves as the mayor of Itasca and assisted in developing her daughter's career plans.
At the end of high school, Gruber said she was trying to figure out what she wanted to do. Her mother suggested design, based on Gruber's fascination with re-arranging her bedroom.
"Sometimes my mom would come home and I would move and change the furniture all over the house," she said with a laugh.
She attended college in California to earn her design certificate. She moved with her husband back to this area and is enthused about retail possibilities in Itasca.
Her store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, noon to 6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and by appointment. For more, call (630) 773-3990.
Top honor: Naperville Running Co., a specialty running retailer, was recognized as one of the 50 Best Running Stores in America by two trade and consumer publications.
The retailer took its place following an extensive nomination and review process throughout the year.
The shop was honored through Footwear Intelligence, a Formula4 Media publication, and The Running Network.