Crisp, clean, light and welcoming would be a few adjectives one might be struck by when first entering Design Solutions.

The home décor and design studio space at 145 N. Second Ave., Oakdale, will open to the public Saturday, March 11 with an Open House event hosted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The response so far has been really good,” owner and Design Consultant Lupe Johnson said of feedback shared by passersby and community members. “The Open House on the 11th will be our official ‘we’re open’.”

Johnson established Design Solutions in 2007, primarily doing work in home design. The business was conducted out of Turlock, where Johnson and her family lived, prior to relocating to Oakdale.

As a busy mom, placing family first, Johnson shared she began to struggle with maintaining the design business, the store front and being available for her youngest of three children, who attends elementary school in Oakdale.

“It wasn’t conducive to run a business that was moving quickly unless you live in town,” she said.

“I began looking for that perfect place in Oakdale,” she continued. “We prayed a lot about it.”

The design consultant shared the North Second location appealed to her primarily because of its window space. The interior has been transformed with new paint, floors and fixtures, evoking a feel of Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel type space.

Johnson runs the shop space with the help of her oldest daughter Melinda Anderson. The mother/daughter team describes the store style as clean, crisp, classic and versatile. Pricing would be considered a moderate range. In addition to home décor and occasional furniture pieces, the store also offers a small assortment of select gift items.

“I try to do things that are not super trendy,” Johnson said. “Like the picture frame that you can keep and it’s going to be good for quite a while.

“The color palette is always very neutral,” she added, noting varying color schemes are incorporated by season.

“When you’re doing your house, unless you have an open budget, you’re doing it in phases,” Johnson stated. “We want to make sure you can come back and add to your collection.”

The duo shared, with a neutral palette being the store staple, they work at guiding their clients on how to properly layer in color and texture to create a space which is uniquely theirs.

Doubling as a home design consultant, as well as store owner, Johnson shared multiple things which bring her the most joy. Teaching clients how to create a space they love on their own, as well as offering items that inspire others to create beauty in their home.

“What I really enjoy is when somebody walks in, whether they buy something or not and they get inspired,” the consultant said.

As a one-time accountant, who happened to find herself channeling a gift in home design, Johnson shared she finds inspiration in travel.

“I love very classic looks,” she said. “I think interior design, like a lot of things that require creativity … I think God blesses you with that. You can learn some of it, but a lot of it is gifted to you. I really believe that.”

Following the March 11 Open House event, Design Solutions will maintain store business hours of Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Additional information on their business and services can be found at www.designsolutionsboutique.com.