Design Theory 19

How, when, and why did you start your business?

I worked for a design studio for 6 years and when the owner retired, I had the opportunity to take over the business. In 2019, I purchased the design firm and rebranded it to Design Theory 19. New ownership meant new opportunity to provide a new look and expand the business the way I always dreamt of while keeping the community the original owner served in mind. Interior Design is not a job… it is life. I love how Interior Designers encapsulate safety, health and wellness and beauty into a project for so many to appreciate. It truly is a super power!

What makes your business unique?

Our design team! We are a fun group of designers with an educational background in Interior Architecture. The best part of working with our design firm is we are with you from the initial idea through the final day of renovation. Our team has a gift of seeing hidden potential in your home or business. Whether it is building new or renovating, we will help redesign your home to fit your lifestyle and create something special and unique just for you.

What product/service is your most popular, or what are you are known for?

Our Interior Design Firm’s rad skills include: Furniture, Décor + Styling, New Construction Services for Homes + Businesses, Kitchen Design + Bathroom Design. What the community may not know is that we offer retail in our new design studio/showroom. Bespoke items that are great for Christmas, birthday or even wedding presents!

Why did you locate your business in the Wausau River District?

Honestly, there is not place I would rather be! Historical Downtowns are a happy place in my heart. Knowing how much history came from the buildings we work in to the streets we walk down. The character it offers is remarkable and irreplaceable. Knowing downtown offers a multitude of options within walking distances, such as food, entertainment, books, unique finds, flowers, and specialty services keeps our collective future bright. I wanted to be apart of this movement and I am so happy I did!

What motivates you?

People’s Dreams + Wishes. When we were young, we all dreamt of a home on the lake or in the big city where we would live in one day with your husband or wife and your 5 kids and a dog. Sometimes life doesn’t allow us to dream as big as we had hoped and my goal is to bring back the spark and fun to the interiors. We spend half of our life at work and half at home where we find rest and solitude with the ones we love - so WHY NOT create the best place on earth (besides Disney World)???

How do you measure/define success?

The ways we define success are 1) Happy Clients in the end of a project, 2) Referrals from clients + trade members in our industry as we do not put a lot into our marketing efforts 3) The quality of projects have increased over the last 5 years. A dream project on my bucket list is working in Florida, and in 2023 that is what we are currently working on! And FINALLY 4) our team has expanded in 2023.

How do you generate new ideas?

We love celebrating beautiful design and one event our team likes to do is attend the Parade of Homes in Minneapolis, MN. The market is different than our own, so taking a weekend to admire a new market and inspired new design ideas and concepts are things we can apply to our projects by implementing the ideas in the very beginning and value engineering them. Outside of this, we travel to Furniture Markets in High Point, NC or Atlanta, GA. Also, when clients bring in their inspiration photos it is truly exciting to see what inspires them. We take the photos and gather information about their family, their values and goals and we collaborating work together to bring a design scope to life that works best for their family!

Talk about your staff.

Oh My Gosh… we are truly a fun crew + crazy crew of designers! LOL  Here are our job descriptions we send out to our new clients – we are very serious about doing a fantastic job, but of course we have to have fun while doing it!

Mindy Hoppe, Founder + Principal Designer (la jefe – The Boss): Meet Mindy, the design wizard who can enchant any space with her spellbinding touch. Her wand works wonders on every canvas, from the tiniest nook to the grandest wall, transforming them into breathtaking works of art. Nothing is too big or too small for her artistic vision, which is as vast as the universe itself. Her charm doesn't stop there; she also has a knack for nurturing lifelong relationships with clients who seek her expertise. When she's not concocting her design magic, Mindy loves to cheer on her favorite sports teams or cuddle up with her furry BFF, Copper, the yellow lab.

Maris Elliot, Senior Designer (Lead Dreamer): Meet Maris, the spell-casting designer who flaunts a vibrant aura of creativity. Her artistry is injected with a passion for coffee's rich flavors, wanderlust-worthy adventures, and the marvel of globetrotting. Watch in awe as she spins magical tapestries that delight and spark imagination.

Andrew Kluck, Interior Designer (Ninja – Revit Master): Behold the mystic prowess of Andrew, the master of Revit enchantments. With each stroke of his wand, he weaves spells of wonder and awe, casting a radiant light upon every project. His secret art lies in the ability to conjure a masterpiece, bringing forth the true essence of each creation. So let his sorcery reign, and watch as he creates a spectacle that will leave all in awe.

What excites you most about the future of the district?

That is a loaded question. The last year I have met so many entrepreneurs who are extremely experienced that share a wealth of knowledge as well as enthusiastic young blood with new ideas on technology and marketing skills that will help elevate opportunities to reach younger generations. The existing businesses have created and cultivated a cozy sense of well-being in the River District which brings in loyal community members. Adding all the eclectic business provide new options to shop, eat and entertain throughout the four seasons of Wisconsin! There is still so much more to come and I am eager to see what is next for our community! Bring on 2024!