Life, Styled

Celebrating Two Years and Looking To The Future

Our showroom’s grand opening was the culmination of two years filled with vision, planning, and hard work—a dream brought to life through dedication and passion. Now, as we prepare to celebrate our second anniversary, we find ourselves reflecting on how quickly time has passed. It feels like only yesterday that we opened our doors and welcomed our very first clients into the space we’ve come to love so much.

Join us as we take a walk down memory lane and revisit the milestones, challenges, and moments that brought us to Uptown Shelby. This anniversary isn’t just a celebration of time—it’s a celebration of growth, community, and the relationships we’ve built along the way.

Construction

Our construction journey officially began in early March of 2016, when we signed the lease for the Campbell building in Uptown Shelby. From that moment on, the road to opening our showroom was filled with both exciting progress and unexpected setbacks—including a few complete standstills. Like many of our clients, we were eager to move forward after the initial planning phase, only to find ourselves waiting—this time, for permits. That experience gave us a new level of empathy for the frustrations our clients often face during their own renovation timelines.

Designing the showroom took considerable time, energy, and attention to detail. From selecting the perfect tiles to deciding whether or not to stain the original wood floors, every choice was made with care. One of the easiest and most impactful decisions was painting the ceiling tiles white instead of black—a change that immediately made the space feel brighter and more open.

Walker Woodworking created several beautiful custom pieces for the showroom, including the stunning kitchen we use daily. But perhaps the most special feature is the pair of tall, custom wood-framed front doors, handcrafted by Travis. These doors not only serve as a warm welcome to our clients but also give the building’s exterior a striking, polished look.

Though the journey had its challenges, our vision never wavered. Every delay and decision brought us closer to the space we imagined—and ultimately, the result made it all worthwhile.

Grand Opening

February 1, 2018—a date we will always remember—marked more than just the opening of our showroom doors; it was the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both Walker Woodworking and Greenbrook Design. To celebrate this milestone, we hosted a grand opening gala in partnership with our upstairs neighbors, Uptown Indigo. The event drew nearly 500 guests and was filled with energy, excitement, and community support.

One of the evening’s highlights was welcoming special guest Brian Patrick Flynn, a renowned interior designer known for his work with HGTV, including the 2020 Dream Home. His enthusiastic praise of our showroom still resonates with us today: “I think this [Greenbrook Design] is going to be a massive hit because of the amount of things that I saw down in the showroom are things that I don’t have access to in the big city of Atlanta.”

Guests enjoyed an evening of delicious food, live music from a talented local band, and the chance to explore our thoughtfully designed space. It was a night to remember—full of inspiration, community, and celebration of a vision finally realized.

Highlights

Our first year in business brought with it many wonderful surprises and milestones. In March 2018, we were honored to receive the Commercial Appearance Award, recognizing the impact of our showroom on the local Uptown Shelby community. Just a few months later, our space was featured in the June 2018 issue of Kitchen & Bath Design News as part of their prestigious Showroom Portfolio, showcasing inspiring design across the industry.

But perhaps the most exciting and humbling recognition came in 2019, when we learned that Greenbrook Design had been selected as one of only six showrooms nationwide to receive the Innovative Showroom Award from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). This national honor affirmed our commitment to creating a space that is not only beautiful but also functional, forward-thinking, and inspiring for our clients.

Visit our publications page to see a video of Stacey receiving the award and read about some other awards we have received.

What’s Next?

The future is bright, and we are excited to see where it will take us. We feel privileged to have seen our little woodworking hobby grow into a large shop and design center that employs 33 people and to have opened an award-winning showroom all within the span of 20 years. Learn more about Travis’s journey here.

Even though we constantly seek to stay on top of the latest tech and trends, our main goal will always stay the same: customer satisfaction. It is what drives us and has enabled us to come so far. Cheers to the next anniversary!

Many of our clients come to us from an hour or more away, often from the greater Charlotte metro area. A common question we hear is, “Why make the drive to Shelby when there are design centers closer to home?” It’s a fair question—and one we completely understand. That’s why we’d like to share a few key reasons why we believe the experience, service, and value you’ll find at Greenbrook Design make the trip well worth it.

There are many elements that help assemble the perfect design for your space, such as color, texture, and pattern, but one, in particular, plays a key role in making a statement: the focal point. Without a focal point, a room can feel busy or even boring, as it lacks something that immediately draws the eye. This is one of the reasons it is essential to include a focal point in the design; however, given its critical role, sufficient thought should be given to placing it in the optimal location. How do you design the perfect focal point that stands out without overpowering everything else? How do you best use focal points in a room or design with it in mind? Let’s explore the answers to getting the most out of your focal point.

The sofa is often one of the first things we notice when entering the living room since it tends to be the largest object in the room. We love to stretch out to watch TV or curl up under a blanket to read a book. Sometimes it also ends up being the quick solution to an additional place to sleep when in a bind. Designers have verified that this is a key piece of furniture for the living room, making it a sizable investment when the time comes for it to be replaced. As it is so important to the design, it stands to reason that there should be some things considered before making your next purchase. What things, exactly, should you look for before finalizing your choice, and what makes a sofa perfect for your home? Read on to find out some helpful tips that can assist you in picking your next sofa.

Home is the place where everyone can fully relax and be themselves. It is the center for all of our main activities, but sometimes we need a space that caters to our specific needs, especially when it comes to husbands and wives. This is why his and her spaces were invented: to give each an area to call their own, tailored to function just for them. From bathrooms to bedrooms and even the home office, having something that functions for your unique lifestyle routine can make a big difference in how you accomplish your day-to-day tasks with minimal stress and maximum success. When designing for these spaces, what should you include? What areas matter most, and how do you create the perfect his and her space within the same square footage? Let’s answer those questions for multiple areas within your home.

Personal Expression Through Design. There is no denying the truth found in the statement, your home is your castle, and who doesn’t want a custom castle? Now, more than ever, there are items available to help you completely personalize your spaces to reflect your unique personality. There is freedom to break the traditional design rules of the past and express yourself in so many ways by combining what you love into something new. Every area of your home should tell guests your story; it should speak to them of the things that matter most to you. By selecting colors, textures, patterns, shapes, and art that accurately reflect your individual tastes, you can achieve that goal. Don’t be afraid to step outside of the box and share what matters to you. At its core, that is what design is about: using a combination of varying elements to tell your story to the world.