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!

We use it every day but hardly pay any attention to it, yet it can impact the overall design of the home. We are, of course, referring to your flooring, and its importance should not be overlooked or underestimated. It is the largest design element in the home, which means it tends to serve as the foundation of the look and feel in the room. It has the ability to make or break your space and is subconsciously the first thing we notice in a room. Since it is used consistently, it must be durable and functional for the particular area, whether slip-resistant or waterproof. Flooring should also complement the overall design style you choose and be carefully considered before finalizing your choice. Here are some aspects to remember when making your selection.

The kitchen backsplash tends to be overlooked during the planning session for a renovation, but it has a big impact on the overall look of the design, and it should not be underestimated. To many, it may seem like such a small element, but it has the power to bring style, class, and protection to the heart of the home.  When walking through a model home or flipping pages in an interior design magazine, the kitchen always has a backsplash that often draws our eye. Coming in multiple sizes, styles, and shades, the kitchen backsplash has come a long way from being a simple surface to creating a glamorous highlight that immediately draws the eye.

This deficiency has led to a readjustment of space, a call to renovate the home, and to provide a more functional design for everyone. There are also other reasons motivating homeowners to reevaluate their current living situation, such as greater flexibility at home, an open concept, personal space, and plenty of storage. While kitchens and bathrooms are still among the most renovated areas in the home, new emphasis is being placed on four additional sections in the home, which we want to highlight today.

You love your home, but there are some areas that are no longer working for you, if they ever did at all. You have made the big decision to renovate your kitchen, to give yourself the space you have always envisioned, but it feels overwhelming. How do you know which layout will work best for you? Which style best represents you, and what wood type will pair perfectly with certain colors? The kitchen can be a more difficult renovation because it involves multiple facets, such as plumbing and electrical. Adding in the appliances, lighting, and cabinets decisions can be enough to make your head spin. Planning is a critical part of a kitchen renovation, making it a key area of focus, which is why an experienced designer can help you accomplish your dreams on time and on budget.

James Martin Vanities has not disappointed us but provided many of our clients with a bathroom vanity that suited their unique needs, and the shorter lead times have allowed them to get the upgrades they needed within their timeframe. Our goal will always remain to provide our clients with the best possible products that fit their project, whether that is a custom, semi-custom, or predone option like the James Martin Vanity. We are here to assist you in finding the vanity that works for you, which is why we offer a variety of options. Are you ready for a change? Come visit our showroom where we have multiple vanities available for you to browse, and if you like one, you can take it home with you.