Welcome to Our House

BY MARY MICHAELS | PHOTOS BY JULIE PRAIRIE PHOTOGRAPHY

201 W. .37th Street Sioux Falls 605-271-2278

info@houndstoothhouse.com www.houndstoothhouse.com

“W elcome to Our House!” Those are words you probably say when guests come over for dinner. For two Sioux Falls entrepreneurs, however, it’s how they welcome you to their business.

Denise Cotter and Michelle Marino are the owners of Houndstooth House, providing a wide range of design services for residential and commercial clients. Starting out 15 years ago, the two of them worked out of a small office. But, Cotter says, there was an element of foreshadowing in the mix.

“We knew from the start that we wanted our name to represent a destination,” she says. “With the name Houndstooth House, we gave ourselves that ability. We left the door open.”

Now, they have that destination.

Houndstooth House, as a design showroom and workspace, opened earlier this summer just off the busy Minnesota Avenue corridor.

“This is so exciting for us,” says Marino, “because when we talk with clients now and need to set up a meeting, we can just tell them, ‘meet us at our house.’”

As their website states, the designers can help a client get from “inspiration to installation.” It doesn’t matter — whether you are just looking to change out some furniture or whether you have a more extensive building or remodeling project. This energetic duo is ready to work with you and ensure you get the results you want. With the new showroom, Houndstooth House now offers the opportunity for customers to stop in to get inspired for their design projects or simply do a little shopping.

“We are so excited for people to come see our new ‘home,’” says Marino. “If they need accessories to finish their space, they can come here to shop. Or, maybe they want to pick out a gift for someone

special. We have those, too!”

The store changes weekly, so repeat visits are encouraged. The two designers are having fun with more space to showcase everything from living room or bedroom furniture to table settings and stemware.

“When we first started out, we really could order only those things we needed for our clients,” Cotter explains. “Now, with more space at the showroom, we can also bring in things we like, and that we think our customers might like for themselves or for gifts. It gives us flexibility to bring in lines like handmade dishes from Portugal or even towels and bath accessories. It’s taking care of those little details that we feel sets Houndstooth House apart.”

Taking on a building or remodeling process can be so overwhelming with the number of decisions to make, not to mention keeping within your budget. Houndstooth House seeks to minimize that stress so that the client can enjoy the process, feel confident about their decisions and then, celebrate the new space.

The process begins by helping a client determine what the “design dilemmas” are. Is it a brand new build so the design work is starting from scratch? Does the space need solutions for outdated paint colors or furnishings? Does lighting need to be revamped?

Houndstooth House can answer those questions and more. Cotter and Marino are well respected experts in the industry, and they can also call on their vast network of preferred partners from areas like construction, flooring, appliances, electrical, plumbing and tile (and more!).

But, Cotter adds, the design process can also start with one thing – whatever that “thing” might be.

“Many people have some ideas in mind. Perhaps they have even put together a collection of pictures from Pinterest,” she says. “And we can totally work with that. But, we could also design your whole

space around one item – like a chair, a piece of art, or just your favorite color.”

It is important for Cotter and Marino to get to know their clients and build a relationship of trust. They will go out and visit the space whenever possible as a first step. When that’s not possible, they invite clients to send in pictures, measurements of the space and what their goals are for the space. And from there, they can get to work and create a design tailored to that client. They are so focused on making every experience unique that they are happy when someone walks into a space and doesn’t immediately know they were the designers.

“We don’t necessarily want someone to walk into a house or an office and say, ‘Oh, Houndstooth House did this,’” Marino says. “We take pride in making every project unique and special. We’d rather just hear them walk into a space and say, ‘Wow!’”

No project is too big or too small for this pair of designers, who have been working

together professionally for more than 25 years. Both are Kansas natives, although they met here in Sioux Falls. Cotter was a young manager at The Buckle and needed an assistant manager. When Cotter saw the name of a Kansas town that neighbored her own on an applicant’s resume, she needed no further convincing. That applicant was Marino. They had an instant connection, even discovering they knew some of the same people back in Kansas.

The two became coworkers, friends and, eventually business partners. They have such confidence in each other, and in their business, that they bought the building for their showroom right as COVID-19 hit the state. They stayed the course with the building remodel and were thrilled to open the doors this summer. Now, they have even more opportunities to interact with people. Customers can come in to the showroom and wander through the various design “vignettes,” touch fabrics, see different light fixtures or cabinet hardware and just let their minds wander.

“Even if you have never met us before,” says Marino, “you could walk into the showroom and understand what we can do for you.”

One design approach that is important for Houndstooth House is helping clients understand the importance of what they refer to as foundation pieces.

“While we watch what is happening with design trends, we want our clients to find pieces that will stand the test of time,” Cotter says. “It’s okay to incorporate a little bit of ‘trendy,’ but do that more with your accessories. Make bigger investments like furniture or wallpaper the foundation pieces that you aren’t going to be tired of next year.”

The design process can make people a little uncomfortable, and both Cotter and Marino want customers to know that’s okay - that it’s good to be uncomfortable every so often. The designers say that occasionally when they are showing ideas,

they’ll see the “I’m not sure” expression come over the client’s face. At that point, they say, they just ask the client to have a little faith and patience until they can put the whole picture together. Once that happens, and the client sees all the colors and textures and ideas together, the reaction is typically, “I love it!”

Cotter and Marino decided not to have a grand opening with a big crowd at the showroom this summer due to COVID. However, it has actually worked out better, because they have instead invited smaller groups in for tours. They have even hosted little parties and book clubs.

“Being able to meet smaller groups gives us that chance to simply entertain,” Cotter says. “They can come here and relax, see what we’re all about and ask questions. We love that.”

So, if you have a room, a house or an office that needs “a little something,” Houndstooth House is ready to help you dream. They’ll meet you at their house.