Gretchen

Gretchen has had a long time love of Interior Design, attributed mostly to her high school art history teacher who exposed her to art, architecture and the fascinating history of classic art and design. She studied interior design at Ball State University after high school, but life took a different direction into property management for 17 years, before going back to college at 39 to finally get her interior design degree from the Purdue University School of Engineering and Technology. She graduated in 2006.

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She began practicing interior design at Alyson Jon Interiors in Houston TX, designing custom show homes for area builders as well as full-scale projects for private clientele.  She is experienced and knowledgeable in all styles of design, seeking to create an end result that fully reflects her client's personality and desires.  

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Gretchen spent 3 years on the board of the local chapter of Women's Council of Realtors and their fundraising project, Bras for a Cause. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Leelanau School in Glen Arbor, MI, and has been active in the local Women's Council of Realtors chapter and the local Home Builders' Association. She also is the Board Chair and Founder of the Sleeping Bear Equestrian Club, a 501c3 non-profit.

 

On the side, Gretchen loves to travel and is an avid photographer, painter. She also taught an extended education Interior Design course at Northwestern Michigan College for several years. She lives in a farm cottage with her three Shetland Sheepdogs -Teddy, Skipper and Jasper.  She also spends time riding her horses, Fiona and Maestro on the beautiful trails of northern Michigan.

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AFFILIATIONS and DESIGNATIONS:

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Certified Home Staging Specialist, CHMS 

Women's Council of Realtors, Northern Michigan  

NKBA

Home Builder's Association/Grand Traverse Area

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AWARDS: 

2017 Parade of Homes, Remodel Division Winner: Best Kitchen (Simonis Construction Project)  

 

2011 Home Builder's Association Humanitarian of the Year Community Service Award: 

Leading the re-design project for the Children's Advocacy Center lobby  

 

2013 Parade of Homes, New Construction Winner:

Best Kitchen Runner Up: Interior Design, Master Suite