Stephanie Agne opened Golden and Pine in East Brookside eight years ago. Her relaxed but refined aesthetic had immediate appeal, and customers began asking if she would help them with their interiors. She was uncertain at first.
“I’d been doing my own work, so it wasn’t out of the question. I hadn’t worked on full projects with clients before,” she says. “But as people kept asking, finally I said yes.”
It was a good move for her and her clients. Now she is making another shift. Recently, Agne closed Golden and Pine, which had relocated to the Prairie Village Shops, and will focus professionally on interior design through her firm Retreat Interior Design Studio, which is named for her love of travel and the inspiration it brings.
Agne begins the design process by determining priorities and the clients’ lifestyle. She understands what it’s like to be busy and have competing responsibilities, and she’s committed to make home both relaxed and inspiring. “I start by asking a lot of questions. Do they have children and pets? Do they like to entertain, and if yes, casually or formally,” she says.
In addition, she selects images to show clients to see what they respond to—casual, formal, modern, traditional. Once she has that feedback, she starts to source product. “Comfort is always key. I focus on fabrics that are touchable, wear well, and are functional, but that look great.”
But reflecting the clients’ lifestyle is critical, which is one reason Agne styles the home at installation, which may include providing smaller pieces to finish the space. “At that point,” she says, “we’ve built a relationship that is transparent and secure.”
Click here to see Agne’s work.