Christine Hoene never considered herself a creative person. That is, until she started working for Betty Duff, founder and owner of the Edina-based interior design firm Design Innovations, in 2006.
At first, Hoene, then a business student at the University of St. Thomas, handled office management for the firm. After a few months, Duff ushered Hoene into the field. “My first summer out of college, [Duff] said, ‘All right, I need you in the field now, I need you to come be my assistant,’ ” Hoene recalls with a laugh. Working with Duff sparked a passion for interior design that led Hoene to return to school and pursue a career in the field. “Betty opened up this creative side of me I never knew I had,” Hoene says.
Over the past eight years, Hoene and Duff have worked side by side designing homes in Edina and all over the country, from Malibu to Las Vegas to Philadelphia to Boston. But this past winter, after nearly 30 years at the helm, Duff stepped away, letting Hoene take over as sole owner and designer at Design Innovations.
For Duff, the decision to leave Hoene in charge of Design Innovations occurred organically over time. “When she started with me, I never had that intention in my head that, ‘OK, I’m going to walk away and Christine is going to be here,’ ” Duff says, “but after all the hours working together, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is exactly what I want to do, [is to] leave my company to someone like Christine.’ ”
Hoene continues Design Innovations’ legacy, harnessing her creativity to develop design solutions that respond to the client’s needs and desires. “I think that’s how I’m most creative,” Hoene says, “having a client say something that they want and I think, ‘Aha! Here’s how I can do it.’ ”
One Edina client wanted to revitalize a sunroom that was only being utilized by Belle, the family dog. As the house already contained a living room and family room, Hoene took a fresh approach. “I’ve noticed a big design trend is entertaining in your home,” she says, “whether that [means] having really great outdoor spaces where you can invite everyone to come over for barbecues, dinners and summer drinks, or the in-home bar.”
Knowing the family’s inviting, community-oriented personality, Hoene suggested building an in-home bar and lounge where they could entertain friends and neighbors. “Now it’s their most-used room in the house,” Hoene says, “and everyone loves it.”
Hoene designed a custom, U-shaped sectional sofa to provide ample seating in a space that measured a cozy 153 square feet. To offer privacy, she installed sheer drapes on all three sides of the windows and added dimming LED strip lighting. Opulent light fixtures throughout the room lend a chic, upscale atmosphere. In addition to a contemporary teardrop pendant fixture suspended over the sofa, three crystal Schonbek pendant chandeliers hover above the bar. “Schonbek crystal is really pretty and just sparkles,” Hoene says.
The clients took their dog Belle’s nickname, Doogins, and used it to name their in-home lounge and bar. They also incorporated their beloved Labrador into the décor via a dog-shaped neon light they turn on in the window to let neighbors know the bar is open. And Belle remains a fixture. “She still loves that room,” Hoene laughs. “She’s always lying on the floor in there.”
The in-home lounge and bar project illustrates one of many reasons why Hoene loves interior design. “I get excited when I see a bad space or an unutilized space,” she says, “because I just can’t wait to make it something wonderful and different and new.”
Other long-time clients continue bringing their business to Design Innovations, trusting Hoene to handle their questions and interests with the same care and attention as Duff did. And children who slept in nurseries and bedrooms designed by Duff are now calling on Hoene to help design their college living spaces. “I think that says a lot about our firm and Christine’s talents,” Duff says. “They’re looking to her because she is the next generation.”
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Design Innovations
6133 Blake Ridge Road; 952.200.1206.
