A family-owned and operated business, Southern Sky Home Outlet was founded in 2018 by Bill Grace, a 40-year furniture industry veteran and third-generation furniture store owner. His mission was to sell overstock and discontinued items from the wholesale side of the business.
Fast forward to now, Southern Sky Home Outlet has since expanded its retail business and opened its new store, Southern Sky Home, across the street, adding approximately 15,000 square feet of retail store space.
His daughter, Sarah (Grace) Heffernan, has been involved part-time with the business since the beginning and came on board full-time in 2021 to manage merchandising and marketing. Another core team member, Emma Beck, has been part of the sales team since the opening date and is now the company's store manager and lead designer.
Sarah and Emma gave us a tour of their latest design project, the Rouissea Model Home by Windsong Properties.
WCL: Describe the collaboration between Windsong Properties and Southern Sky Home.
SARAH: Southern Sky Home and Windsong Properties have partnered to bring Woodstock top-of-the-line luxury homes with model homes plus clubhouses fully furnished by the Southern Sky Home design team.
EMMA: The Ruissea Community is less than a mile from downtown Woodstock offering spacious master-on-main, two-story townhomes, entertainment-friendly kitchens and open interior concepts. Available are single-family and townhomes allowing the homeowner to choose from various interior design and structural options. Different townhome floor plan options are available based on your lifestyle.
WCL: Share more about the interior design aspect of the Ruisseau Home.
EMMA: We took the same timeless approach to selecting the finishes and color palette as we did with all the furnishings. We wanted to add character and personality to the space by adding architectural details like shiplap in the secondary bedrooms, a waterfall island in the kitchen and painting the primary bedroom and office. Layering different tones, textures and utilizing patterns with paint was crucial to the design plan to make this home unique to the buyer. We intend to spark inspiration in those buying or designing a home in the Ruisseau community.
WCL: What are some of your favorite features in the Ruisseau Home?
Sarah: I love the sense of design cohesion you see and feel throughout the home. When you look at each piece, there is a precise use of mixed styles, but it's done strategically that makes each room feel connected and flow seamlessly from room to room. Also, we have incorporated QR codes on most items inside the home that can be ordered. Customers can quickly scan the QR code and shop the model through ShopOurModel.com.
WCL: When working with clients, what is the interior design process like for them?
EMMA: We strive to make our client's vision for their home come to life - so our design process starts by listening. We listen and learn more about our customer's lifestyle, budget and design inspirations. Then we handle the rest from there! Our team measures, photographs, and sketches the clients' space to begin the design process. After the initial consultation, our team sources products and carefully curates mood boards, floor plans and 3D renderings to present to the customer.
WCL: Explain the different benefits and services provided by Southern Sky Home.
SARAH: All product on our floor is in-stock and available for immediate delivery. We offer in-home full-service design, in-store design consultations and local white glove delivery services. We have new inventory that arrives weekly, and trucks arrive daily. Due to our factory-direct partnerships, we can bring the highest quality pieces at prices that are more accessible. As our tagline says….more style, more value!