Business spotlight: Diane Garey Interiors has the customer at heart

By Karen Carr Keefe

Senior Contributing Writer

When Allison and Rob Graber decided to downsize from a home in North Tonawanda to a townhouse on Grand Island, they also decided to bring a whole new look to their new environment.

They hired Diane Garey Interiors to do the job and they are very pleased with the results.

What the Grabers wanted was a fresh start to home decorating. And they wanted the advantage of an expert’s eye for color and style.

Garey, of Grand Island, is an award-winning designer with 25 years’ experience. Her career includes employment as a regional supervisor for Perry Ellis in New York City, as well as designer and store manager positions in some of the finest and largest retail and design companies in Western New York.

“Most of my jobs are ongoing consultations,” she explained.

Garey said she visits her customers early in the planning process to help them avoid costly mistakes, such as buying elements that clash with each other.

 Once the game plan is set, she revisits in each stage of the customized redesign, sometimes shopping on her own for samples to show the client or going with them to make the final selection.

That was the case with the Grabers, who were doing practically an entire makeover, Garey said.

“I went in real early, which was good, because I got to help them pick what pieces to keep, measure them. I got to go to the model home … take dimensions and make suggestions early on in the game,” she said.

It was an ongoing relationship that assisted the transformation every step of the way.

“It sounds so basic, but the fact is, no matter what the budget is of anyone I’m working with, I want them to be really happy with their home environment when they’re done,” Garey said.

Allison Graber said she and Rob are very pleased with the results Garey helped them achieve.

“I love it. It was great working with her,” Allison said.

Rob added, “I think there are choices she made that we wouldn’t have made if we were looking at it in the store. The artwork going up the stairs, we probably wouldn’t have come across that – but it works; it’s perfect. That’s the value that she brings to the table.”

“I shop at whatever store makes sense for my client,” Garey said. “People who struggle making decisions struggle because they’re looking for something they love. Whereas when I shopped with them, we kind of created a palette we liked and we then made sure that everything fit within that.”

A selection of fabrics that interior designer Diane Garey brought for Allison and Rob Graber to review. (Photo by Diane Garey)

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The Grabers learned about Garey through the Realtor who was selling them the home they have lived in for about a year-and-a-half.

“This wasn’t built when we started working with Diane,” Rob said of the townhouse.

Allison said they entered the planning phase with an open mind and listened to Garey’s suggestions.

“Both of them do have input in the decision-making,” Garey said. “We worked together to create a look. Generally, I use my Chromebook with new clients to create a visual for them to confirm their likes and dislikes, and create a look that we are striving for and solutions that function for their lifestyle.”

Garey went furniture shopping with the Grabers and created a color palette of fabric swatches they loved. They selected upholstery for the living room and family room, as well as dining furniture and end tables and several accent pieces. They purchased the furniture while the townhouse was still under construction.

“We knew post-COVID that there was a supply chain issue and there was going to be a long wait, so we went shopping very early,” Rob said.

It took two trips to find just the right pieces in terms of style and color and what would be best for the floor plan that Garey had drawn up from the model home in the development.

“Putting design elements together, figuring out the right size and room dimensions,” were parts of the early process, Garey said.

“In the furniture store, we were putting together palettes. So, we were walking through and seeing what made them stop and what they liked,” Garey said of the Grabers.

There were many things that Garey worked on while the Grabers awaited the furniture delivery – including designing the perfect window treatments, shopping locally for accessories and many other decorative touches. All things that needed to be ready for installation once the furniture was delivered.

“It was fun,” Garey said. “We were pulling different fabrics and looking at different scenarios. In the meantime, we were thinking of accessories and what we were going to do.”

Garey offers a full line of window treatment options, products ranging from blinds, shades, shutters and draperies – all made in the USA. “I came over with all my window treatment samples and fabrics and helped them pick out the perfect styles to provide the function they needed and the look to finish the rooms.

“I helped them with a custom area carpet that would pull the main living space together and give their family the cozy feeling they wanted, and installed all of the accessories. Window treatments and accessories are the icing on the cake that gives a home that ‘WOW’ factor, and that’s what people struggle with.”

The Grabers moved in in December 2022, but even in the midst of that year’s big holiday snowstorm, the design progress was underway.

“We wanted to start with a new set of furniture. This is our fourth house,” Rob said. “Through our time together, we’ve always bought pieces. This is the first time we’ve had an open palette, and this is where we thought Diane could help us, putting that all together for us.”

The color palette included off-whites and taupes for the furniture. The gold and blue in the artwork makes a striking contrast, the couple agreed.

Upstairs in the TV room, Garey helped the Grabers design a wall of colorful family photos, giving the room a vibrant and personal touch.

“I deal with so many people who have never dealt with a designer before,” Garey said. When on the job, she puts people at their ease and makes the process fun, taking the worry out of making choices. “I’m very laid back and relaxed.”

She said she’s not someone who is opposed to rolling her sleeves up and getting dirty.

“My dad was a contractor. He had three girls. So, I have been involved with the construction business since I was a kid,” Garey said.

She studied fashion in New York City, then moved to Western New York and had a variety of managerial experience in interior design.

“I think one of the things that makes the biggest difference is my high-end experience in New York City, and also moving here and working in some very high-end stores, but also managing the Raymour & Flanigan store,” Garey said. “What’s different for me is I have the experience and know the different products that are available to people. A lot of designers just don’t have that background.”

Garey realized that going to a design center in downtown Buffalo was adding an unnecessary shipping cost that she could bypass for her customers by shopping in local stores with them. So, she can offer a cost-saving measure as well as offering a better selection.

As she said on her website, “Western New York is home to some wonderful stores that offer ‘free’ design services. I've worked in some of these stores. But if you don’t want to empty your 401K to decorate your house, or have the same furniture and artwork as your neighbor, give me a call.

“As a sole proprietor I can offer you choices and service unparalleled by the big boxes – because I'm not limited to a single source for my purchases. Your taste isn't limited to one store and neither should your purchasing be.” 

Garey develops a plan of action for each client and guides them through the process from start to finish. That way, customers don’t purchase flooring that clashes with the countertops or the shade of paint for a room. They are guided through their choices with the plan Garey has developed from the get-go.

“I’m very open and honest about the choices, and I never do something that’s only for my benefit that doesn’t benefit my customers,” Garey said.

For people who have lost a partner, or are dealing with an empty nest, choices become harder and tinged with emotion. Garey reaches out to them with compassion and offers solutions for interior design that brings them comfort and enjoyment.

The Grabers, now retired, have two grown sons and three granddaughters. They wanted to create a haven for themselves and a cozy and welcoming environment for family get-togethers. Allison said that, with the new furniture and décor, they feel a sense of renewal in their lifestyle.

“Nowadays, with your computer and easy access to photos and showing people things, it’s easy to create that online look and help them see what they like and make choices,” Garey said.

“The thing I would be most proud of – and most grateful that I have been able to experience – is my relationship with my customers,” Garey said. “I really like that people that are struggling moving forward, that I can help in some small way – they are my people – especially my Grand Island people. They are five minutes away if there’s a problem.”

“One thing that my customers usually say – they are struggling, so they call me. It takes the stress out of the project because the hurdles – they’re doing with me,” she said.

“My tagline is ‘Diane Garey Interiors. Love your home!” the interior designer said. “And it doesn’t matter to me what direction we’re going into, as long as we know the end result is something the customer is happy with.”

The Grabers were pleased with the process and the results. As Allison said of Garey, “We’re friends for life.”

To contact Diane Garey, call 716-773-5714 (office) or 716-603-6301 (mobile); or email [email protected] or go to https://www.dianegareyinteriors.com/.