House Blend Lighting & Design Celebrates 20 Years On Bridge Street
from simple paint and flooring consultations to complex custom home builds, no project is off the table for this award-winning, family-owned interior design biz
McKenna Scherer, photos by Andrea Paulseth
When I walked into House Blend Lighting & Design (215 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls) last week, founder Marnie Keilholz was sat at a worktable near the back of the shop, papers and a to-do checklist pushed to the side.
Twenty years ago, it’s likely a similar scene took place in the Keilholz’s home – where Marnie acknowledged her design work had outgrown their dining room table.
During a recent interview, owners and husband-wife duo Marnie and Mike Keilholz, with their daughter Ashley Tschida, let me pick their brains – before their next client stopped by – about what 20 years of local business ownership has been like.
“We kind of go one day at a time,” Marnie said, pausing to reflect.
She was honest about their two decades of entrepreneurship, noting “it’s definitely been highs and lows. It’s not all pretty. ... Especially when you’re just learning and trying new things.”
“You love this,” Ashley interjected, a knowing smile shooting across the table at her mom.
“I don’t think we could be here for 20 years if I didn’t love it,” Marnie said.
And still, after all this time, one of the most fulfilling parts of the Keilholz's work is "seeing somebody go from just living in their space, to loving the home they have."
A Wisconsin transplant, brought to the Midwest by Mike – a Wisco native and electrician – Marnie grew up on the West Coast. She poured over floor plans and pushed furniture around far more than the average child, thanks to her father, who was an engineer.
Marnie’s California roots perhaps informed her evolving style and eye for design – firstly an artist, her professional background includes painting and lettering, graphic design and set design – which she describes as grounded in the organic, classic yet eclectic.
“We really started out doing projects that were a bit more, Midwest-meets-West-Coast, in terms of style. … I think that’s really what we’ve become known for,” Marnie said.
Yet, the Keilholz’s hope more locals learn House Blend’s services aren’t limited to large-scale efforts, nor are their home goods and furnishings constrained to any particular price range.
The small business’ projects have a significant range in terms of scope; in the next week or so, the House Blend team will wrap up a project in Colorado.
Their work has taken them across the country to places like Boston, California and Idaho, as well as throughout the closer-to-home region. From commercial projects, including other local businesses, to residential projects in neighborhoods and the waterfront on Lake Wissota.
Those include projects such as paint and flooring consultations, rearranging and reimagining spaces with furniture and lighting – even supporting the creation of custom builds and full-home renovations.
A peek into House Blend’s work can be seen through the business’ website and social medias. One project, which began as a paint color consultation, quickly grew into an overall transformation from flooring to cabinetry, new furniture and more.
House Blend also works on less expansive projects, including consultation and installation of unique, elegant lighting fixtures, one-room upgrades and more.
“It’s also not all about getting new pieces,” Ashley noted. “We’re big in thrifting and working with what you already have. … It’s elevating a space and reusing what people already have in new ways, as well as introducing new details or pieces.”
Locals passing by the House Blend Lighting & Design may be drawn inside by the all-black storefront with windows revealing simple, chic furniture pieces, lighting fixtures and more.
Visitors don’t have to leave Bridge Street to view one of House Blend’s most thoughtfully-designed projects – found just above the House Blend storefront.
A multi-year, total renovation of the upstairs space – at 215 N. Bridge St. – resulted in an award-winning rental, with local influences found in repurposed vintage signage and a floor-to-ceiling photo of Irvine Park scenery taken by Marnie.
And still, after all this time, one of the most fulfilling parts of the Keilholz's work is “seeing somebody go from just living in their space, to loving the home they have.”
20 years in, House Blend has no plans of leaving its Bridge Street home as it evolves alongside the historic town. Now, since Ashley joined the business full-time just a few years ago, the family business has embraced a new chapter with bigger dreams – all with an elevated approach.
Learn more about House Blend Lighting & Design (215 N. Bridge St., Chippewa Falls) and its services and products online at www.houseblendstudio.com. View some of their projects via Houzz and keep up with the business's work on social media.
