Interiors Joan & Associates

Trusted, Custom-Focused Design

By Deborah Daley

You might say that Interiors Joan & Associates owner  Kris Patton’s passion for interior design is in her genetic makeup. Her grandmother—that’s Joan—started the company in Fremont, Nebraska, in 1963. Her mother, Diane Gernstien, subsequently bought the family-owned business with fellow designer, Nancy Pesavento. “I always had a passion for design,” Kris recalls. “I would rearrange my room constantly and always worked with my mom on custom draperies and wallpaper. I spent summers at my grandmother’s office, helping out and learning the trade.” It was, perhaps, inevitable that Kris would purchase the firm eventually…and that’s just what she did. 

“Longevity and legacy might be two words to characterize Interiors Joan & Associates,” Kris shares. “Not only are we a third-generation family firm, but many of our designers, the heart and soul of this place, have been with us for 30 plus years. We also have clients who have been with us that long, who continue to come back and refer their family and friends to our company.”

Interiors Joan & Associates is a full-service interior design firm with offices and showrooms in Omaha and Lincoln. The 15-member design team provides personal and professional services for both residential and commercial clients. The designers are specially trained to interpret each client’s individual style and identify their specific needs in order to offer customized design solutions.

Interior design services range from ordering customized home treatments to a simple room refresh to full-service design on a new home from the ground up. Clients can choose how much (or how little) interior design support they need. 

“Through our conversations and consultations with clients, we develop a design recipe that meets everyone’s need and brings a vision to completion,” Kris says. “All of our experienced and talented designers work hard to understand what the client wants to accomplish and to determine their style psychology. We strive to reach a comfortable price point while offering options and information they may have never considered.”

Interiors Joan & Associates has longstanding relationships with a wide variety of vendors, and they have the advantage of buying directly from their suppliers. This results in a cost savings for clients, since there is no distributor to pay. 

Another advantage to working with designers at Interiors Joan & Associates is their incredible showroom. “There are very few design firms with showrooms that not only showcase their designs but offer current merchandise for sale,” Kris shares. “Everything is accessible! Our designers use the tools in the showroom to show our clients how things will look and feel, but anyone can browse our showroom during office hours—no appointment is necessary.”

The design house offers many custom-made products. Furnishings can be designed with one-of-a kind fabric and unique detailing. Window treatments can include blinds and shades paired with draperies, cornices, and other treatments. The office has an extensive fabric collection, as well as a library of wallpaper offerings. Floor coverings from the classics to the newest options are available. 

The design team attend the international market twice a year to keep up with the newest design trends and to hand-select artwork pieces for showrooms or for a particular client’s home. Designers are trained in scale, color, texture, and other design features in order to select and place each item perfectly in the space.

Kris attributes the firm’s ongoing success to the quality of their relationships—with clients and with each other. “We pride ourselves on creating real relationships with our clients,” she says. “Designing is a process, and it takes a team working together and making each client feel comfortable. We also have an advantage because there are other designers in the office who know the business. We can bounce ideas off each other or discuss issues. Our designers eat, breathe, and love the experience, and it shows. That camaraderie helps create a stronger design project in the end.”

The talented teamwork and attention to excellence at Interiors Joan & Associates is what keeps clients coming back year after year. “I’ve been working with Interiors by Joan for 10+ years,” comments client J.S., “They’re the best!”

The Omaha office and showrooms of Interiors Joan & Associates are located at 13120 West Dodge Road. You can reach the Omaha location by phone at 402-330-0685. Stop by Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Lincoln location is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m.to 4:00 p.m., at 4131 Pioneer Woods Drive. Additional hours are available by appointment; the phone number is 402-488-2600. Check them out online at interiorsbyjoan.com for service descriptions, photos, and much more. 

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