Meet Our Influencers
At IL Homestores, we’re not just about furniture; we’re about the people who bring our pieces to life. That’s why we’ve partnered with Illinois’s most passionate home decor influencers. Together, we’re dedicated to creating spaces that embody comfort and style.
Their Stories, Your Inspiration Each influencer brings their unique flair to the art of home design. Delve into their world: the challenges they’ve tackled, the aesthetics they adore, and their curated selections from Ashley HomeStore.
Engage and Transform Let these local trendsetters guide your next home transformation. Follow their insights and join a community where every home tells a story. Discover, connect, and be inspired.
Nicole Gorman of The Gorman Guide
Nicole Gorman is a wife, mama of two, and owner of Above Able, an online women’s clothing boutique. Above Able opened in July 2019 and has been giving the gift of confidence ever since. At Above Able they dress the woman who does it all! Each item is handpicked with the intention of reminding women that regardless of the goal ahead, they CAN and they WILL.
Courtney Magana of @court_magana on Instagram
Courtney Magana is a born and raised central Illinois native. She and her husband currently reside in a small town outside of Peoria, Illinois with their newest puppy, Taya. They love to travel and take vacations to the beach. Courtney works in fashion industry, and she would say she has a passion for fashion 😉 She would love for you to follow along with her life on Instagram where she shares her favorite fashion picks, home decor, and the cutest fluffy puppy.
Tessa and Guy of Kindred Homestead
“Tessa, is a University of Illinois graduate and self made interior designer and stager who found a knack for decorating & design when her and her husband flipped their first home in 2014. When creating spaces for herself and others, Tessa loves to find where beauty meets functionality. Especially when it comes to families. Her “modern farmhouse, meets hygge” design style is simple yet intentional. Whether you’re needing a total facelift or simply a few recommendations Tessa would love assisting you.”
“Guy is local to Champaign where he completed his degree at the University of Illinois. He has since been a Realtor® with Remax Realty for the last 5 years and has a passion for finding homes with hidden potential. Within KINDRED HOMESTEAD, you can find Guy managing investment projects and ripping down walls. Guy is the total brunt behind Tessa’s visions; he’s the one that makes it all happen behind the scenes. Whether you need to look at houses in the area or you need an on the ground manager, this is your Guy.”
(These bios are from www.kindredhomestead.com)
Hillary of Grace Oaks Designs
Hillary is a self-made interior designer. Founder & Principal Designer of Grace Oaks Designs, a design studio in Central IL specializing in her signature Neutral Organic Modern aesthetic where home feels peaceful & comfortable for an elevated everyday.
SAHM turned business owner Hillary was determined to create beauty & find purpose from the ashes after the loss of her baby girl. Designing ignited her spark again & is the sole inspiration behind her interiors & lifestyle brand. She lives on iced coffee, the outdoors, & finds the most peace near the water. Hillary’s a boy mama of 3 shuffling baseball games & client designs, nestled out in the country in their ‘70’s brick ranch they’re putting their stamp on one project at a time. Follow along for inspiration, behind the scenes projects & design business life, or interested in working with Hillary on your home she’d love to help you curate a space you love coming home to!
Katie Deem of Country Home Charm
Katie Deem is a wife, a boy mom and a decorator enthusiast! She grew up in rural Champaign county and has planted roots for her own family here too.
Katie and her husband enjoy doing home projects, big and small, in their spare time and document them on her Instagram and Facebook accounts @country.home.charm. Katie’s enjoyment of helping her friends and family decorate spaces over the years organically turned into a side business when she has spare time from being a busy mom.
Katie Allen of Kate’s Kreations
Kate Allen is a wife and a girl mama! She and her husband have fixed up two houses, and don’t plan on stopping! They currently live in their second fixer upper, and love the location, so they will be there for a few years. Kate says she doesn’t think they will ever just sit back and enjoy their home, they always have to be working on something.
They enjoy being outdoors as much as possible, so you can find them at the lake or pool during the summer. They enjoy traveling, watching sports and spending time with family and friends. In her spare time, she loves a good Target or Home Goods trip!
Kate’s love of interior design started when her dad built her childhood home by himself, literally! She loved picking out stuff for her own room and her parents even let her paint her room bright pink. It has continued into adulthood and she has even started helping others refresh areas in their homes. She loves mixing styles, but she would say modern farmhouse is her go to, and neutrals are her love language!
Lacey Lyons of Lacey Authentic Health
Lacey Lyons is a registered dietitian in the Champaign community. She owns her own virtual nutrition practice called Authentic Health Nutrition. Lacey specializes in women’s health specifically hormone regulation, weight loss and intuitive eating through hormone testing and nutrition consultations. She lives in Champaign with her husband and three furry huskies. They love to travel and see new places with friends. Lacey sees each day as a blessing and she loves to live life to the fullest! She absolutely LOVES working with Ashley. The style in her house is clean, bright and airy. Most of her home’s colors are neutrals and they keep the decor to a minimal design. She tries to utilize the natural lighting as much as possible. Lacey likes to find unique pieces and fit them into a space. Her design is always changing and she loves to switch up rooms often.
Alisa Greene of Alisa Nicholle
Johanna of West Cottonwood Lane
Hiliary of Home by Hiliary
Hiliary started her interior styling business Home By Hiliary in 2017 and she loves to style homes inside and out. When she is not decorating she loves spending time with her husband, and 2 young children as well as blogging and trips to Home Goods with a Starbucks in hand. She would describe her style as classic or traditional with a touch of glam!
