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An eye for detail

By Staff | Mar 6, 2009

Rural Bottineau resident Susan Brandjord said she and her husband and two daughters held many “family meetings” before she decided to expand her business to Rugby earlier this year.

With her family’s support, Brandjord made her dream of expanding her design studio come true by opening Ellie Ann’s Interior Design in Rugby after purchasing R & L Decorating from Al and Carol Reiter, who had owned the business for over 30 years.

She started a freelance interior design business in 2000 from her home.

“I enjoy design work very much and decided that it was time to expand to better serve my customers,” Susan explained. “I have worked with R & L Decorating in Rugby on various projects in the last eight years, so it seemed natural to expand with the purchase of their studio.”

The Reiters will remain on the job assisting Susan in various capacities. Carol will help out in the store and Al will install window treatments, laminate and wood floors. Al will also assist in commercial jobs.

“Design has always been a part of my life and brings me much joy,” she said. “It is a great feeling to have a customer tell you their dreams for their home and to assist in making that dream come true.”

The business is much more than a retail store. Ellie Ann’s offers a full line of wood flooring, laminate, tile, carpet, and linoleum, custom window treatments, shades and blinds, and fabric.She plans on adding an exclusive furniture line and area rugs in the future. They offer assistance in coordinating interior space, paint selection, and organizing at the residential and commercial levels – from a small remodeling job all the way to new construction and everything in between.

She just recently expanded her flooring lines to include bamboo and cork as well as “green” carpet, which is manufactured from recycled carpet, and in turn, is fully recyclable when the customer is ready to replace it.

“What makes my business unique is I believe that your home should not only be visually beautiful but beautiful to the body as well,” she explained. “I take much consideration into the materials used in the various design applications, especially flooring.”

Susan also offers a helpful design tool that assists in clients’ ability to visualize their custom window treatments before purchasing. She uses a computer software program that renders a picture of the finished job by incorporating measurements, design, and the fabric selected.

Ellie Ann’s Interior Design, in the former R&L Decorating building on Main Avenue, is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are also available.

Susan is in the process of making changes and upgrades at the current location. She is also considering a possible move to another space on Main Avenue. She plans a public unveiling of her newly renovated design studio sometime in July.

“I want a design studio that people feel comfortable in from the moment they walk in,” she said. “I want it to be a place that they love to come. I want it to be an experience.”

She and her husband, Matt Brandjord, have been married for 19 years. Their daughters are Laura Ellen, age 12, and Juliann, age 10. Susan also maintains her home office in Bottineau with plans to open a storefront in Bottineau in the future.

Susan can be reached in Rugby at 776-5877 or in Bottineau at 228-2206.