By Voice-Tribune
Photo by Matt Johnson
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As the founder and owner of Details Interiors, Lesa Buckler can’t recall a time in her life when she wasn’t interested in all things design. “My life has always been about chasing the beautiful things, be that in homes, arts, fashion, landscaping, relationships, travel….I continue to look for the best and the beautiful!” After years of raising their daughters, moving for her husband’s career, obtaining multiple college degrees, and designing all the while, Lesa eventually moved back to Louisville. There, she was able to make her dream of having an interior design store and working with her daughters a reality. “The timing was perfect, as our daughters were able to work in the business while in high school and college; Louisville was in a great economy and home building was exploding.”
Details opened in 2001 with 1000 sq. ft., then in six months it grew to 2500., then 3800 a year later, and now over 6000 sq. ft. “We decided this was big enough, although we could be twice this size, because the showroom and all the design jobs we have now keep as busy as we can handle. Both the reputation and showroom have evolved. Now doing complete renovations, Richard, Lesa’s husband who is an engineer, has left the corporate world, and now leads the kitchen, bath, and all things cabinetry division. “The growth was fast and furious and Details had exploded… I was thrilled when he decided to join and take over this part of our business,” says Lesa. “We enjoy working together, and continuing to build the business.”
When asked about the challenges and lessons learned as a business owner, Lesa has lots to say. “The toughest challenges have been the recessions we have gone through and the Covid epidemic. We had to become even more focused on every aspect of the business. How and what we purchased, where products were coming from and the shipping costs…really every cost was looked at with a magnified intent. The lead times for obtaining product, keeping inventory at a high level and procuring items for clients, all became a daily struggle. We were all committed in a way that absorbed more time and attention than ever before. I knew that the only way through was to maintain our close relationships with our vendors and to work on all the logistics. Every business was dealing with the same problems. Details actually grew during Covid, but the work/life balance was not easy to maintain.”
“I have always watched the financial markets, the interest rates, the home sales, and, of course, the political arena. All these factors come into play for every business and the design business is no different. Ours is not just a fun business of going to market and buying pretty things, it’s a full-on retail business where clients are depending on and trusting us with their homes and money, and we want our employees to thrive as well.
The inventory at Details spans a broad array of styles….”If I love it, I buy it,” Lesa says. “Our showroom space is precious and too important to me for it to be anything less than beautiful and filled with things we love. It is a storyboard of how we design. It is ever changing and everyone at Details loves ordering, styling, and creating exciting vignettes with new pieces.” These pieces may include various scales of art, a vintage chest or chairs, statement lamps and chandeliers, and stylish upholstery. “I’ve taken over two decades now to edit what lines we carry and find the best local artisans to create the looks we want. It’s extremely gratifying to be where we are now.”
When asked about advice she would give to other women who aspire to leadership positions in business, Lesa has this to share: “ I believe the old adage, ‘the speed of the leader is the speed of the gang.’ You can’t expect more from others than you are willing to give. Never give up looking for what makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning, and just realize nothing comes easy, so dig in and don’t let go.”
“Looking back, I don’t think I would do much differently. We have made it successful for 23 years with grit, determination, vision, and pride in what we do. We believed in ourselves and this market, and have been fortunate to have wonderful employees, clients, and customers who keep coming back!”
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