Hey, I’m Stacey…owner of Wilshire Collections where I love all things decorating and DIY! I’ve been running my business 100% out of my home for 9 years…until now! Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and let me tell you a story!
My Wilshire place story is one I never want to forget, so I am documenting it here for myself and for all of you!
You see, over the past 9 years of owning Wilshire Collections my business has looked a lot of different ways. I started off as a furniture painter, which meant I was painting furniture in my garage for years and hauling stuff all over town to different booths, customer homes, etc.
Over time, I began to shift more to the online space and really lean into my love for decorating and DIY! Many shifts, pivots, wins, fails and years later…here I am! 100% in the online space, with over 300k followers across all of the social media platforms.
SAY WHAT? Never thought those words would come out of my mouth, but I am truly SO blessed to be able to say it. As Wilshire grew, so did my needs. I went from crafting at my kitchen table, to crafting in a spare bedroom, to crafting AND working in an office we made over. All of those worked great for their season….but I was starting to feel totally overwhelmed and stressed in my own space.
Wilshire was taking over not only my office/craft room, but every inch of the house in one way or another. Don’t get me wrong, I love sharing everything with y’all…but often I would find myself pulling things off a tray to redecorate it to show y’all something I made, and leaving the mess of the old tray items laying there. Picture this times 100 in SO many areas of my home non stop.
I’m not a real clean person in general (Ok, I DO NOT LIKE TO CLEAN AT ALL)…so this was a constant! When I would be sitting in my office trying to do computer work, zooms, etc. I was surrounded by messes of all kinds and just didn’t feel focused or “zen” in my space.
At the beginning of 2022, I started to feel a nudge and a pull to get a space for Wilshire outside of my home. I tried to push that thought back down inside, and I didn’t tell anyone that I was even thinking about it. Not even my husband Anthony. For whatever reason, I was convincing myself that I was crazy and I had a perfectly good home to work out of. But, it was on my mind A LOT!
Flash forward to March 2022 when I’m having a meltdown from overwhelm to my husband and he looks at me and says “You know what? You need a space. You need to find something you can rent where you can have a place to go to work and do what you need to do each day.” CUE WATERWORKS! I cried like a baby because I couldn’t believe he took the desires of my heart (without knowing them) and just validated for me that I wasn’t crazy to be thinking that afterall.
Of course I confessed that I had been thinking about it for a few months myself. I began looking myself and also texted my friend Kristan that’s a realtor to be on the lookout. It was dead end after dead end, because commercial space is just not real easy to come by in my town. A little discouraging, but I knew something would come along eventually.
However…I had NO IDEA what was about to come along and that God was about to give me even more than my heart desired or was praying for! Isn’t he awesome like that?!
One night my friend Kristan texted me a link to what is now Wilshire Place and it changed everything!
A work/live townhome? Zoned for commercial? Meant to work downstairs and live upstairs? I had never heard of such a thing, let alone dreamed I would rent one one day. I immediately saw potential and ways I could use it, but I wasn’t sure if they would rent to me since I technically wouldn’t be living upstairs. But I knew we had to at least go LOOK!
Well, you know what happens when you look. You fall in love. lol. I knew from the minute we walked in this is where I wanted the next chapter of Wilshire Collections to take place. I could visualize EVERYTHING! Kristan could picture it too! I then brought Anthony and the boys back and it was instant for them too. Without hesitation, Anthony told me this was it and we had to make it happen!
And y’all…it HAPPENED!! I found the perfect unit for me and Kellie the realtor/property manager completely understood my vision for the space and how I was going to use it. Luckily, the owner did too when she explained it to him and before you knew it I was signing a lease and getting the keys!
Truly (more than) a dream come true and such a blessing! I have big plans for how I will use the different spaces, and it will of course take time to get it all set up. But, that is half the fun!
Here’s what I do know and some pictures of the “blank canvas” to show you too!
The downstairs area will be devoted to crafting, creating, content creation, etc. With my craft desk, bathroom, closet and a garage for storage! This is just part of it!
The next level is going to be used for many different things, but this is where I could picture myself working at my desk (Writing blogs, doing zooms, computer work, emails, etc) AND having spaces for furniture to do decorating tutorials/videos, stage decor and craft items, etc. SO MANY OPTIONS! And I just LOVE the kitchen…the big island that can have barstools is something I wish I had at my own home lol!
This is going to be AMAZING for the live decorating videos and tutorials I do with my DC Fam inside my decorating and creating community too!
I will always still decorate my own home and share that with y’all, nothing will change there. But it won’t have to be a constant turnover and I will be able to separate work from home a bit by being in the new place. Basically, I’m going to play with decor and crafts over here and mess up this place instead of messing up my own house. Haha! For real though, I’m very excited about all the potential here for crafting, working and decorating!
The unit also has 2 bedrooms, which is more than I needed…but it’s also going to be great for some things I have planned down the road too! They will be the last spaces that I focus on, but I will definitely share more once I do!
My heart is honestly so full right now and this all just seems super surreal. I have worked so hard for 9 years in my business to get to this point, and it feels like such a reward to be in this space doing what I love every day. And…to be able to share it with all of you is the icing on the cake!
The love and support you have shown me through this has just blown me away. To think that there are thousands and thousands of people cheering me on and being so genuinely happy for me is truly humbling. I have the BEST community and I just love y’all to pieces and am so glad you love me right back. So, THANK YOU!
I truly have to thank God for all the blessings in my life and for allowing me to live out this calling on my life and be able to do something I love so much every day. I don’t take it for granted for a second. And of course…the love and support of my family which I have mentioned here too! Blessed all around!
This was my first day working at my new Wilshire place!
And this was the first craft I did from the new crafting area- I can’t wait to find the perfect spot to hang it at Wilshire place! You can see the replay of the video here!
My mission is to spread joy through decorating and DIY (and funny stories hehe), and I have no doubt that I am going to be able to spread even MORE joy from this new Wilshire place of mine! So, thanks from the bottom of my heart for being here and I hope you’ll stick around for all the fun to come!
Until next time…
Stacey
I am so proud of your new Whilshire place for you. I know you will enjoy for years to come. I really like your lives on different places and the tours that you give us enjoyed your home town tour where you grew up.
Enjoy watching you. You got me and my daughter wearing press on nails . Ha keep up the good job. joyce
aww love it and thank you!
Such a perfectly written story~your story for you to be soo very proud of. You are such an awesome inspiration for everyone Stacey! Wishing you the very best & soo many blessings. God has great plans for you! I for one can not wait to see every single part.
Love ya❣️
Janice
Thank you so much sweet Janice! Appreciate you more than you know!
You ARE unbelievably talented and your family so patient! Congratulations to your current success and wishing you nothing but the best in the future! Can’t wait to see all the places you will go!
I have watched most of your story but when you were talking about the support and like mindedness of Anthony and the boys, you brought tears to my eyes. May God continue to bless you. Love ya.
aww thanks cindy!
I just happen to come across a video of you. I stopped to watch and fell in love with you. Now I am hooked, just not sure where, when and how to follow you and watch you do all your magic. And listen to all your stories. Glad I found you.
wow that’s awesome and I’m glad you’re here!
Stacey,
Blessings to you. I have loved you since I first started watching you…2020…COVID. I wish you all the best.
Here’s to more inspiration.
With a Grateful Heart,
Julia Poe
thank you sooo much!
So happy for you and glad to be here along for the ride. Can’t wait to see what is next for all of us!!
I can’t wait to see all that do at Wilshire Place . I love that I am here from the beginning of your new journey and I will definitely be following you. You have been an inspiration in redecorating my home that needed a face lift! And it all started with the the Christmas tree decorating tutorial in 2021! I’m glad I found you!
aww that’s awesome! I’m glad you did too!
Stacey,
I’m so proud of you and I can feel your excitement in your words and especially your lives on Facebook! I love how you are so genuine and make your online followers feel like family, yet you can be so professional at the same time. Thank you for letting me join in your excitement and I wish you nothing but JOY and happiness at your new “Wilshire Place”
Such a sweet compliment- appreciate you and your support always Sally!
Congratulations!!! Hard work brings much success. Nine years is a long time to work on a business and you do deserve all the things coming your way. Don’t apologize to anyone, you have worked hard to have a business and a family, that is hard work and you have accomplished both well. I have only been a PC and DC girl for a short time, but you bring much joy to my life and many others reading their comments. Just enjoy what you have achieved and go forward with your dreams, it will only get better for you and your lovely family! Regards, Mary L.
wow- thank you soooo much for this Mary! So sweet and so thankful for you!
Stacey, I am so happy for you! I haven’t been in your group a month and I love it already. You are so real and I can feel your joy In this new space. You are truly in your zone and it’s going to be wonderful!
P.S. I am a long-time follower of Damon’s. ?
oh awesome and welcome!! I appreciate what you said SO much!
Love, love your story Stacey! So happy for you and you definitely deserve it! As for the funny stories, I absolutely LOVE hearing them! Thank you for all you do!!! Many Blessing for you. Karen Hamby
appreciate that and appreciate you!!
Congratulations on your new place and may you enjoy every single day there. When you do what ya love it’s not a job it is a passion! God bless and best of luck!
yes for sure! thanks!
I love you new space. It is a joy to follow you. Congratulations
So happy and excited for you all. Your such a blessing to us all!
I am so happy for you. A place to think and create is just what you need. I am slowly adjusting to my heartbreaking event. I plan on being a DC girl again before long.
Congratulations on finding a happy place.
Continued prayers and thank you!
Your journey to this point is beautiful. I am so glad you documented it for yourself and us. Stacey, keep doing what you love and spreading the joy. I am so glad to be a PC and DC gal.
Thank you.
Helen
Aww thank you so very much Helen!
Congratulations!
This is my first time hearing of you and I am so touched and in awe of how amazing our God is! Thank you for your persistence and display of faith. I’m truly happy for you and pray God continues to pour into you and bless you abundantly! ?
Beautiful story. So happy for you. I cant wait to see what beautiful things you make there.
My goodness…I feel like a proud parent wanting to say…”My, how you’ve grown”….I too have been with you from the beginning and have enjoyed getting to know you & your sweet life !! Congratulations and I pictured ORGANIZING….you have the new space for it….maybe a CHRISTMAS room in a Bedroom…hehehe….I know how you’d love that….I look forward to the future with you ….
Blessings,
Margaret
So sweet, thank you!!
I have been following you since you did your first live with Brooke from Refab. You did an amazing job and made the sweetest beaded Christmas ornament and I was hooked. Your live event was a great time,, and having the opportunity to meet you and your family was wonderful. I also met some of your amazing followers. Some of whom I follow now. You have brighten many lives. Your talent and hard work allows you to continue to grow and live your best life. So happy for you.
You’re so sweet! I will never forget meeting you!! Thanks for these sweet words!