Jesse and Brenda bringing great design to Central Texas
By Janna Zepp | Photography by Justin Borja
It started back in 1994 when someone came to Jesse and Brenda Esparza’s newly built Temple home to install blinds.
The Esparzas had trouble finding what they wanted locally so they ordered blinds from out of town.
“I always wanted to be my own boss,” Jesse says. “I knew I wanted to be in business for myself, but I didn’t really know exactly what kind of business until that day when the window blinds were installed. I thought, ‘I can do that and I can do it really well.’ I also realized that if I wanted something special for my home, I had to go outside of Bell County back then to get it. I thought about opening my own business that offered that big city level of quality, style, and service right here at home.”
And so, he did.
Jesse needed a partner, so he asked the person he knew and trusted best: his wife, Brenda. She was the natural choice for Jesse with her eye for design, as well as a professional business and financial acumen. In 1998 they opened The Blind and Shutter Gallery in what is now Neon Square on West Adams in Temple, where they served Bell County customers for 18 years, adding more products and services beyond window treatments over time until they reached a point at which they needed more space for everything they offered.
In 2016, the business moved east of Interstate 35 to 3103 S.W. H K Dodgen Loop and the Esparzas renamed their store Gallery Design Center. Jesse says the name was for continuity’s sake, keeping “gallery” in the name for brand recognition, but adding “design center” to reflect a wider variety of products and services beyond window treatments.
“But people mostly refer to us as just ‘Jesse and Brenda,’ because that’s how most of our customers have always known us,” Brenda says.
Jesse grew up in Moody and Temple. Brenda has lived in Temple all her life. They say they feel blessed to be in a city that is within a reasonable driving distance to larger municipalities. Moreover, there are respected home design providers right here.
“One of the great things about Temple is that Wilsonart is right here in town so we’ve never had to go far to provide great material for our customers’ kitchen and bath countertops,” Jesse says.
But the Esparzas offer more than just window treatments, countertops, and floor coverings. Part of the services offered by Gallery Design Center include interior design consultation.
“I have always loved art and that is where I draw my inspiration,” Brenda says. “My favorite design style is ‘Transitional’ which is a mix between traditional or classic and modern with clean lines.”
Current design trends lean toward neutral tones and warm grays but Brenda is not afraid to incorporate bold colors into home décor. She says accent chairs, decorative throw blankets, accent pillows and area rugs are great for adding color to a room.
“You should not be afraid of using bold colors to decorate,” she says. “My favorite color scheme to work with is gray and white. When gray is used as a neutral color, you can use many different accent colors to be paired with (it) for a cohesive design; anywhere from bold and vibrant to subtle colors.”
And not everything in the design needs to be new.
“Chairs, couches, and ottomans can be repurposed by re-upholstering them in a new fabric,” Brenda says. “Wood furniture can be re-stained or painted to fit your style and design.”
While minimalism—a simplistic way of living with only minimal, but essential items—is all the rage right now in home design and some commercial design, Brenda cautions that it isn’t for everyone. Minimalist design eliminates all clutter and knick knacks, but it is important to include items that mean something to the homeowner to reflect their personality in the décor.
“Many people have different styles and in which a lot of them are not ready to give up all their ‘stuff.’ Also, at different stages of your life you find that certain things are less important than they once were,” Brenda says. What works for an empty nester might not work for a family with children still at home.
Along with the discussion of minimalist decorating comes that of de-cluttering. Brenda recommends starting with organizing what needs to be sorted through in a separate space and working room by room so that the job is not overwhelming.
“You can use baskets in the living room and bedrooms, bins in the pantry and bathrooms and plastic storage containers or boxes for seasonal items. Labels can also be helpful in identifying items at a quick glance. Having a dedicated place to organize and store your items can eliminate clutter,” Brenda says.
Brenda’s favorite design job was working with a client to completely remodel her outdated kitchen to her “dream kitchen.” She says each kitchen and bathroom remodel are unique to the client and their style, needs, and budget, and it is always exciting to start the next one.
Embracing Minimalist Design
Even fans of traditional interior design can incorporate some elements of minimalist style. Tips include:
- De-clutter your home
Consider donating or selling anything gathering dust around your home. Photos in old, outdated frames can be streamlined into digital images or displayed in matching frames on a gallery wall. - Remove unused furniture
If you don’t sit on it or at it every day, think about repurposing it in another space or removing it altogether. Larger furniture can be replaced with smaller furniture, especially if the larger piece dominates the space a little too much. - Simplify the color scheme
How much color hits your eye when you’re in the room? If you counted more than four colors, it might be time to trim the palette down to just two or three. Layer the same color in different textured pieces. Experiment with gray velvet accent pillows on a gray leather sofa. A taupe-colored room could use a pop of purple for an artistic focal point. - Focus on function
Furniture and accessories should work together not against each other visually. Instead of excessive wall art, consider a dramatic light fixture above an empty table. Or a red arm chair in a room with warm gray walls. Make balance and simplicity the watch-words for your design plan to bring peace and tranquility to your living space.
