Janice has spent 39 years as an interior designer turning houses into homes with her unique design talents. Translating her clients’ wishes into upgraded spaces of comfort, color and well planned design are key. Her trademark skill is about blending into the background so her client’s taste shines in the most perfect way. Janice’s partner in creating this vignette is her daughter Heather.  Heather is the Rehearsal Director for Triad Ballet and an Adjunct professor of Ballet at UNCSA.  In addition to using her artistic abilities in the studio, Heather loves repurposing discarded and remnant fabrics and turning them into hair accessories and brooches. She always enjoys finding a way to create beautiful and meaningful things including working on home interior projects with her mom.  

What inspired you to work with greeNest:

I first found out about greeNnest from my realtor when I moved to Winston Salem 5 years ago. He thought from our many discussions that I would enjoy volunteering there. I absolutely loved the concept of greeNest and really loved seeing the impact that could be made first hand once I was knowledgeable enough to lead participants through the shopping process. I also had the pleasure of spending many hours working with Jan at the Holiday Shop a few years ago. As soon as I saw the announcement for designers and creatives to participate in this year’s givingRoom fundraiser I told my mom, who is interior decorator extraordinaire, that we had to sign up ASAP!        - Heather

Wendy Bull is the owner and principal designer of Little Bird, an interior design studio based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Known for creating colorful, eclectic, personality-filled spaces that are both beautiful and functional, Wendy believes everyone deserves a home that feels welcoming, beautiful, and uniquely their own, regardless of budget or circumstance. 

Her diverse career has included residential and commercial interiors, new innovation logo design for NASA, and a Portugal apartment featured on HGTV’s House Hunters International. A multiple-time nominee and recipient of the Winston-Salem Journal Readers’ Choice Award for Best Interior Designer, Wendy is grateful to partner with GreeNest in helping families turn a new house into a home.

Kristin’s love for design started as a teenager with her own bedroom and the family hall bathroom, being the only person in the house that cared about such things. Of course, at the time, lace & mauve carpet were in. Before she left home though, she realized that was so 80’s, and took up the carpet in favor of parquet floors & a seafoam faux wall treatment in the bathroom. She poured over decorating magazines and Pottery Barn catalogs, scrapbooking as she went, and finding it funny that flea market finds were a trend. Those were the objects from real life not so long ago.

Ever after, each house was a place to experiment with colors, patterns, and play with arrangements. She moved on to friend’s houses, her mother-in-law’s house, and her sister’s house. When her sister said, “I’m going to the store, and when I come back, I want my furniture to be exactly where it is now.”, that was the moment, Kristin realized she needed to take her talents and passion on the road.

In 2011, she started doing design professionally. Three years after that, she bought her first fixer-upper and began renovating houses. Over the years Kristin realized that her true love was a mix of Middle Eastern and European antiques, which she came by honestly as her aunt and her grandmother had traveled extensively and brought home treasures from around the world.

 In 2018 Tahj Life & Style Boutique opened in Winston-Salem. It is here that she launches the  springboard for ideas, whether it is a perfect pair of curtains or a whole kitchen remodel. Kristin has a unique way of showcasing the perfect mix of art, antiques, & modern furnishings, believing that the best rooms tell you about the people that live there.  In January 2024 Kristin had the privilege of being featured in Winston Salem Monthly for her work in an historic West End house.

Kristin is currently working on a new expanded retail location to bring more of the good stuff to Winston-Salem. The focus is still on quality upholstery made in North Carolina, antique rugs and accessories and one-of-a-kind pieces. Local sourcing, global feel. To get inspiration and items for your next project, visit Tahjstyle.com.

Forsyth Tech’s Interior Design Program prepares students for careers in residential and non-residential design through a curriculum grounded in technical knowledge, professional practices, aesthetic principles, creative problem-solving, and hands-on studio learning. Our second-year students are developing the skills needed to design spaces that are functional, thoughtful, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the people who use them.

As a community college design program, we believe that participation in the local community is an essential part of our mission. Design is not only about creating beautiful spaces; it is also about understanding people, solving real problems, and using creativity to strengthen the communities around us. Opportunities like the greeNest fundraiser allow students to connect their classroom learning to meaningful community engagement.

For this event, our second-year students will work collaboratively to design a family gathering space using donated and found objects. Through this process, they will apply design principles, space planning, product selection, sustainability-minded thinking, and teamwork to create a welcoming environment that reflects the fundraiser's purpose. The project also challenges students to think resourcefully, honor the value of reused materials, and demonstrate how thoughtful design can bring comfort, beauty, and connection into everyday life.

We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with greeNest and to support an organization whose work aligns with our commitment to community, creativity, and purposeful design.

Mary Krutoy of Mary Krutoy Design and Liz Gillespie of Styled with Navy bring together diverse creative backgrounds and a shared passion for thoughtful, beautiful design.

Mary's career has spanned furniture design, custom upholstery, project management, and high-end residential interiors in NYC and Texas before relocating to Winston-Salem. Her experience working alongside leading designers and managing complex projects has given her a deep appreciation for creating spaces that are both functional and timeless.

Liz's creative journey began in fashion design, with studies and work experiences in Paris before launching several businesses in the fashion and textile industries. Her expertise in custom fabrication, textiles, color, and craftsmanship ultimately led her to interiors and the founding of Styled With Navy, a company specializing in designer pillows, luxury soft furnishings and residential interiors with a splash of blue. 

Together, Mary and Liz bring complementary skills, a collaborative spirit, and a love for helping clients create homes that reflect their personalities and lifestyles. Based in Winston-Salem, they are honored to support this event and the important work it represents.

Your support helps greeNest furnish homes, providing not just shelter, but a safe and restful place for families — including children — to thrive. Drawing inspiration from building and renovating homes, Deborah Gardner designs spaces that bring people together and foster connections. Tory's personal interior design aesthetic could be described as "quirky boho" and focuses on mixing old and new pieces, one-of-a-kind artwork (much of which is created by friends) and splashes of vibrant color.  Their 2026 givingRooms vignette, "name TBD", was inspired by lazy summer days spent relaxing on the porch drinking iced tea (or perhaps something stronger in the evening) and catching up with friends and neighbors.

Andy Scott and Erin Hege Shea started Carolina Staging & Design in 2022. Formerly Home Staging by Kim Scott, one of the oldest staging companies in the Triad, they created a full-service Staging & Design company servicing the Triad, Charlotte, and Raleigh areas.  Andy and Erin both had successful real estate careers over a combined 50 years, where they saw a need for a different approach to design. 

Home Staging makes a huge impact to the resale of homes and the local new construction market.  Andy, Erin, and their team of designers provide staging expertise to local builders, agents, and sellers.  Their main priority - present listings in the best way possible, to create the maximum profit for each client. 

In addition to staging, the Carolina Staging & Design team has professionals specializing in Interior Design, Building & Renovation Design and Holiday Design.

Having helped people buy and sell houses for so long, Andy and Erin know how special it is for someone to have their own home.  Everyone deserves a space that is a safe retreat and reflects an individual’s personality and style.  A home is a place for comfort, happiness and growth. 

A few of our real estate colleagues recommended this project to us ane we are thrilled to work with GreeNest for the first time.  Our vision for givingRooms is celebrating home, being thankful and gathering around the table. 

Elizabeth Henderson is a home designer and fiber artist based in Winston Salem. Along with her studio practice, she brings her experience to a range of interior design projects through her business Little.E.Studio. Her vignette titled “Sitting Room” imagines a variety of seating both for conversation and contemplation. After accumulating a wide selection of her own, Elizabeth now wants to share her passion with others!

Joanna Britt, co-founder of greeNest, is a painter and graphic designer whose creative vision has helped shape the heart of the organization since its inception. She brings both artistic talent and a strong design sensibility to every project, blending function and beauty in thoughtful, impactful ways.

Working alongside her is longtime greeNest volunteer Karen Blaylock, whose creativity and passion for storytelling show up in words, imagery, and innovative ideas—often developed in the quiet hours of the night. Karen has contributed to many of greeNest’s promotional pieces and events over the years, helping bring ideas to life from concept to completion.

Together, Joanna and Karen will design a teenage boy’s bedroom that is fun, functional, and sure to bring a smile to everyone who experiences it.

The goal of Assets & Armchairs is simple: to create a space that feels welcoming, timeless, and comfortable—a place where anyone can relax, recharge, and feel at home. Because at the end of the day, a great room, much like a great financial plan, should provide security, comfort, and peace of mind.

By day, Trent Wall and Trey Howe work at different banks, helping clients build financial confidence, plan for the future, and make smart decisions with their money. While they may represent competing teams during business hours, they come together through their shared commitment to greeNest, serving as board members dedicated to helping families create homes filled with comfort and stability.

While they spend most of their time discussing lending and interest rates, this project required an entirely different set of calculations, including important questions like, "Is this chair comfortable?" and "How many pillows are too many pillows?" (The answer remains under review.)

Trent and Trey are proud to support greeNest's mission of transforming empty houses into homes for families transitioning into permanent housing. Through givingRooms, they hope to help create spaces filled with dignity, comfort, and hope—and to demonstrate that bankers can occasionally diversify into interior design with surprisingly positive returns.

Tammy and Kelli both recall their love of decorating from a very young age as they frequently redesigned their childhood bedrooms.  While growing their families and managing careers, they both relished designing their homes in classic and comfortable styles with the goal for their families to connect and enjoy being together.  As grandmothers their styles continue to evolve as their families grow and gather. Their vignette,  "bringing the outside in" highlights the magic of a porch design with the comforts of indoor style furniture surrounded by nature and whimsy, making you feel like you are both indoors and out!  Their love for creating homes fuels their passion for greeNest mission and the people it serves, as they believe that everyone should have a home that allows safety and connection!