Lauren Fasulo discovered her passion for design during a community college drafting class.
The longtime Naperville resident was so fascinated by what can be done with the right materials in the right place that the winding road led to a leap of faith as she forged a career. Years later, she’s still jumping.
Fasulo spent the greater part of her adult life building her credentials as an interior designer, but recently expanded her operations by opening a store in downtown Naperville. Not only does Ellce Home Design Studio and Shop provide design expertise, but partners also sell furniture and other merchandise for homes.
Fasulo, a 1993 Naperville Central graduate, had been toying with the idea of a design shop for years. She sold a small number of items in her former location in a house behind the Rock School on North Washington Street, but she never had the perfect space.
When Lululemon vacated its position at 21 W. Jefferson Ave. Fasolo grabbed her. The Elce Home Design Studio and Shop opened in early February.
“Downtown Naperville was the place for us,” Fasulo said. “It was a little late. We might have been ready before COVID. Our space was great, but there was no street view. I wanted a space that would work better.
“Our customers were ready to go in and see more pieces of furniture,” she said. “We’ve developed relationships with all these big dealers, and we need more space to display. This is perfect for us.”
Fasulo first drew on her design skills as one of six siblings who grew up in Naperville. I’ve become an expert at maximizing every inch of space throughout the house, but especially in the bedroom you often share.
Not knowing what she wanted to do after high school, she enrolled Fasulo for classes at College of DuPage. This is where she enrolled in the crafting class that changed her life.
Fasulo earned an associate’s degree, spent time with an engineering firm, and even worked for a private investigation agency before regaining her passion and earning a degree from Chicago’s Harrington School of Design.
From there she worked at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago running high-end furniture showrooms. This led to Fasulo getting a job with Henredon, where she oversaw the galleries of Ralph Lauren and Barbara Barry’s furnishings.
She left her job with Henredon to return to Naperville and focus on her growing family. She gradually built an interior design project out of her home before returning full time about 10 years ago.
“It wasn’t your usual way,” she said, “but that’s fine.” “Sometimes I wish I had that normal college experience, but I don’t look back. I really love what I do.”
Fasulo embarked on her first full house project in 2014. She has since designed homes across the country through word of mouth, but the bulk of her business remains local.
At the Ellce Home Design Studio and Shop, customers can meet designers or shop for their home’s needs in our 2,000 square foot showroom. They can buy everything from sofas, upholstery and rugs to bedding and lighting.
It’s all the products I put in my clients’ homes,” Fasulo said.
She said the foot traffic was a little slow, but a lot of that was due to the winter weather.
Fasulo said she is confident she will get better. If there’s one thing you know, it’s their customer base.
“I feel that even in the last five years, people have really entered their homes,” she said. “And everything can be accessed using Pinterest and Instagram. People want a beautiful home.”