Lia Papasimakis Fraccaro
With an extensive variety of experience in the big city behind her, owner Lia Papasimakis Fraccaro is looking forward and living her dream in Emmaus. At House Splendid, customers can shop for home décor and cabinetry or plan their next interior design renovation.
Lia Papasimakis Fraccaro
Owner
Tell us about your professional experience prior to opening House Splendid.
I’ve done it all! My design experience runs the gamut. I’ve held positions as a designer in firms from New York to Pennsylvania, ranging from interior design, closet and office design, architectural design and kitchen and bath design. The latter is when it all clicked for me and I knew what I was going to do next. Through my experience as a custom cabinetry designer, I found I was able to blend my love for intricate detail and beautiful spaces, all while hugely impacting how my clients live and function on a more intimate and daily basis. And getting to see how my clients’ homes and lifestyles have been enhanced is hugely rewarding for me.
Hailing from New York, what propelled you to a space in the Lehigh Valley?
Well, my move here from New York was one for love... and then I quickly fell in love with the Lehigh Valley! I appreciated the beauty here and also saw the potential to be had. Being born and raised in New York, I left a concrete jungle for an open palette here in the Valley. Before I opened my business, my husband and I purchased a 1750 stone farmhouse in Emmaus and renovated it. It was through that process that I came to discover all that was missing from this area. I would constantly file away mental notes of “If I ever had my own shop, I would...” and from that, House Splendid was born. With my vast expertise, I saw an opportunity to introduce a retail shop and design studio that encompassed all that I was passionate about while filling what I saw to be a design void in the Valley.
Describe the overall tone of your work and the vibe of the store.
The approach I take with every project is to really listen to my clients [in order] to achieve a unique and creative setting with a sense of timelessness. My goal at the end of each project is to have a collaboration of their desires facilitated through my vision to keep their spaces feeling like their own, but fresh and timeless all at once. And we should have fun while doing it! I do love playing with color and often walk my clients down a path they know they want to travel, but don’t necessarily know how to get to. The vibe of the retail portion of my store is quite unique—we strive to offer a really fun and unusual array of gift items, home accessories and seasonal décor. Mindfully offered at various price points, there is truly something for everyone.
What sets your custom cabinetry apart from the rest?
For one, I do! Most cabinetry designers are just that. But with my academic background and professional experience, I bring the expertise of a kitchen and bath designer, a custom cabinetry designer and an interior designer to the table, all wrapped up in an architectural degree. When I approach a project, I am viewing it from many angles and through the eyes of several professions. Furthermore, I design with a fully custom high-end cabinetry line, but it’s attainable at a mid-range price point. I can deliver what my clients desire, without having to compromise. In the end, my clients end up with a perfectly designed space that seamlessly melds with their home and style.
Tell us about your design consultation and layout planning services.
I like to tell all my clients that we can do as much or as little as they would like. We not only offer consultations and designing for kitchens and baths, but also interior design and space planning, color and paint selection, as well as window treatment design. We can assist in consultations and design layouts, through to complete installations and full-on renovations.
Is there a certain home décor item that customers love?
Our decorative hardware selection is beyond what anyone expects to see when they walk in. We display more than 3,000 pieces, everything from cabinetry and interior/exterior door hardware, to bath accessories and hinges. Because we offer every style, shape, size, color and finish you can imagine, coupled with our design expertise, our customers are always blown away by the visual impact of a well-selected piece of hardware. And my associate Andrea has been with me since our doors opened in 2003—she can find almost anything for anyone.
What products or services does the store carry that readers might be surprised to learn about?
The two services readers may not be aware of is that we offer design services for both window treatments and furniture upholstery. We have now opened a backroom studio filled with a wonderful and vast selection of fabrics and window treatment options. From valances and drapes to blinds and shades, we can provide everything from design conception through installation.
What’s the best part about owning such a unique shop in Emmaus?
This year, House Splendid will be celebrating 15 years in business! The best part is that I get to enjoy a thriving business doing what I love, all while getting to support a community that I live in and believe in. Having my House Splendid design studio and retail shop puts me front-row center with my customers and clients every day. I have met so many amazing people, I get to enjoy and partake in inspiring conversations that extend far past design and I have made many good friends through it all. I feel like I am truly living my dream.
345 Chestnut St., Emmaus | 610.965.3030 | housesplendid.com
