Blinded by Light offers more than traditional decor

By Rachel Madison

Deb Lohman has always had an eye for detail, especially when it comes to interior design. She once considered becoming an interior decorator, but eventually made a career out of working with manufacturers who sold to Target stores in Minnesota.

“I was the liaison between Target buyers and manufacturers,” she said. “Most of the products I represented were home and decor items, and I learned a lot. “

She had been in Texas for 10 years, where she worked for a similar company in Austin until he decided it was time to fulfill his true dream of owning and running his own home decor store. It was then that she decided to open Blinded by the Light in Liberty Hill.

“I decided I was running out of time to do it, so I decided that I had better do it while I can and still have the energy,” she said. “It has always been my lifelong dream. When I was very young and started going to college, I wanted to be an interior designer, but I was young and scared of taking risks, so I played it safe and I opted instead for the health professions. Now that I have opened my own store, I wish I had done so years ago.

In November, Blinded by the Light will be in business for a year. Lohman said the response she received from the Liberty Hill community has been positive.

“I felt a strong need to have a store like this to serve our community,” she said. “People like to buy local, and that’s one less thing they need to get to Austin by car.”

Lohman said she strives to provide a unique shopping experience for every customer when they walk through their door.

“I don’t want my customers to see the traditional decor, the same old decor that so many big box stores have,” she said. “When a customer comes in, they’ll find all the items in limited supply. I want them to feel special about their purchase. When they go out, they don’t have to worry about their neighbor having the exact same room.

Deciding what items to bring into your store comes from many conversations with customers, Lohman said, and discovering their likes and dislikes. Because she is also a Hunter Douglas window covering dealer, she has the ability to go to people’s homes to measure windows for orders, which also allows her to see decorating trends that customers are following.

“It helps me keep up to date with what’s going on in interior design,” she said. “My process of buying parts for my store dates back to when I was working with target buyers. I have learned so much from them about how they choose products and prices. It’s about finding the right suppliers to work with that will deliver a good quality product, and I’m very careful. I do not do any of my purchases online. I have to see it, touch it and smell it, and make sure that the product I am selling is of good quality.

As a dealer for Hunter Douglas, Lohman can also help customers explore the different window coverings available, measure their windows and guide them to the window coverings that would best suit their home.

Blinded By Light offers a wide variety of home decorations, such as accent furniture, lamps, cushions, artwork, flower arrangements, vases and rugs.

“My wall art is very popular,” Lohman said. “People are very surprised by the wall art when they enter. These days people build big houses, so they don’t want small furniture or wall art; they want something big to fill the space. I focus on providing this.

Lohman also sells a few gift items from his store, such as candles and jewelry. She selects her items from the United States and Texas when possible, such as the jewelry line she sells, Lula ‘n’ Lee, which is made locally in Brenham.

“The name Blinded By The Light implies that I am a dealer in Hunter Douglas window coverings, but I am also a home decor store,” she said. “Customers totally expect to find only window coverings or lighting fixtures, but then they see it’s much more than that. I often hear, “Wow, we didn’t realize you had all this home decor and wall art.” People are pleasantly surprised when they see all the unique decor items and beautiful statement pieces for their home.

In the future, Lohman hopes to expand his store’s offering by providing customers with custom furniture and fabric options. So far, she hasn’t offered a lot of seasonal backdrops, but starting this year with Christmas, she plans to provide a lot more backdrops for the different seasons and holidays.

“I try to provide good quality products and try to keep prices reasonable,” she said. “I’m not the cheapest, but neither am I the most expensive.

Lohman added that being a business owner in Liberty Hill has been a wonderful experience, which is why she is also looking forward to helping nonprofits, like Operation Liberty Hill and L4 Cares, when she can. .

“It’s so nice to live in a community that looks out for each other, which is why I love giving back to the community,” she said. “It is important to contribute to organizations that have the greatest impact on the greater good of the community at large. “

Blinded By The Light is located at 14125 W. Hwy. 29 on the water tower square. The store is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit blindedbythelightdecor.com.