About Hello Beautiful Home

Donna Henderson

Owner, Lead Designer

Creativity has always been the juice that gets me going, but my interior design career after 25+ years as a mom and primary caregiver has been an amazing, unexpected gift.

My husband Dave and I have three wonderful children. Each had uniquely heartbreaking challenges starting early in life.  In between medical appointments and school IEP’s, I made pillows, planted flowers and rearranged the furniture. I could never follow the advice to “nap while the kids are napping.” That was my only time to create an environment that fed our souls and, in doing so, fed mine. I was desperate to create beauty and order in the midst of chaos and crisis. There is still no greater lift for me than rolling on a new paint color. 

When the kids were home and awake, I fostered their creativity and gifts. Recycled items, fabric scraps and other bits and bobs became robots, crazy hats and creatures of all kinds. As art supplies, books and toys threatened to overtake the house, I searched for lovely ways to corral and organize these things that fueled their minds before I lost mine! 

One time, my creativity was put to the test when our imaginative daughter requested a secret room within her room. She still talks about that special place I built from perforated hardboard and old furniture. What once was just a small cabinet in a storage unit became a secret portal to her little hideaway.

One of our sons has disabilities, and accomodating his special needs while creating a beautiful home has taught me so many things. What kind of rug will look good through even more than the usual drops, spills, wear and tear? Is there even such a thing as beautiful black-out drapes? (The answer is, “Yes!” :) Which bathroom tile has the greatest coefficient of friction so he won’t slip and fall when it gets wet? My most rewarding project ever was transforming our main bath into a wheelchair accessible one for him.

My interior design knowledge has been hard-won, but looking back I see how all those years at home with the kids prepared me for this work I love so much.  More than ever, it seems, we need homes that feed our souls. I am forever enthralled with the power of interior design to do just that. It feeds my soul to create spaces that are uniquely suited to the people they serve, whether it’s my family or yours. 

  • Barbara B. - Airbnb Design Client

    With a well-trained eye and a natural ease and intuition toward both home and homeowner, Donna helped us in the challenging but much-needed process of redesigning our home. She helped us rearrange our furniture, artwork, and accessories, and recommended new purchases. As a result, our home has been consistently booked at a high rate in the competitive Traverse City, Michigan market. Hire Donna; you won’t be disappointed.

  • Laura W. - Design Consultation Client

    Donna’s artistic eye and functional savvy allowed me to see possibilities that I had never imagined for my space. Her no-pressure approach put me at ease as I watched her work her magic. She was very receptive to my needs, my lifestyle and my intentions. A truly wonderful experience.

  • Yolanda G. - Keller Williams

    As a realtor I can say that Donna Henderson is a consummate professional. She has taken dark spaces and turned them into light-filled, clean, emotionally-accessible spaces that anyone can see themselves living in. Donna combines an artist’s eye with an open heart. She listens to her clients and her transformations provide considerable Return on Investment.

  • Kathy L. - Design Consultation Client

    Donna brings so much passion and talent to her design business. When my boys went off to college, I wanted to create a cohesive color plan for my home after years of their influence (ie. bright orange bedroom!). Donna taught me so much about color as I discovered myself in this new phase of life and the results are transforming my home. Without her I would have given up! I highly recommend Donna Henderson.