In 1978, Debra Gildersleeve’s parents first opened a small boutique called RENEE’S in Mattituck, named after her mother.  She spent much time in the store growing up, and after a career in fashion eventually decided her true calling was to return to the East End to take over the family business with her husband William Gildersleeve as her partner. “We kind of fell into the furniture business by accident,” says Debra [below] of the store’s transition into a luxury department store. “We used different pieces to display jewelry and clothing, and customers began asking if they could buy the displays.” The store expanded to include home furnishings and accessories, with Debra as the chief buyer.

“The concept for fashion design and interior design is the same to me. You have to take into consideration balance, color, and personal style. Every job is a problem solver – the goal is to make a room not only beautiful and functional, but also meet the client’s design needs,” says Debra of her venture into the design aspect of home furnishings offering design consultations and custom work for clients, choosing everything from grout colors to lighting fixtures.

With two extensive showrooms and an interior design center, her North Fork store houses numerous furniture and décor pieces for clients to choose from, and many items are specially ordered and delivered to homes from the East End into New York City and Florida. For more information, call 631.298.4223. Find RENEE’S online at reneesmattituck.com, Follow @RENEESMattituck on FB, Twitter, and Instagram and Houzz HERE