Joliet designer's home featured in new book on Christmas design

JOLIET – When it comes to interior design, Stephanie Tuliglowski of Joliet is ranked with the best of them.

Tuliglowski’s home is featured in the recently released “Christmas at Designers’ Homes Across America” by Katharine McMillan and Patricia McMillan, which showcases unique holiday ideas, rituals and traditions from talented interior designers across the U.S., according to the book’s description on Amazon.

Two designers featured in the book include Christopher Radko (renowned for his Christmas ornaments) and Joe Ruggeiro, host of the former HGTV show “Homes Across America,” Tuliglowski said.

In conjunction with the book’s promotion, Tuliglowski said her home also was featured in Holiday Décor and Southern Lady magazines.

A designer for 25 years and a faux finish artist for 30, Tuliglowski said Patricia McMillan contacted her two years ago and asked if she would like to be featured in one of the chapters.

“Of course I said yes,” Tuliglowski said.

Design is Tuliglowski’s passion. She started her career in commercial art, but she “fell in love with design” and used her art skills to paint walls and furniture. Local decorators noticed her skill and hired Tuliglowski to assist them, she said.

The last place Tuliglowski worked before becoming independent eight years ago was Maggie’s Place in Plainfield, she said. Tuliglowski has hosted “designer garden parties” in her self-designed, half-acre yard, which has a French playhouse in the back.

“I tried to be home for the kids,” Tuliglowski said, “and when I did work somewhere, I worked around their school hours.”

Tuliglowski said she and her husband, Raymond Tuliglowski, have four young adult children – Breyton, Ryan, Nicholas and Sophia – and two French papillions, Bella and Papi, ages 14 and 16, respectively.

Facebook opened up networking doors for Stephanie when she joined the social media website in 2008. That’s how she connected with coastal decorator and author Patricia McMillan, who affirmed Stephanie’s style.

“She kept encouraging me to do my own book,” Stephanie said.

And what is Stephanie’s style? Very Old World, classic European, mainly French and English, with touches of Italian and Swedish, she said. Stephanie likes combining rustic, casual and antique looks.

“I try to infuse a lot of different styles,” she said. “I don’t like trends, per se.”

The result is a cozy elegance that puts visitors at ease.

“You can sit down and feel very comfortable,” she said.

She finds great satisfaction in helping her clients design homes that are as individual as the clients are.

“Your home reflects who you are as a person,” Stephanie said. “It’s a sanctuary from everyday chaos. I think decorating is an important part of life, like getting your hair and nails done.”