Inspired by faith, Studio 221 owner opens new location in West Columbia

Kerri Hubbard, a speech therapist turned interior designer, has expanded her small furniture and interiors business from Chapin into West Columbia, guided by what she calls “God moments” and a belief that prayer changes lives.

Studio 221 offers collections of decor, furniture and rugs, among other items, and Hubbard focuses on using similar colors as a way to join the many different styles of interior design.

“My style — it’s not really about whether it’s transitional, mid-century, farmhouse, modern farmhouse, anything like that; I don’t really love using those terms,” Hubbard, 26, said Wednesday, a day after the West Columbia store’s soft opening. “I love the colors and how it makes you feel. We’re really passionate about trying to give people the courage to mix styles.”

She and her husband, Brian Hubbard, originally opened her Chapin business in November 2020 under the name of Farmhouse 221 after the pandemic gave her time for self-reflection. She realized she wasn’t feeling fulfilled in her career.

“We had a lot of time to reflect on, like, just how fragile life was, and you know, if you’re not loving what you’re doing, there’s no better time to switch,” Hubbard said.

Hubbard’s faith played a large role in her decision to open the shop, especially the new West Columbia location.

“The broker that we met with to inquire about this space told us that the building owner was from upstate New York, and he actually ended up being from my hometown, Saratoga Springs,” Hubbard said. “So that was like a God moment where you feel like you’re being brought together for a specific reason.”

Despite the risks of starting a small business, Hubbard said she has had great success and “was not ever really truly scared.”

“I would not be here without God,” Hubbard said. “God placed this shop on my heart.”

Hubbard’s Chapin location included a wall for customers to write down prayer requests, and she plans to implement this concept in West Columbia to help connect with her community.

“One person came in and wrote four prayers down on her card, and when she came back in later she said every single one had been answered,” Hubbard said.

It was Lora Harris’s third day working at Studio 221 on Wednesday, and she said she already feels at home. Upbeat country music played throughout the store, giving the showroom a just-like-home feel.

“It’s crazy, like every person that comes in either knows Kerri, or like something about the shop,” Harris said. “It just feels like a small community.”

Studio 221’s grand opening will be on Saturday, Oct. 23. For more information and to see more of what the store offers, visit its Instagram, @studio221interiors, or Facebook, Studio 221 Interiors.