Interior Creations opens second location

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Debbie Skinner was one of six children raised by a single mom and, she said, raised to work hard and want something in life. 

It’s evident she’s not forgotten those early teachings. Skinner is marking 21 years in business — her own business — and has recently expanded into a second location three miles away to handle the company’s product overflow.

Debbie Skinner’s Interior Creations is located at 3460 Eastern Valley Road (Highway 119), with her new facility at 7459 Cahaba Valley Road in Greystone. Between the two, Skinner creates custom residential and commercial pieces including cabinets, doors, entertainment centers, bookshelves, counter tops, crown molding and Adirondack chairs.

“I can pretty much build most anything, including one-of-a-kind type things,” Skinner said. “I have people come in with pictures from magazines or even in their heads, or just needing a change to a door or repairs or adjustments in their kitchen or bathroom.”

Skinner works under the motto, “bring your idea to us.”

Born and raised in Childersburg, Skinner signed up for a woodworking class while a high school junior.

“I was the only girl and we commuted everyday to Winterboro for vocational school,” she said. “But I was a very involved student overall and woodworking class was interactive, hands-on and allowed me to be creative.”

Skinner’s initial experience with woodworking was so rewarding that she pursued a degree in building construction and woodworking at Nunnelley State Technical College.

”There, we had course competitions and special projects to test what we knew and could do,” she said. “And someone saw one of my projects -— a curio case — and offered me a job.”

That first job was with Marsh Industries in the early 1990s, helping to build nurses stations for St. Vincent’s and UAB hospitals. She later fashioned showcases and store fixtures for Estee Lauder and Clinique for placement in Riverchase Galleria, Brookwood Village and the Summit, she said.

But creativity kept calling and Skinner made the move from “cookie cutter pieces to making unique, one-of-a-kind pieces” with the establishment of her Interior Creations company.

Today, Skinner said her customers include home and condominium owners, designers and builders stretching throughout Jefferson County and down to the Orange Beach/Gulf Shores area.

“Most are referrals from previous jobs but some people just drop by the shop,” she said. “Believe me, it’s a factory setting but people are welcome to look at different items, materials, colors, stain and samples and talk about their needs.”

All these years after that high school woodworking class, the actual hands-on cutting and constructing of any item remains the most enjoyable part of her work — like putting together a great big puzzle, Skinner said.

“But I also love interacting with my customers, never rushing and making sure they know that when I have a job, I’m there for them,” she said. “And that means until they’re happy and satisfied they got more than what they paid for.”

Debbie Skinner’s Interior Creations