Homebody owner ChyAnne Huyser will host a grand opening, Jan. 12-14, for Lynnville’s newest business located at 401 East Street.
ChyAnne Huyser of Lynnville is combining her many talents and side jobs into the opening of Homebody, a storefront in downtown Lynnville specializing in home decor, candles, loungewear, bath and beauty products, stationery, custom-painted furniture, and so much more.
Homebody, which is operating out of the building formerly occupied by Riverside Junction at 401 East Street in Lynnville, embodies a “collection of all the things that make you want to stay home,” said Huyser. Huyser and her family worked feverishly updating Homebody’s new space with fresh paint and staging the area prior to introducing the business to the community at an early December soft opening during Lynnville’s Christmas celebration. Since then, Huyser has been ordering and organizing inventory, finishing furniture, and finalizing the details in time for Homebody’s grand opening Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 12-14. Huyser posts store and progress pictures on social media and encourages customers to like the Paint & Purpose page on Facebook, which houses the Homebody updates.
Furniture Huyser refinishes will cycle into Homebody's inventory on a regular basis. Huyser hopes the storefront will give customers more opportunities to view and purchase desired pieces for their homes.
Huyser has operated a furniture refinishing business, Paint & Purpose, from her home for eight years. She has been asked several times by loyal customers to open up a storefront as her pieces sell quickly on social media, often within minutes of posting.
In addition to the home-inspired pieces the store will feature, Huyser hopes the storefront will give customers more opportunities to pick up the perfect piece for their home.
A snapshot from the Huyser-Williams wedding showcases many of the décor pieces now available for rent for any event; Huyser hopes the availability of event décor rental will save customers money and stress.
Another major attraction of Homebody will be the event rental side of the business. Customers searching for decor for weddings, parties, showers, and so much more will need to look no further than downtown Lynnville. For a year, ChyAnne spent time accumulating beautiful and classic decor pieces, both large and small, for her daughter’s December wedding. These items are now part of Homebody’s rental inventory available immediately, and Huyser hopes this unique offering will not only save future patrons money, but also alleviate stress. “My biggest piece of advice on event planning is RENT, don’t buy!” said Huyser. She also suggests having a team available to help set up and take down decor, another service Homebody offers with their distinctive, decorative rental items.
Homebody will also offer custom-painted Bibles in any color scheme and adorned with a favorite verse if desired, thanks to the talents of ChyAnne’s oldest daughter, Dylann Williams, who has been working alongside her mother as they prepare for the store’s opening. In addition to being a talented artist, Williams is a marketing and business major at Central College and has been instrumental in assisting with the advertising aspects of Huyser’s newest venture.
Homebody will also be the local place to go for spray tans. Huyser has given spray tans from her home for many years, and now she has the perfect, private section of Homebody to apply them in-store, as well as the ability to cater to schedules. Huyser notes spray tans are typically given two days prior to an event and will last approximately five days. If customers don’t want a spray tan from Huyser, Homebody sells take-home tanning kits that will achieve the same results.
Huyser will be the main face and presence at Homebody, but she is not alone in this endeavor. Williams has been and will continue to be a big presence in the store and working behind the scenes. Huyser’s husband Shawn, son Jager, and son-in-law Nick are accustomed to being asked to move “countless pieces of furniture over the years,” said Huyser, and will continue to provide assistance when needed. And her two youngest children, Tatum and Chayse, are expert online shoppers and will assist in the selection of inventory at Homebody. “I hope we can all be involved for years to come,” said Huyser of her family’s involvement at Homebody. “My happiest moments are when I am surrounded by my family and cats, of course!” Huyser’s love for cats has been intertwined with Homebody since its inception, weaving its way into the logo, inventory, and so much more!
Following the three-day grand opening event Jan. 12-14, Huyser plans on opening the store one weekend a month from Thursday to Saturday. Specific dates will be announced on social media, and hours will be Thursday from 4-8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon. The time between when the store is open each month will give Huyser time to refinish furniture and restock the store’s inventory and create a new decorating scheme for each weekend.
“I hope we can offer all of the pieces and items that can make everyone have at least one room in their house that makes them relax the minute they walk in,” said Huyser.
