Six years ago, Derrick and I found ourselves at a crossroads—he was unemployed at 49, and I was a stay-at-home mom with little job experience. We knew we wanted more out of life, so we took a leap of faith and moved our family from Portland to Bend, Oregon. People thought we were crazy, but we didn’t let that stop us.
One day, as I showed our realtor our Portland home before selling, she asked, “Who did the design work?” When I said, “Me,” she looked me in the eyes and said, “Why aren’t you doing this for a living? People will pay you for this!” It was a sign. Without Derrick’s income, I decided it was now or never. And so, in 2018, Allison Clouser Interiors was born.
Meanwhile, Derrick was also exploring his next chapter. We decided to renovate and sell a fixer-upper, just like we had done over the years with our own homes. It was the beginning of something bigger.
Our first project in Bend sold in just 20 days, above asking price. Derrick got his contractor’s and realtor’s licenses, and together we launched Clouz Houz in 2021.
Today, we design and renovate homes, combining our talents and passions. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but we’ve learned to embrace change and trust the process. Life may be unpredictable, but it’s never too late to make it what you truly want.
Our motto? Life is Short. Make it Beautiful. 💫
Whatever stage you’re at, know this: It’s never too late to start over, to follow your passion, and to create the life you deserve. We believe in the power of reinvention—and in the beauty of starting anew.