Proudly Local Business: Anne & May Design Co. in Falher

"Whether it takes two revisions or 20 revisions, we work with our clients until it's perfect. They have to love it. It'll be their home forever."

When Kayla Brochu decided to renovate her hair salon in McLennan, she asked an old friend from junior high, Josee L'Abbe, to help with the floor plan. Josee had just updated her own house and knew a trick or two about renovations.

Before long, Kayla's home renovation was next.

As Kayla started making selections for her home, she ran into a familiar rural problem. Getting samples, or even seeing products in person, wasn't easy in their small community of Falher. Grande Prairie, the closest city, is up to two hours away.

So, Kayla floated an idea: what if they did this for other people? At first, it was meant to be a hobby – something fun for Josee, a stay-at-home mom of four and Kayla, a salon owner with two kids of her own to get out of the house and flex their creativity.



Then they got very, very busy.

Built on their dream of bringing beautiful homes and renovation projects to Falher, Anne & May Design Co.officially launched on March 31, 2022. The name honours their moms, borrowing the middle names of Kayla’s mother (Anne) and Josee’s (May). "We wanted a name that meant something to us," says Josee. "So, Anne & May we became!"

Neither founder started out with formal design training. Josee learned about floor plans while planning a house build in Sherwood Park, picking up plenty from her brother-in-law, a local home builder.

Once clients started trusting them with home projects, Josee and Kayla set out to learn even more. Josee completed a floor plan course, Kayla took design courses, and the two travelled to a design convention in Las Vegas. Josee says they take the responsibility to keep learning seriously – families will live in these homes for years, so every plan needs to be done right.

Today, Anne & May does a little bit of everything. For a new build, Josee works through the floor plan before it goes to a drafter and architect, then Kayla takes on the design, from 3D renderings to trade-ready electrical, plumbing and cabinetry documents. Those documents were created with rural access in mind, so local trades can see every colour, size and finish.



Smaller jobs are welcome too, from choosing a paint colour to full furniture selections – ordering, storing and moving everything in.

That same focus on rural accessibility led to their newest venture: an online store, with furniture and décor shipped straight from warehouses in Vancouver, Ontario and the United States. Behind the scenes, a small team helps keep it all running, handling Anne & May's social media, website, 3D renderings and trade documents.

No matter the size of the project, the most rewarding part of the work for Kayla and Josee is the relief on a client's face. Sometimes fresh paint, wallpaper and new furniture are all it takes for a home to feel brand new, and unlike every other house in the area. After working so closely together to get every detail right, those relationships often last long after the project wraps up. "Our clients become family to us," says Kayla.

That sense of family runs through the wider community, too. In the Falher area, where both grew up, someone always steps in when a kid needs a ride to dance or hockey. Josee says it’s a part of living in a community filled with genuine people.

Looking ahead, the pair want to grow their remote work. A client in Vermilion found them on Instagram and booked a virtual session, and in about three hours they designed her entire nursery. They've even designed a custom home near Cochrane without ever seeing it or meeting the homeowner in person.

In time, they hope to build brand awareness and bring more remote designers onto the team to reach even more people.



For two friends who started out just trying to get their hands on a few samples, Anne & May Design Co. has become proof that great design doesn't need a big-city address.