Legacy Reimagined
Expanding Spaces and Visions at the Indiana Design Center.
Founded over a decade ago in Perkinsville, Indiana, Open Gate Design maintains a spirit of small-town hospitality in its design of welcoming, experiential and memorable spaces.
Open Gate Design is turning the page on a milestone year with a soon-to-open, first-floor studio at the Indiana Design Center. The expanded space reflects the firm’s growth and its client-first philosophy. For owner and principal designer Michael Hansen, the move “feels like a natural next step.” It brings the studio’s history full circle, combining the inspiration of its earliest days with the elevated design direction that defines Open Gate today.
The firm’s story began a decade ago in Perkinsville, Indiana, where a small boutique on the White River attracted thousands of visitors each winter. Families came from across the region to explore its curated décor and immersive holiday displays, transforming the shop into a seasonal destination. That chapter was shaped in large part by co-owner and founder Julie Ricker, whose vision and dedication laid the foundation for what Open Gate has become. Hansen is quick to note that none of this would be possible without her influence, as well as the incredible team that continues to keep the many moving parts of the business in motion. The spirit of hospitality and magic they created in Perkinsville left a lasting imprint on the brand, shaping Hansen’s vision for how design should feel: welcoming, experiential, and memorable. While the business has evolved, those values remain at its core.
The firm’s story began a decade ago in Perkinsville, Indiana, where a small boutique on the White River attracted thousands of visitors each winter. Families came from across the region to explore its curated décor and immersive holiday displays, transforming the shop into a seasonal destination. That chapter was shaped in large part by co-owner and founder Julie Ricker, whose vision and dedication laid the foundation for what Open Gate has become. Hansen is quick to note that none of this would be possible without her influence, as well as the incredible team that continues to keep the many moving parts of the business in motion. The spirit of hospitality and magic they created in Perkinsville left a lasting imprint on the brand, shaping Hansen’s vision for how design should feel: welcoming, experiential, and memorable. While the business has evolved, those values remain at its core.
The new Carmel studio has been designed with intention, creating separate areas for retail and for the working design library, two experiences that will complement one another. Visitors will be able to browse a tightly curated mix of furnishings, textiles, wallcoverings, and styling pieces. Prospective clients will see how concepts come together in real time. “We’ve created separate areas for shopping and for design. The expanded space also gives us room to collaborate more closely with clients,” Hansen says. “Ultimately, this move is about elevating the client experience while continuing to grow creatively as a team.”
That experience begins long before the install. Every project at Open Gate starts with conversation and discovery, followed by a tailored proposal and a planning phase that can include room boards, schematics, finish selections, and furnishings curation. Each step culminates in a polished delivery and reveal. The new showroom will enhance every stage, allowing clients to see and touch materials and explore options with the design team’s guidance. It is all intentionally sensory. “The atmosphere should touch all the senses, the look of carefully curated pieces, the textures you want to reach out and feel, the subtle fragrance in the air, and even the music setting the mood,” Hansen says.
While the firm is best known for sophisticated residential interiors, Hansen emphasizes that Open Gate’s scope extends well beyond private homes. The team also designs commercial environments, from wellness to hospitality, applying the same creativity and rigor to programming, interior architecture, and furnishings. With an in-house architectural interior design team and strategic partnerships across the design community, the studio is laying groundwork for an even more seamless client journey. “Truly, anything is possible. If a client can dream it, we’ll figure out how to make it happen,” Hansen notes.
As Open Gate approaches its 10th anniversary this fall, the soon-to-open showroom will capture the balance between past and future. It will reintroduce the warmth and tradition that once drew holiday crowds, while offering clients a refined, luxury design experience. The new space promises to honor the legacy of Open Gate while setting the stage for its next chapter.
Find Open Gate’s new showroom on the first floor at the Indiana Design Center, or explore more at opengatedesign.com and follow
@opengatedesign_ or @opengateshop_ on Instagram.
That experience begins long before the install. Every project at Open Gate starts with conversation and discovery, followed by a tailored proposal and a planning phase that can include room boards, schematics, finish selections, and furnishings curation. Each step culminates in a polished delivery and reveal. The new showroom will enhance every stage, allowing clients to see and touch materials and explore options with the design team’s guidance. It is all intentionally sensory. “The atmosphere should touch all the senses, the look of carefully curated pieces, the textures you want to reach out and feel, the subtle fragrance in the air, and even the music setting the mood,” Hansen says.
While the firm is best known for sophisticated residential interiors, Hansen emphasizes that Open Gate’s scope extends well beyond private homes. The team also designs commercial environments, from wellness to hospitality, applying the same creativity and rigor to programming, interior architecture, and furnishings. With an in-house architectural interior design team and strategic partnerships across the design community, the studio is laying groundwork for an even more seamless client journey. “Truly, anything is possible. If a client can dream it, we’ll figure out how to make it happen,” Hansen notes.
As Open Gate approaches its 10th anniversary this fall, the soon-to-open showroom will capture the balance between past and future. It will reintroduce the warmth and tradition that once drew holiday crowds, while offering clients a refined, luxury design experience. The new space promises to honor the legacy of Open Gate while setting the stage for its next chapter.
Find Open Gate’s new showroom on the first floor at the Indiana Design Center, or explore more at opengatedesign.com and follow
@opengatedesign_ or @opengateshop_ on Instagram.
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