Photo by Renata Haidle

Article by Jennifer Miller

Photos courtesy of Tiff Blades 

Thirty-eight years is a long time in any industry, but especially in one where trends seem to change with every season. For Tiff Blades, owner of Davidson Home Furnishings & Design, the anniversary is certainly something to celebrate. But when she reflects on nearly four decades in business, she doesn't immediately think about furniture collections, design awards, or even the countless homes the company has helped create. She thinks about her mom. 

"My mom built this business on pennies," Blades says. "Together we worked to build it year by year, and when she retired, I found a way to reinvent, evolve, and build our business to where we are today." 

It's a legacy she carries with gratitude and humility, built not just on beautiful interiors but on relationships, integrity, and a genuine desire to help people create homes they'll love for years to come. 

Trends Will Always Come and Go 

Spend enough time in the design industry and one thing becomes clear: everything eventually comes back around. Blades laughs when she remembers attending furniture markets as a teenager and young adult, excited about what she thought were brand-new trends. Her mom would smile and say, "Been there, done that." 

Today, Blades finds herself saying the same thing. One of the latest furniture markets featured the return of tapestry fabrics, something younger designers were excited to discover for the first time. "It's fun to watch," she says. "My peers and I aren't quite sure if we want to do it again." 

The story is a reminder that trends are exactly that: temporary. Over the years, Blades has watched styles swing from traditional to contemporary, through the gray-everything era, and now back toward warmer colors, richer patterns, and timeless details. None of it surprises her. 

Photo by Nathan Satran

What has remained consistent is that the homes people continue to love decades later were never designed around whatever happened to be popular at the moment. "There is an art to good design," Blades says. "Buy classic pieces that will stand the test of time and stay true to colors and styles that you love. You can introduce touches of trends, but investing in timeless pieces is always a smart decision." 

She knows because she's seen it firsthand. "I have walked into homes that we created over twenty years ago that are still beautiful today." 

Designing for the People Who Live There 

One of the biggest misconceptions about hiring an interior designer is that the designer's style becomes the home's style. Blades sees her role very differently. "Our job is to interpret our client's individual style and create a home that represents them. Not their designer." 

That starts with listening. Every project begins by getting to know the people behind the home: how they live, what matters to them, how they gather with family, and how they want their spaces to feel. 

The goal isn't simply to make a home look beautiful. It's to create one that feels warm, welcoming, functional, and deeply personal. "I think the biggest compliment a homeowner and designer can receive is when someone walks in and says, 'It is so comfortable.'" 

That idea comes up again and again throughout Blades' philosophy. Today's homeowners want beautiful spaces, but just as importantly, they want livable homes. They want guests to feel at ease. They want children to make memories. They want rooms that work for everyday life, not just special occasions. In other words, they want a home, not a showroom. 

Photo by Nathan Satran

Invest Where It Matters 

After nearly four decades helping clients furnish their homes, Blades has one piece of practical advice she returns to again and again: "Buy once and buy well." It's a phrase her mother was known for, and one she still believes wholeheartedly. 

Quality upholstery is what she encourages clients to invest in. Sofas and chairs are where families gather, where conversations happen, where movies are watched, and where memories are made. Those are the pieces worth keeping. Everything else can evolve. 

Accessories, lamps, artwork, rugs, and paint colors offer opportunities to refresh a space without replacing its foundation. "The biggest mistake," Blades says, "is buying trendy, buying poor quality, or buying what everyone else has." 

Instead, she encourages homeowners to create spaces that reflect their own story. "Your furnishings and home tell your story," she says. "So make it interesting." 

Relationships Are the Foundation 

While furniture and design have changed over the years, one thing at Davidson Home Furnishings & Design has not: relationships. Blades believes every client who walks through the door becomes more than a customer. "They become a friend." 

That philosophy has resulted in something she considers one of the greatest privileges of her career: designing homes for multiple generations of the same family. "I've had the privilege of working with grandparents, their children, and now their children. It's humbling." 

She credits the longevity of Davidson Home Furnishings & Design to those relationships, along with faith, a dedicated team, and a commitment to serving the Billings community. Supporting local schools, youth sports, nonprofits, and community organizations isn't separate from the business. It's simply part of being good neighbors. 

A Home That Reflects You 

As design continues to evolve, Blades is encouraged by what she's seeing. People are becoming less interested in copying what everyone else has and more interested in creating homes that feel personal. 

She sees clients embracing meaningful antiques, collected artwork, unique furniture, warmer colors, layered patterns, and spaces filled with character rather than perfection. That's a direction she's happy to see. 

After all, the homes that leave the biggest impression aren't necessarily the trendiest ones. They're the ones that tell a story. "The one piece of advice I have always expressed to my clients," Blades says, "is to design your home for YOU." After 38 years, it may also be the secret to creating a home you'll still love decades from now. 

Originally printed in the August 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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