BUFFALO, N.Y. — A small-business owner in Buffalo has turned her passion for home decor into a thriving, 2-year-old business.

What You Need To Know

  • Courtney Nelson-Benton, founder of Elle James Decor, tells Spectrum News what inspired her to build her home decor business two years ago
  • Her latest endeavor includes virtual Sage Bundling workshops through the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
  • Nelson-Benton worked in higher education for nearly a decade before striking out on her own
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Courtney Nelson-Benton created Elle James Decor after a decade-long career in higher education. She worked for schools around Buffalo until her lifelong hobby into a new company.

"Back in college, I used to just do the most with making sure the space was beautiful and homey, and you just felt very relaxed," she says. "Like it was a sanctuary when you got home."

Nelson-Benton got her LLC on Thursday, and she's opening a brick-and-mortar location on Hertel Avenue later this month. While she's running a business, she also wants her customers to feel great about where they live.

"If you look around your space, and you see something that really brings you happiness or makes you smile, that’s going to affect how you go about the rest of your day," she said.