Amanda Burgess-Proctor, Ph.D., is owner and founder of Dee Dee's. She has a life-long love of antiques  courtesy of her mother Dee, the shop's namesake. She enjoys refinishing furniture, but especially loves treasure-hunting,  meeting and talking to people, and researching the history of each piece she acquires. Amanda is a criminologist and was until recently a university professor. She enjoys running, live music, and evidence-based crime policy almost as much as she loves antiques. She lives in Royal Oak with her husband and three teenage daughters.

Marilynn Peterson is owner of Maribel Designs (and Amanda's mother-in-law). She has been sewing since she was 10 years old. Her love for sewing came from observing and assisting her mother, Maribel, who sewed anything her family needed. Marilynn’s childhood projects were simple and later evolved into sewing most of her clothes throughout her middle and high school years, and even took on sewing all of her bridesmaids' dresses made of velvet and lace!  Life got busy for Marilynn once she had a family and worked outside the home. In retirement, Marilynn once again found time for her sewing passion and hasn’t stopped!  She loves creating unique throw pillows from vintage and vintage-inspired fabric for Dee Dee’s, and hopes her handcrafted pillows and textiles will find a place in your home! 

Casey Lake-Rosseau has been around furniture refinishing her whole life. Her grandparents were always finding things on the side of the road, fixing them up, and selling them. Her parents were constantly painting, staining, and building furniture projects for friends and family. She took a leap of faith and started refinishing furniture full time in 2016 when she opened her store, Lake Home Decor, in Berkley. She took a break from furniture refinishing to start her family, but is ready to be back in the swing of things and excited to be part of the Dee Dee's team.

Liz Tillander began reimagining furniture in 2016 after taking a chalk paint class to learn how to transform her pickled oak cabinets. That project stirred a long-forgotten passion that began when she was a child, tinkering in her papa’s workshop, immersed in the scents of sawdust, varnish, and the wood-burning stove. Liz loves restoring  pieces' original beauty, or using paints and finishes to modernize and enhance pieces. Through the process of restoration, Liz listens for the “soul” of the furniture, crafting a name and short story about each piece. Raised in Royal Oak, Liz now lives in Clarkston with her husband and twin children. Liz is a licensed social worker by day, serving as the deputy director of the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice at the School of Social Work at Wayne State University.

Debi Weathers, owner of Vintage Accents, specializes in restoring the beauty of the past and adding character to any style. Debi has always had a passion for decorating and has been restoring unique vintage treasures since 2008. After a career in the auto industry, she most recently sold her items in a specialty children's boutique in downtown Birmingham. Debi feels that there is nothing more exciting than transforming an old, tired piece of furniture into a one-of-a-kind treasure that will bring a lifetime of new memories. She helps her clients appreciate that reviving pieces they already  own adds a special beauty to their home. She currently lives in Farmington Hills and is excited to bring her talents to the Dee Dee's team.

 

Kelly Dunn is the owner of Bell & Key Redesign. Her first experience refinishing furniture was in college when she purchased and painted a dresser from Salvation Army. She has always been a sucker for before and after transformations. Since then she’s been breathing new life into pieces of furniture, whether custom pieces or ones she found on the curb for the trash! She also has started using her talents discovered through furniture refinishing to customize her home through DIY interior projects. She lives in Berkley with her husband, their toddler, and dog. She is a certified physician assistant by day.
 

Ms. Pâté is Amanda's beloved porch goose. Always carefully attired in festive fashions that change with the seasons, the weather, and major holidays, she resides on the front porch of Amanda's home in Royal Oak. Follow her on Instagram here.