When Sarah Green was in middle school, she developed a love of baking and dreamed of one day owning her own bakery.

So after two years attending Oregon State University, with the intent of earning a degree in animal science, Green left school in a change of heart.

Although her dream of owning a bakery had faded by then, there was one thing she remained certain of: she wanted to own her own business.

“I’ve never had dreams of doing anything else,” she said. “I just decided to jump and not waste anymore time.”

That leap has turned into Sweet Honey Esthetics, a skincare service and retail shop that provides facials, waxing and body treatments in the heart of downtown North Bend out of a home Green shares with her fiance, Jay.

While at Oregon State, Green, a graduate of Mount Si High School, had a moment of self-discovery and gained an interest in makeup. She left college with an intent to enroll in beauty school.

Instead, however, she enrolled at Euro Institute in Renton to study Skin Care Esthetics, completing 750 hours of coursework, not to mention gaining a license and taking a six-week course on how to run a small business.

After that, all that was left was finding a place to set up shop. While the plan originally involved looking for a place to lease, Green’s mom, Heidi, who works in real estate industry, found a single-story home along Main Avenue in the heart of downtown North Bend for her daughter.

Over the majority of the last year, the family renovated and gutted the house, converting the space into a live-work house where Green both lives and runs her business.

Photo by Conor Wilson/Valley Record Sarah Green poses in her home studio at Sweet Honey Esthetics.

“For clients that come in, it’s a more unique experience, it’s a more personal experience for them,” she said. “It’s more comforting to be in a space knowing it’s a personal environment.”

Since opening officially on May 1, Green said business has continued to grow as word spreads.

For the lifelong North Bend resident, having that success in her hometown makes it even more meaningful.

“I grew up in the Valley, I’ve seen the community grow and I’m excited to put my touch on the community,” she said. “I’m glad I was able to put my roots down here.”

Sweet Honey Esthetics at 213 Main Avenue North is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made online at sweethoneyesthetics.com.