I've been looking forward to these posts since the day we started renovations. I'm so excited to share the details of what we did in the three months that we spent re-styling our new store!
For newish readers, here's a little bit of back story… In August we purchased a large, fully stocked vintage store. It had been in business for more than 20 years under two different names (Nellie Dunn's and The Style). My sister and I started shopping at this store when I was in Jr. High. We always loved it. In high school I tried to get a job there (and every other vintage store in our town… ha!). My first local store was right across the street and we were good friends with the previous owner. It was always my dream store because the window frontage is so huge and pretty. I shopped there all the time, so it was a wonderful day in my life when the owner came over to my place and let me know that she was ready to retire and sell her store. In about a months time the details came together and we were signing the papers and getting the keys. So,that's a quick version of how we came to own the shop.
Next we gave ourselves a three month deadline to remodel, restyle and open our doors. I was in love with the inventory that we acquired (it's seriously killer and super deep), but I wanted to give the shop a new look that was more fitted to the Red Velvet demographic. Here are some before and after photos and details about our project. Enjoy!
Within the first week Jeremy (with the help of several strong friends) moved every single piece of clothing up stairs. I wanted to start with a blank canvas and I wanted to clean and retag every item before bringing it back into the store. We deep cleaned and painted many pieces of furniture white and gave the pink walls a fresh coat of white paint. We designed a brand new floor plan and soon after that started to bring down vintage pieces. We did *so much* laundry and became experts at removing stains. Our wonderful seamstress Courtney hemmed and restored dozens of dresses for the shop. We had such a great time building displays and merchandising the shop. The display pictured above is the first thing you see when entering the store.
I loved this display case from the moment I saw it! I knew immediately that I wanted to cover the back with vintage floral wall paper and display pretty housewares inside it. I spent an afternoon lining it and my dad cut the astroturf to line the bottom of the case (he did this for all our cases, it's so cute and a good visual connecting point between different displays).
I'll be back later today to share more from our shop makeover. Thanks for sharing this with me. XO! elsie *'after' photos by team rhodes and opening photo by float away studios.
58 Comments
WOW! I can’t believe the difference between the old store and the *new* store! You are such an artist, and it definitely shows here:) I can’t wait to come visit!
http://www.maydae.com
You guys worked so hard, and it totally paid off, the shop looks so much more pretty, and fresh now ๐ I love it! totally has your touch of cute creative all over it!
I so want to visit badly!
ps: you and Emma look beautiful, kind of like living shop mannequins! hehe ๐
I am in love with your store, and was sooo excited to see the makeover on Design*Sponge. Love that you’re going to post more here!!
LEXoxoโฅ
It looks fantastic! You did so much in such a short period of time! You did an amazing job x
oh my goodness! your shop is lovely. i’d shop there for sure!
I want to take a road trip just to see your shop. continually inspired by you and this blog. absolutely fantastic.
What a makeover! I wonder what the previous owner thinks of your shop now?
OH!!! this is so fun seeing it from then to NOW! congrats :))
xo.
http://dropsofjupiterBLOG.com
You’ve done a fantastic job, so much brighter and more inviting! Sigh, I want your life!
LOVE the wallpaper. your store is lovely!
Ohh!! What an incredible makeover!
Your displays are so so gorgeous! <3
x
Iยดm so happy for you, itยดs so nice that you are sharing this with your readers, like always…you inspire me to keep going after my dreams ๐
so cool to see the before and afters, you did a rad job ๐
Seeing the before and after of how you renovated the store space is really neat! I love how you took the store and completely updated it… It really puts a fresh spin on the “vintage store look” (if you know what I mean… ;)! Can’t wait to see part 2!
โฅ Casey | blog
Love the pics! The before and afters are amazing! Looking forward to part ii ๐
this is so fun to see! the transformation is incredible. thanks for posting this, love to see the history.
lishyloo
It looks SOOOO great! I wish I lived closer so I could go see it in person.
I can’t believe the difference! The style of the store now is so polished, but still has a welcoming, handmade feel. You guys did such a fantastic job and I love it! Can’t wait to stop by in a few weeks!
lovely! you guys are such visionaries. you did an awesome job!
ps: i have that yellow travel case! i keep balls of yarn it in!
how exciting!! your “after” pictures definitely are more appealing than the “before”! looking forward to seeing more!… best of luck in your endeavors!!!
wonderful! i think your store is just perfect!
amazing! you all did such a wonderful job!:) would love it if you all would share some of your stain removal secrets! i hate having to turn down pretty things at the thrift store because of a stain or two.:(
I really wish I could visit your store. ๐
LOVE this! Love the streamlined, polished look and the brightness the white paint brought to the shop! I’m hoping to visit in the next year (maybe our family vacation!)!
You guys did such a remarkable job!
beautiful store! wish i could see it in person. i love all the details.
New-ish reader here!
Many congratulations on owning your dream store!! I always fantasized about owning a certain vintage establishment in Big D~ !
Absolutely gorgeous, Elsie! And incredibly inspiring. I’m so happy for you all, I’d love to visit someday!
It looks amazing! You guys blow me away with your eye for style and ability to actually see it all out. I love it and would LOVE to visit in person someday!
I love what you’ve done with the shop! I feel like just diving into all that vintage loveliness! ๐ Hopefully I can make a visit one day in person, not just virtually! Muchos muchos โฅโฅโฅ
Mervi from My best friend jules
Oh my, I love what you’ve done with the store! It looks so fresh. You’ve done a great job ๐
Beautiful and inspirational. I can’t wait to add vintage fabric to line shelves at home, I’ve been dreaming of doing it and this inspired me to get it done!
Your store is such an inspiration! Love the reno’s. This post reminds me of the interview post I did on my blog this morning. It’s also a wonderfully funky little shop… in Maine. I’d love to know what you think!
jo @ everydayjuju.blogspot.com
Your store looks rocking! I swear I’ll make it there someday from snowy Minnesnowta! Perhaps when I do my 50 zoos through 50 states road trip! See you soon!
George
http://raisedbywolvesblog.blogspot.com
Wow! It looks spectacular and I can’t wait to stop by! What a difference…and a lot of hard work that went into it. So exciting!
Sarah Jane
http://lovelychaos.typepad.com
It looks so amazing! You all did such a wonderful job…and it sounds like you had so much fun along the way. Can’t wait to see more peeks. All you girls are such an inspiration! ๐
xo. Amy
love it! you are right, that display case is wonderful; and the floral wall paper made it even better!
I love it! It looks so cute and fun! I wish I lived closer to MO so I could stop by! ๐
Wow Elsie! Your shop looks seriously amazing! After having followed your blog through all these busy months it is lovely to see the great results. Congrats and hope you & your sis have the best time ever with your sparking new and beautiful shop! X
oh! You must have found a lot of that vintage wallpaper! I remember it from the journal you made! ::)
love, polly
Wow Elsie, I am absolutely in LOVE with your store! Must come by someday. Wish I lived just a tiny little bit closer.
XO
~Jo~ from The Netherlands.
I would absolutely love to visit here one day. It looks lovely, all the best!
Your styling is amazing! I love the display of cameras. I will have to come out there someday!
Congratulations on getting your dream store! It looks there was so much thought and love behind it, I’d love to check it out!
Best luck!
Wow, you did such a phenomenal job! ๐
Oh its so adorable. I would constantly shop there. ^ ^
Woah, you completely transformed it! You have such good taste.
I kinda want to sneak in there and live. Like that story about the girl who lived in the Wal-Mart only I’d be living in a cool store surrounded by all my favorite things.
looks AMAZING!!!! and the back story is wonderful! love love love ๐
Before and after photos… LOVE! I love seeing the end without lifting a finger!
I want to share a film clip that I think you and your readers would love. Its my new fave song! Owl Eyes – One Plus One http://vimeo.com/14439556
Wow! What an awesome store. I really love all the camera’s you have on display. Well done on a great job! All the best.
Amazing!!! I’m so excited for you!
You did such a great job. Seriously blown away. So proud of you both! <3
Your store is a dream come true. I love it! I wish you all the luck in the world with it, your doing such a beautiful job ๐
wow! i wish i wasn’t so far away, i’d love to visit this sop, i’d buy everything!
wow. it is unbelievable. I love it so much . Thanks for your sharing. cool .great. I sure I’ll come back soon.
The makeover is looking good. In any case, it’s pretty cool how a bit of change can refresh a store. A new look can change the persona of the place and take the business to a new direction.
Awesome!! There is a very perfect arrangements in your store. I like your way to represent the thing individually and proper way. Stay up the good work!