Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Re-duse, Re-use, and Re-merchandise!



Re-purposed oxidized industrial table.  Perfect for mixed-use, indoor/outdoor setting.
Fabulously large wooden porthole taken off an old ship and fashioned into a mirror.  Hung as a chandelier or wall decor, it's a grand statement piece.


1870's law partner's desk from England paired with a mid-century French Provincial chest of drawers.
Framed stereographs of Mt. Hood climbers on a surveying adventure.  Bronze chief head book ends with great patina.

Today, we've been open for a total of one month to the public!  To celebrate, we decided to re-merchandise (move things around, take things out/in, Phil lifts things while I direct orientation) as to give our space a face lift. 

It'll take some time before we can get the word out that we're open, but the turn out has been phenomenal, so far.  People have stopped by on their way to Pete's Wine Shop next door, and are constantly saying, "Wow, we had no idea this was here! Bellevue really needs a place like this!" 

And we smile.

...but that doesn't beat the designers and decorators that were literally beating down our doors to open since they saw the butcher paper peeled off the windows.  Therefore, it is our duty as retailers to keep it interesting, refreshing and new.  You don't always need new stuff, just new ideas. 

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Meet B. Alegre




Last summer, we took an architecture practicum at the UW together.  In our goal to appease our curiosity in design and build, we wound up spending up to 20 hours a day in the studio drafting,  building models and rendering elevations.  Three months and 8 credits later, we realized the commitment necessary to pursue a masters in architecture, and walked away with a new respect for the lifestyle and a sound association with balsa wood.

Amidst the chaos of 4am to-the-wire-listening-to-UB40-while-gluing-cardboard-and-balsa-wood-for-a-presentation-to-volunteer-grad-students-and-local-architects (eeeeeeeeeee!!) we couldn't shake the OCD high of scoring fine lines with an exact-o-knife and a straight edge.  In effect, the mark of a hands-on business was born:

1.  We pick out only the finest materials (sheets of balsa wood) at our local Utrecht Art Supply

2.  Pick up our breve mezzo americano's at Bauhaus across the street

3.  Out of heavy concentration and high metabolism, Phil takes his shirt off and plants himself at our  island counter

4.  On the gridded cutting mat, each sheet of wood is carefully measured and marked for precision cutting

5.  All thirteen 2"x 1.75" cards are laid out and hand-stamped against the grain to prevent ink blots, though sometimes we don't mind their artistic effect

6.  We inspect them for readability and fraying edges as they dry

7.   I tell Phil to put his shirt back on and we walk to Top Pot Doughnuts down the street for a job well done






Friday, May 20, 2011

Aestheticizing The Masses





We're learning that the way you display your product makes all the difference when it comes to selling your product.  Might seem like the most basic step of Retail 101, but I'm telling y'all, you can set out your mom's fine china in a garage sale and have people walk by all-day-long.  The instant you place them on a french provincial table dressed with linen and a vase of white lilies, you're selling a look and we're talking Marketing 301.

In this industry it is essential to inform your market by creating vignettes that aestheticize your product.  Yes, we have acquired thousands of dollars in inventory, but we'd be out of a job if we believe that a quality piece should sell itself.

 

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Owning Old Things Is Cool.


I've been in love with maps and globes since I immigrated from the Philippines in 1989.  Flying overseas at the age of three, I developed a distinct memory of that experience.

The wonderment of seeing the ENTIRE world on the face of a rotating ball is still not lost on me. When I find maps dated before my time, I am immediately dwarfed by the realization that even something as solid as the ground we walk on, can be encapsulated in a globe that induces emotions relevant to our history.

Owning old things is cool. They remind you of a past that can only be present in the moment by wearing your dad's over sized vintage sweater that's pilling from wash or dancing to Nina Simone as she sings "Little Girl Blue" on your vinyl record player.

Any found object or antique we find must be worth the time we put into curating its aesthetic, but nothing we do can create the nostalgia of memories that illuminate it.

Friday, May 6, 2011

It Takes a Village....



 

When you start a business, routine is your friend and consistency is your ally.  Bauhaus Books & Coffee is one beast of a machine, and Phil and I are loyally addicted customers.  Everyday, on our way out to anywhere, we hand over our tin to-go mugs filled with two spoonfuls of our paleo-friendly organic coconut palm sugar, getting our daily dose of shit-talkin' baristas and damn good espresso. We love it.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Friends and Family Opening Event

Debbie Nordstrom knows how to throw a party!  Our host is also the owner of Haystack Antiques, which has been open for over a week now.  It's been great participating in this very significant part of retail; getting the doors open and people in!  Though overwhelming at times, it was so worth it to see the excitement in our friends and family's faces when they saw the fruits of our labor. 
The grand opening on the 21st of this May is an open invitation to all, so if you haven't personally received a flier, email us and we'll get one to you right away.  This is another catered event so bring your appetites for good food and wine among friends.  








Sometimes a new perspective can help you re-imagine, discover, and explore your own space.  These photos were taken by a good friend of ours, Cheryl Cogburn, during the friends and family opening of Haystacks.  She is incredibly talented and has an honest way of seeing things, Phil and I are both blessed to have such creative people in our circle of support.