Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Welcome and thank you for stopping by!

A long (and sometimes exhausting, especially for my very patient family) project has finally come to fruition. I have been savoring a secret and it's been VERY hard to keep it under wraps. Today, after many months of dreaming, creating, imagining, and planning, planning, planning...I am finally ready for the big reveal, I think. By nature, I am not a patient person. I have wanted to tell everyone for quite some time (since February!!) but I knew, in the interest of not confusing customers into thinking we were closing, writing and submitting press releases, tweaking the website 37 gazillion times (and counting), plus all of the other "little things you don't think of" that take "more time than you thought" to change...I had to be patient.
Ever since taking over the reins of White Cottage I have felt a desire to change the name and also the look. DON'T WORRY...there will always be a place in my heart AND shop for white furniture. I absolutely love the look of a newly painted piece and a recycled life born again. However, this was someone else's concept for a store not mine. The time has come for me to follow my vision. So several months ago I began the process of defining "my look" to myself. I would analyze and scrutinize everything that caught my eye in a magazine, while shopping or antiquing and even driving. What was it about that weathered 1951 Ford pick-up that called to me? Why do I purposefully turn the A/C off and open windows to let me white gauzy curtains blow in the breeze? And that vintage porch glider in town with layer upon layer of it's annual summer paint jobs beckoning it's lucky owner to sit a spell with a glass of iced tea with a mint sprig from the garden, what about that Amish clothesline (on the eastside of St Rt 13 on the way to Lake Erie, you know the one) that stretches from house to barn with blue jeans and glorious old, sun-faded quilts flapping in the wind? Then I had acknowledge my love of packaging. My husband has always said I am a marketer's dream in regards to packaging. You could put a rock inside a box, design a sleek, simple, gorgeous packaging concept for said box and I would buy it. There is something about a well dressed product that just speaks to me.
It was just as important to note things that did nothing for me...I would have to know exactly what I did not want in the shop thereby curbing any impulsive buys. First and foremost, anything plastic, (unless it's been recycled and repurposed into a new and useful product). Next, anything with deep, dark brown stain under shiny lacquer. I prefer the look and ease of pieces with original paint. The striations in the paint, the crackling and timeworn areas, the gray over the aqua over the pink, and each color making himself seen...makes my heart sing. (It might surprise some of my customers to know that I only have one piece of furniture in my house with new white paint...all others proudly wear their perfectly patina'ed, ages-old paint jobs.)
I still prefer what I would refer to as a muted palette, not only for a more relaxing home environment, but also in the store. It is my intent to ensure that every shopping trip to Urban Farmhouse is, and always will be, an experience that relaxes and refreshes. I have heard it too many times (and would be a fool to ignore it) from so many of my wonderful customers that "being in the shop" is therapeutic to them. The last thing I want to do is assault you with a riot of overbearing colors that makes your head spin when you come in the door. So old original paints, old raw woods and a sprinkling of new white all mingling with vintage, decorative finds completes one part of the new look...the farmhouse part.
I am so excited to see designers and "to the trade only" companies incorporating vintage details into brand spanking new products. Some stay true to reproducing a replica, others become more sleek and clean in line while still others spin a classic design feature into a new product. Case in point, some gorgeous new pendant lamps I recently ordered and anxiously await. Streamlined, little mercury glass shades house a 60-watt bulb. Beautiful, simple, elegant...urban.
And so...an Urban Farmhouse was born. I do hope you will enjoy the adventure right along with me.
Oh, hey, it's not a secret anymore...so feel free to pass it on to two or three (or twenty!) of your most deserving of friends, they, and most certainly I, thank you for it.



P.S. Bookmark or add to your favorites the Urban Farmhouse website, you never know when you might need a little retail therapy, sometimes it's at 3 in the morning. Also, bookmark or add the new blog to your favorites, this is where I will post everything you want and need to know about on-goings at the shop including photos of new arrivals. Thanks again! Hope to see or hear from you soon!

14 comments:

Garden Antqs Vintage said...

So glad to hear you are following YOUR DREAM and just stepping the foot prints of someone's dream. Many blessings to you for your new adventure, T

Anonymous said...

Everything is beautiful! You have out done yourself again. I cant wait to come in. The name is very fitting. Maybe Thursday!!!
Lori

Anonymous said...

Wow!! I have tears in my eyes. This is so beautiful. Thank you for doing this new venture. It's amazing. I am going to make it a point to come see it!!! Patsy B

Anonymous said...

Lisa,

Visited the new website AWESOME! I loved it. I pray God blesses the new name and all that goes with it!

Dina

Anonymous said...

I love your new page. Very nice. Pam....Arlington Texas

Anonymous said...

Nice marketing idea! Of course, I loved White Cottage but you probably will bring in new customers and we "white" lovers will still be around. Peggy in Michigan

Anonymous said...

It is lovely, just lovely.. thanks for sharing.. Brenda Shrider Eureka, CA

Anonymous said...

Hi Lisa~ WOW!!! I must say, that when I saw the "subject line" of your recent email and it read "goodbye to White Cottage" I about fell off of my chair...needed CPR to revive me!! However, before I called 911 I managed to get to your new web site and see this incredible masterpiece you have created. You might be a CEO in Thornville but you rival the likes of any CEO in New York, LA or Paris!!!! You are just SOOOO creative!! You are like a "great book" and I can't wait to turn to the next page. Amazing your creative talents and how Blessed we all are to have you in Thornville (and not in Paris!!!) I am still learning my way around your web site...trying to figure out how to "buy buy buy" but give me time, I'll get there! Tell me, can we order from your site and send to someone (like on line gift giving)? Maybe had I spent more time viewing your site I would already know the answer to that question but I got so excited, I just had to send you this email! You certainly live with style, grace and a freshness to life that all of us absorb and enjoy! Bless you, my sweet friend, on this beautiful new journey. Thanks for inviting us all to come along! With love, Marilyn H

sweetpea said...

Hi Lisa! Congrats on your new venture! It's exciting and so fab when you listen to your heart! Good luck to you and by the by, I just bought the last pair of Autumn Wellies. Yay for me!

Blessings,
Shelley

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Lisa!
This is very exciting! The White Cottage has been one of my most favorite shops and I'm looking forward to seeing it as the Urban Farmhouse! Your photos are wonderful and your merchandise is fabulous. I will put your blog name on the sidebar on my blog for friends to come and take a peek! Congrats on your new name!!
Sherry of Edie Marie's Attic

Anonymous said...

Lisa,
I like others almost burst out in tears at the thought of White Cottage closing, but now that I am aware it is only taking on a new form I am much relieved. :) I am also thrilled to see that there will be some online shopping in my future since I only make it to Thornville about 3-4 times a year. (Although I am thinking about making the journey this Saturday after your last e-mail.) Good luck in this newest venture-I know it will be an amazing success!
Kacey M.

Anonymous said...

So very well done Lisa! Love the name and the look.
xo Roberta

Art by Ronda Juniper Ray said...

Good morning! How delighted I was to stumble across your site this morning!

Congratulations on achieving YOUR dream. There is nothing quite like the sweet sweat of making your own dreams come true, and your shop looks truly, truly wonderful.

I've been a Columbus girl my whole life! Last year we moved to Michigan so I could paint full time, but only for summers -- I'll be back in Columbus in the fall and you can bet my first stop will be Urban Farmhouse! I can hardly wait!

Save a few awesome windows for me!
:-)))))

Warmest regards and much success,
Ronda

Anonymous said...

This looks absolutely fabulous! I can't wait to come in. I think this look will attract even more loyal customers!

Alex
Pickerington, OH