Refresh & Renew
I have been blessed to own Bellacara for what will be 19 years this March. I've moved locations, opened a second store, closed a second store, and made small changes to the current space over the years. The store has seen several different chandeliers over the years and display tables have come and gone, but otherwise things have remained the same for 11 years. Not even the paint has changed.Now that my children are older, I've begun working in the store more frequently. It's amazing how you see things differently when you're in a space day after day. I realized that all the bottles lined up like soldiers can feel very overwhelming. The lack of storage space also presented challenges, and as much as I have loved the custom gray colored walls, I'm ready for change.When I started looking at options I kept gravitating to light and bright colors, whitewashed woods, and glass with brass accents. I want the space to feel lighter so that the product can shine.I started painting the walls a Benjamin Moore color called Pewter. It's essentially a white with a gray undertone. The minute it started to go up on the walls, I felt lighter. I selected new light fixtures with the help of a talented designer in Rehoboth (if anyone needs a designer for their beach house, call me and I'll connect you). She also opened me up to the idea of wallpaper. I ultimately went with tone-on-tone seagrass because I wanted to avoid the noise of a print.I also decided against a built-in unit. Retail is hard and you never know where you'll end up. Fixtures I could take with me seemed more practical. Whitewashed wood, tone-on-tone white and oyster seagrass paper, brass elements, and glass ended up the final plan. Lighter, brighter, and airier is the vibe I'm hoping to achieve.
It's been a bit challenging to keep the store open while I'm in the process of renovating, but when a girl needs her C. E. Ferulic serum, she does not want to hear about wallpaper! I wanted to thank you all for your support during this time and give you a sneak peek on the finishes. I hope you'll all like the finished product!