Street Style: Meet Kim Weiler
Kim’s life has always been on the move. The daughter of a Sears corporate executive, she relocated every 18 months—three high schools in her senior year alone. "We went from Allentown to Chicago at Christmastime. It was cold and miserable," she recalls. But when New Orleans came calling? “We said YES!” That’s where she graduated high school—with a fresh start and warmer skies.
College, too, came with twists. Her mom hoped she’d stay in New Orleans, but Kim had other plans. She began at LSU’s design program, then transferred to the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts). “My parents thought everyone at art school was weird,” she says with a laugh. “This was the Reagan era—pink hair got you kicked out of class.” But design had her heart, and after graduation, she landed a job at Katz Wheeler in Philadelphia.
She met her future husband, a government consultant, while living in Philly. They got engaged after a year and settled in Wellington, Virginia. “The irony? When we moved just across the parkway 10 years later, our kids were so upset—even though they stayed in the same school and it was a bigger house. If only they knew what all my moves were like growing up.”
Kim Weiler
Photography: Renée C. Gage Photography
Self-styled; Jacket by Libertine
Shoot location: Patina Polished Living, Old Town
Kim’s two sons, Austin and Grayson, shaped her world. “Austin is 34 now and works for the State Department.” Her younger son, Grayson, passed away just before the pandemic. “I threw myself into the business. I needed to be busy. I needed to be here,” she says of Patina Polished Living.
In her grief, Kim turned to the garden. “I became obsessed with gardening.” Inspired by travels domestic and abroad, the Weiler home now has three koi ponds, a waterfall, turtles, frogs and fish. They also spend time on their sailboat docked at Solomon’s Island and take care of their French bulldogs—currently four, since they’re dog-sitting for Austin.
Since losing Grayson, Christmas has taken a different shape. “We travel instead. We’ve been to Machu Picchu, Galapagos, Tanzania, Istanbul, Belize. One year we stayed on an atoll with no electricity, no cell service, a bucket for a shower, and a hole in the ground for a toilet. On Christmas night, my husband said, ‘Want to get dressed up for Christmas Eve?’ I just laughed.”
Next up is Baja, Mexico, to go whale watching. “It’s a National Geographic cruise, and Austin will join us.” Kim is also training to become a grief companion. “I want to help other parents heal. I do believe I’ve seen signs Grayson is still with us. He continues to show us he is still here.”
Her path to Patina began through a friendship rooted in motherhood. “Amanda and I met when our sons were in the same third-grade class. We worked together at the Virginia Florist and learned the craft and business side of flowers.” After that, they both asked, “What now?” What started as a potential events business evolved into a shop.
“We just bought what we liked. I joked that if it didn’t sell, I’d keep it. But apparently everyone liked what we liked.” Twelve years later, Patina is a beloved Old Town shop offering curated furniture, home goods, and a warm, personal approach to design.
Their new space on South Columbus Street brings that vision to life. “It’s set up like a real home. People walk in, sit on the sofa, open cabinets. They even go into the bathroom and end up buying the items displayed there.” She smiles, “My husband’s happy I’m not constantly redecorating our house anymore.”
Patina’s philosophy is all about personal stories, not just signature looks. “Most of our clients already have pieces they love—items they’ve collected or inherited. We don’t try to erase that. We work with it, help define their style, and make the space feel right.”
Kim’s son Austin once asked her not to make his D.C. apartment “look like Mom’s house,” but after seeing her work, he changed his mind. “Eventually he told me, ‘You can do whatever you want.’”
They’ve seen it all—pets, kids, and lots of wear and tear—and they know how to help customers choose pieces that will hold up. “The sofa is the most important purchase for your home. You nap on it, work from it, live on it. Think carefully about how you’ll use it.”
Kim continues to find purpose through design, connection, and healing. “I want people to feel comfort in their spaces, and in their lives.”
Visit Kim at Patina Polished Living at 120 S. Columbus Street, Alexandria, open Monday through Saturday, 11am to 5pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm.
Check out Kim’s Street Style:
ABOUT KIM
Neighborhood: Wellington
What would surprise people about you? I attended 16 different schools between K-12.
Favorite book: I read all of the Thursday Murder Club Series by Richard Osman and am looking forward to the series coming out on Netflix at the end of August.
Guilty Pleasure: Desserts
Latest binge-watch: Clarkson’s Farm
Bucket list travel destination: Vietnam
STYLE
Define your style in three words or less: Comfortable
The go-to piece in your wardrobe: Blazer
Favorite trend: Chunky Sole Shoes
Beauty product you can’t live without: Aquage Defining Gel – takes the frizz out!
Boots, heels or sneakers? Derby shoes or loafers.
WELLNESS
Go-to way to de-stress: Reading
Most fun way to stay active: Gardening and dog walks.
Wellness goal: Flexibility
Want to try: A fitness plan that works with my schedule.
Proudest wellness achievement: I stopped drinking.
HOME
Favorite room in your home: Right now, it’s my outside deck overlooking the garden pond.
Antiques, modern, or a mix? Mix.
Last item bought for your home: Upholstery from Wesley Hall.
Favorite way to entertain: At home, as a special treat we hire GastroLove (private chefs).
Clutter-free or well-lived in? Trying to be clutter-free, but an ongoing challenge!
Next planned purchase: Plants for the garden.
ALEXANDRIA
What do you love about Alexandria Stylebook? I’m always in-the-know about what is new and happening in Alexandria.
Favorite spot in Alexandria: Walks along the GW Parkway.
Your go-to shop: Patina, of course!
Best food spots: Can’t beat the dinners at Landini’s.
Favorite local organization: The Twig, an all-volunteer group of women raising money for Inova Alexandria Hospital.
Alexandria event you most look forward to: The Twig’s Homes Tour
