PRESS
Good Times, Santa Cruz September, 2009
A nice article in the Good Times’ Home & Garden issue. The article is below, and if you go to the GT site, scroll down to see the goods.
Make Your Home a Haven
by Linda Koffman
“When Anne Richardson decided to renovate her Santa Cruz home and garden in 2006, the result not only garnered her a spread in Sunset magazine, it led to the start of a whole new business. It seems the local graphic designer loved the experience of creating a fun and lively space for herself and her family so much, it inspired her to open a store that helps others do the same. Storefront and Studio, a new Westside shop about to celebrate its first birthday this December, offers a bright array of home décor, greenery, furniture and personal accessories—all procured with a motto based around three words: useful, playful, beautiful.
According to Richardson, the keys to a successful sanctuary are unification and experimentation. “It’s all your space, your inside and your outside garden, so it’s nice to have those things flow together with a holistic approach,” she says. “Tie it together and don’t worry about trends. Don’t be afraid to do what you want to do and find things that just make you happy.”
What makes Richardson happy, as is evident upon entrance to her store, are color, light, vintage goods and sustainable materials. When she wasn’t able to find all of those things too easily when she needed them for her own remodeling endeavor, she decided to make S&S the place that would offer it all.
“At the time [when I was renovating my home], there weren’t many things in the modern-design sustainable category, it was still mainly hemp designs,” she recalls. “I wanted really contemporary sustainable things in my home.” So, she went on to fill that gap with a selection of goods made from repurposed or recycled materials, many crafted by local artisans.
S&S sells industrial designer Timerie Gordon’s felt and wine bottle lamps, Joya Birn’s needle-felted animals, along with vintage furniture and china, blankets and handmade jewelry. Green succulents artfully arranged in pottery and wooden boxes (with recycled glass to add color) bring the outside in, and everything from the smallest accessories (tea towels, pillows and candles), to design needs of grander proportions (carpeting and wallpaper) are available. And, once you’ve got the tools, there are demos to teach you technique. Richardson and her creative partner, landscaper Kathleen Shaeffer, are planning workshops “to make Storefront a place where people enjoy coming together to make things.” Experts are being corralled to give in-store talks about green home and garden design concerns and solutions.
Sunset Magazine
In the June 2009 issue, In a article on a day trip to Santa Cruz, Storefront is mentioned as a good place to shop for sustainable items.
5.21.09
Sunset Magazine
And, don't put that issue down! They also featued Anne’s backyard that Kathleen (and a bit of Anne) designed in the same issue. Check it out online.
From our local press:
Metro Santa Cruz
4.15.09
And the lovely So Sylvie’s design blog:
3.25.08
12.17. 2008
