Tomorrow is the final day of business for Romancing the Home as a traditional retail store. We have rented showroom space, where we will conduct 4 to 6 sales per year. The concept is exciting and gives us the flexibility to do more traveling to gather more unique merchandise for our customers. Our first sale is going to be "Parisian Hide-Aways", a gathering of new and antique merchandise that one might find in a Paris apartment, inside a walled Paris courtyard or in an neighborhood bistro. We are so excited and already beginning to gather, create and display the first show. But much more on our new direction in later blogs.............. Today I am reflecting on the past 16 years of business and remembering the fabulous customers that have supported us. They have allowed us to come into their homes and create something for them. The following pictures are a snapshot of some of those moments that we were lucky enough to share with our customers along the way.
Remodeling Projects
Bathroom in a Chicago Brownstone
Feature piece in a new kitchen we designed.
Powder room in the city
Interior Design
Entrance to a ladies studio in an attic
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| Dining room with a mixture of traditional and modern |
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| Sitting room. We fabricated the sofas by coping an antique and made the window treatments to mimic the iron garden shelves. Wallpaper on the ceiling and a low hung iron chandelier make the room cozier. |
A lady's study ready for Christmas
Our Book Launch - Romancing the Home Entertains
Launch Party in Tennessee
Picture from the book- fruit sushi on shell plate. Staged a local fundraiser by RTH
Antipasti tray in book
Centerpiece with rhinestone pins as centers of flowers
Boxed lunches for another fundraiser using old silver plate vegetable dishes popular in the 60's and 70's.
Installation of Christmas Décor in Many Homes every year!
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Birthday Luncheons and Weddings and many Dinner Parties
Birthday Luncheon for Girlfriends
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Place Assignment Card table for a wedding in a library using old books to organize.
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| Summer Dinner Party Bash |
House Walks and Home Tours for Charity Fundraisers
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Sunroom breakfast setting for Woodland's Christmas Walk |
Store Displays
It has been a busy sixteen years with lots of different experiences. I have had the pleasure of working in some of the most beautiful homes in our community and wouldn't trade the experience for anything. But I am looking forward to more freedom in my daily life, yet still staying connected with my favorite customers. Many of my most loyal customers have become close friends and I am so lucky to have them in my life. Tuesday morning I start the re-design of another city apartment for a customer whose home we designed in Lake Forest last year. And we will be participating in the Spirit of 67 Home Tour in May and looking forward to it. In a couple of weeks, I travel to Atlanta to purchase Christmas décor for our November sale in our showroom and to fill in existing Christmas customer's decorations. Late May is a trip to France. So the year is beginning to fill up quickly and promises to be fulfilling and fun. The past sixteen years have given us a foundation to build our future business. So from the bottom of my heart- to my dear customers and friends- I thank you.
To my dear staff, none of this would have been as much fun without each of you at my side. Your support has been unbelievable. Who would have guessed that 7 women could become such close friends.. much less last together in a small business for 16 years! Through the good and bad, you stood by me. You girls are one of my life's greatest blessings. But our real fun is just starting!! And to Lynda Sue, Jill , Marlene and Mariterese- thank you for your endless support. The buying trips, the "hotel accommodations in Atlanta", helping me with the publication of the book, the advise and wisdom over many glasses of wine and generally just sharing life with me. I love you all!
To my dear staff, none of this would have been as much fun without each of you at my side. Your support has been unbelievable. Who would have guessed that 7 women could become such close friends.. much less last together in a small business for 16 years! Through the good and bad, you stood by me. You girls are one of my life's greatest blessings. But our real fun is just starting!! And to Lynda Sue, Jill , Marlene and Mariterese- thank you for your endless support. The buying trips, the "hotel accommodations in Atlanta", helping me with the publication of the book, the advise and wisdom over many glasses of wine and generally just sharing life with me. I love you all!
From the Romancing the Home team- we plan to exceed our customer's wildest shopping dreams with our first sale in May. So stay tuned!
8 comments:
Although your store is closing, I am so happy that you will be able to travel and bring back wonderful goodies for your special sales.
Your work is magnificent... how lucky and talented you are!
I have your book and it is one of my favorites!
I have so many beautiful things in my home purchased over the years from your store which I LOVE! You and your team are very talented ladies who have been a wonderful addition to the "hood" and I am so looking forward to your next chapter!I am very happy for you personally too...enjoy your travels!!
Susan ... I lift my glass
The beauty you create will be going on for years ...
happy to have been a teeny tiny part of the story of
Romancing the Home!
let the new chapter begin!
cheers
A chapter closes (even if bittersweet) and a new one that sounds really exciting is about to open. 16 years is a long time and no doubt the experiences you shared will shape your new venture. A friend of mine also closed her store of almost 10 years, it was a sad day for her because even when she wasn't making money she so loved what she did and so anticipated grabbing her early morning Starbucks and "opening shop". But now she has dusted herself off and is going to start traveling to Europe to scour the markets for unique rustic country french items, small decorative accessories so she is excited again. Your work is simply exquisite and you are so talented, there's no doubt in my mind that you will be incredibly successful in thie next venture. Best of luck!
I am very blessed to have you as a friend, Susan. You have inspired me through the years with all of your elegance and creativity. Our road trips to Atlanta were so much fun especaially our nights sitting around the table "oohing and aahing" over all the pretties. The best compliment of all was when you said you loved my house. I still think "what would Susan do" when I move an object or select something new. We must take one more road trip together!
Christy
Sixteen years of fun, excitement and creativity. What more can a girl ask for.
Susan, thank you for including me in your life.
We have had our great times together and also have shared the births of grandchildren and deaths of parents.
This will be a new chapter in your life. I am so happy for you.
Go RTH
LOVE YOU,
LaLa
Thank you Susan for the wonderful memories and adopting me into the wonderful RTH family. How lucky am I! So looking forward to our next adventure in our little hideaway!
xoxo
Congratulations on 16 fabulous years with the traditional retail setting! Although I live a good 9-hour drive from you in the Kansas City, MO. area, I have enjoyed what I have gleaned from your blog since discovering it about a year ago. I closed my store about 3 years ago and found it to be both a blessing and a painful thing. I have since found new joys, and I know you will, too, with the new selling format. I am starting today playing "catch up" on a lot of blog posts from your earlier blogging days so that I can take it lots of "eye candy"!!! I wish you the very, very best and will continue to follow so as to keep up with what's new as you move forward. Take care!
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