New design, lifestyle store DeKor & Co. debuts in Ojai
The latest addition to the new cluster of upscale, design-wise shops peppering the heart of Ojai is home and lifestyle boutique DeKor & Co. from Swedish-born interior designer and landscaper Isabelle Dahlin, owner of interiors store DeKor in Echo Park, in partnership with beauty and travel writer Rachel Marlowe, a Vogue contributor. The 2,000-square-foot shop opened its doors at 105 S. Montgomery Street (just off Ojai Avenue) on Dec. 6.
And the vibe is cozy. Floors are covered in a collection of vintage kilim and overdyed rugs (from $600) and one corner is outfitted with a plush daybed ($1,450), piled with ethnic pillows, accompanied by a Midcentury cone fireplace ($1,245). Among the wide array of vintage lighting are wrought iron chandeliers, Scandinavian table lamps and vintage pendant lights, from Mod to Moroccan.
“I have a really eclectic aesthetic,†says Dahlin. “I am in love with Midcentury chairs because they are like pieces of art, but I mix in industrial pieces and some ethnic patterns. And I am obsessed with lighting and rugs. In Sweden, it’s so dark half the year that you get into having the right balance of light.â€
Building on the mix of global antique finds, clean-lined Scandinavian decor and custom-made furniture at DeKor, which opened in 2011, DeKor & Co. offers an expanded range of made-to-order furnishings, including custom-upholstered Dorothy and Agnes sofas, named after the partners’ grandmothers, upholstered chairs, reclaimed wood swings, and reclaimed wood or metal dining tables.
Moving beyond decor, the Ojai shop includes a curated selection of books, art — damask textile wall hangings are crafted by Isabelle’s mother, Swedish artist Isa Dahlin — and fashion, from arty rope necklaces by TOTEMfactory ($80-$100) to graphic-print silk kaftans by London-based Tallulah & Hope (from $335), a U.S. exclusive.
Given Marlowe’s background, the boutique also stocks a well-edited assortment of beauty products from natural-oriented, independent brands and boasts the sole California outlet for Swedish cosmetics and skin care company FACE Stockholm. Makeup artists are on hand on weekends.
Shoppers are invited to linger at a european-style Art of Tea bar that serves (and sells) the Los Angeles company’s high-end organic teas, including a custom DeKor & Co. blend inspired by Ojai’s orange groves ($10.99 a packet). Accompaniments include local Bloom honey ($9) in flavors such as blackberry or avocado, and organic snacks and herbal Tonics ($10) by Moon Juice, another L.A. enterprise.
“I’m not a very materialistic person,†says Dahlin, “but if your home feels special and you’re happy with the things around you, I believe that you are a happier person.â€
“Our philosophy is that everything’s for sale and we can find anything that you want us to find,†adds Marlowe.
On Saturday, DeKor & Co. is offering makeup applications, a 15% discount on FACE Stockholm products, and 30-minute portrait sittings ($100) with Ojai artist Vera Long, whose work is carried in the shop. For information, call (805) 272-8675.
