RETAIL ROUNDUP -- CATHERINE EBERHARD

If you feel tired of looking at the same old furniture and accessories

in your house or apartment, it may be time to spruce things up.

Two small Downtown businesses may have exactly what you need to give

your home a new and different twist. By adding small accessories, you can

completely change the look of your home decor without spending a fortune.

Nanette Lesage, 43, held the grand opening of her home accessories

store, The Iron Gate, on June 9. The store, at 221 Main St., has an

excellent location to attract shoppers and beachgoers.

Lesage is a third-generation, full-blooded Sicilian whose two

grandfathers both passed through Ellis Island during their immigration to

this country.

Both married and migrated out to California where Lesage was born and

raised. She is a single mom with two young girls, ages 6 and 12, and it

was her lifelong dream to open up her own store of home accessories.

When we were discussing her grand opening, she described her feelings

on finally having accomplished her goal.

“I cried when my awning went up with the store’s name on it,” she

said. “It was my American dream. It was my Ellis Island. I’ve waited my

whole life for this.”

The Iron Gate carries a variety of unique pieces to decorate your home

with such as wine racks, wind chimes, candles, weather glasses and other

nautical gifts. It offers some exquisite pieces such as original wooden

walking sticks, old-fashioned pen and ink wells and several different

types of soothing fountains.

It is a great place to find a special gift for someone and

complimentary gift wrap is included with every purchase.

Lesage is also available by appointment only to do personal interior

design consulting. She worked as an interior designer for several years

and continues this endeavor while working at her new store. As an

interior designer, she specializes in changing the look of a room by

moving around the furniture and adding new accessories.

Her new store is geared toward this same idea, and she is willing to

work with each customer individually and special order items if necessary

to give their home the new look they desire.

The Iron Gate was so named because of an iron archway and a pair of

ornate iron gates that she found years ago and wanted to stand at the

entry of her new store. Lesage wanted each customer to feel welcome in

her store as they passed through these special gates.

She describes her overall collection of home accessories as “different

from the mainstream, eclectic and individual”.

You can get more information on The Iron Gate by visiting the store or

by calling (714) 536-1544.

***

Another Downtown store that could help you add a new look to your home

is Shade, owned and operated by Mishelle Galitski.

Shade can be found at 611 6th St., just south of Main Street.

Galitski, 28, has been in business there for three years and has been

overwhelmed by the support she has received from the community.

Neighbors frequently check in on her and have donated items that she

completely refurbishes with her own touch and later sells. People often

stop in to compliment her on her front window displays, which she changes

weekly.

Galitski and her store have really been made to feel at home as a part

of the Downtown community.

Shade offers the customer a whimsical variety of mirrors, stain glass

mosaic lamps, water pitcher and glass sets and small waterfalls. Several

star-shaped lanterns made from heavy paper or tin hang from the corners

of the store and are very popular items.

Galitski also sells armoires, magazine racks and flower baskets, and

has even sold her unique display tables to eager customers.

But Shade doesn’t just stop with home accessories such as candles and

picture frames, it also has clothing, shoes and fresh flowers. She has

several accounts with local stores to do their floral arrangements and

will deliver flowers to any customer.

Fresh flowers are always an easy way to add a brightening touch to any

home. Flowers that aren’t sold, are dried and used in gift wrapping.

Several people have even brought in outside gifts for her to wrap, which

she happily does for a minimal charge by adding some dried roses or other

wildflowers.

Vases, a few decorative boxes, a beaded lamp or an unusual picture

frame could be just the conversational item your home needs. Galitski

tries to read and follow the trends and frequently changes her

merchandise.

Her goal in creating the store was to “make the customer feel

comfortable by using all chandeliers for my lighting, having it smell

good with fresh flowers and for them to hear the soothing sounds of the

waterfalls.”

She describes her collection as perfect for the mid-20s and up

apartment owner and hopes her pieces will allow them to make their space

their own.

You can visit Shade to get more details or call Galitski at (714)

536-1124.

The Iron Gate and Shade are two stores that hold many hidden treasures

for your home. Check them out and see if you can discover a few special

items to breathe some new life into a drab room or perhaps you’ll find a

unique gift to brighten a friend’s home.* CATHERINE EBERHARD is a

Huntington Beach resident and her column focuses on local businesses. If

you have items for Retail Roundup, e-mail them too7

[email protected] or fax to (714) 965-7174.