The quaint century-old cottage that has been
Windsor Cottage (2899 Thornapple River Dr. SE, Grand Rapids) for the past 26 years overflows with gently-used luxury furniture. That fact, and a booming global
Internet business, inspired owner Rick Santamaria to open a second location in a historic English Tudor mansion between
Brewery Vivant and
Maru Sushi & Grill.
The mansion (923 Cherry St. SE) was built originally as a funeral home and is part of a project by Grand Rapids-based
Locus Development to revitalize the mansion, a chapel and carriage house next door (Brewery Vivant), and to add new construction (Maru Sushi).
"We don't photograph furniture or put anything on the website until it's in our store," Santamaria says. "We now have furniture waiting to get into the Cascade store because we don't have room. Our Cascade location is a destination; we've never had one person ever who was walking by and stopped in. The Cherry Street shop will generate walk-in traffic; people will shop while waiting for a brunch table."
Santamaria says the new 4,300-square-foot shop will add a new twist to his signature high-end consignment furniture offerings: plenty of space to feature
Pillows By Dezign, locally made designer pillows designed by Marian Silverman, owner of
The Home Studio (6744 Cascade Rd. SE).
The partnership with Windsor Cottage provides an opportunity for Pillows By Dezign to expand its product offerings and reach new customers, says company co-owner Brian Manley.
"We'll offer many of the same throw pillows we offer at The Home Studio, made from the same types of designer fabrics. We'll also offer more solids and more traditional patterns to complement the furnishings in Windsor Cottage," Manley says.
Santamaria says the renovation of the building has uncovered the original circa 1930 mosaic tile floor, original hardwood floors, and a stained glass window in the vestibule. Outdated lighting fixtures have been replaced with chandeliers.
Windsor Cottage opens at 10 a.m. on April 15.
Hours: Mon. - Thurs., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Source: Rick Santamaria, Windsor Cottage; Brian Manley, Pillows By Dezign
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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