Take one step inside Jamie Meares’ home décor shop, Furbish Studio, off Johnson and Harrington Streets (near the Glenwood South area) and you are immediately transported into a colorful magical wonderland of good taste, style, and whimsy. This Raleigh store location is the newly relocated and largely expanded version of the first Furbish Studio that used to be located on Glenwood Ave. The new space is many times larger, quite impressive, and gives Jamie even more room to layout her gorgeous and creative displays, vignettes, and room set-ups that will inspire even the most design timid of her customers. She creates a bright and friendly atmosphere to a sometimes-intimidating world of interior design. It is obvious that her great style and love of creative décor comes from the heart.
The store carries pretty much everything you could possibly need to freshen up or completely redo your living spaces. Selling and displaying on-trend throw pillows, custom upholstered, or finished furniture pieces, delightful trinkets and accent items, designer dog beds, lamps, art, amazing coffee table books, rugs, and more. And while I definitely recommend an in-person visit to check out this beautiful store, you can also purchase many of these items online through her brand new and very cool online shopping site at www.shopfurbish.com. Furbish Studio is located at 312 W. Johnson Street in Raleigh, store hours are Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 11am-4pm.
Jamie is also an established and popular interior decorator for hire and writes a very fun and informative design blog, isuwannee.com. Some typical blog posts include her bookcase of the day, photos and links to hot trends, funny insights into her life (including star appearances by her beloved pooch Rowdy), and new items she is displaying in the store. A must follow for any design geek or hobby decorator. You can also follow her on Twitter: @JamieMeares.
I got Jamie to answer some of my fun Q&As about her business, life, and world views so that you can get to know this local entrepreneur a bit more. Check out her fabulous answers below:
Describe your business in one sentence. A playground for my hobby
What is the best thing about your job? That I get to try out things I’ve only dreamed about doing – I get to actually make my ideas happen everyday.
What is the worst thing bout your job? Paying self-employment taxes. Small business owners don’t get many breaks, unfortunately.
What is your favorite color combination (of the moment)? Mint and olive!
If someone were to drop serious cash on just one great item for their house, what type of item would you recommend that be? Window treatments or a sofa
How would you describe your dog’s (the loveable Rowdy) own style sensibilities? Classic with a sense of humor. His staples are scarves and head wraps.
What is one of your favorite things about living/working in the Raleigh area? The weather is pretty great. Close to the beach. Lots of educated people doing interesting things
If money and historical time were not factors, what artist’s work would you love to own? Degas
What is your idea of a perfect day? At the beach – sleeping until 10. Taking a bike ride to breakfast, hanging on the beach or the boat for a few hours with a couple of great magazines and swimming with rowdy, eating french onion dip for lunch, hitting a few of my favorite shopping spots in Wilmington, back for cocktails and dinner outdoors!
If you could throw a dinner party with only famous people as guests, what 4 people would you invite? Will Farrell, Zoey Deschanel, Lady Gaga, Sarah Silverman
What is always in your kitchen? Cats
What are you three favorite movies? Recently I’ve enjoyed Tiny Furniture, always will watch Anchorman and loved the September Issue.
What are your three favorite albums? Currently enjoying Foster the People, Gotye and always Beyoncé.
What quality do you most admire in others? Honesty
Do you have a guilty pleasure? French onion dip and big old books.
Describe yourself in 3-5 words. Funny. Never satisfied. Southern.