Case Study : Caroline Persohn

Case Study By: Caroline Peroshn

Little Relics

Little Relics By Caitlin Whelan a specialized California based jewelry line of recycled and repurposed antique jewelry, semi-precious stones, beads, and charms etcetera. These repurposed and one of a kind pieces each have a story and history of their own, inspired by a romantic and organic flair. The studio, located at 410 Pacific Coast Highway, 
Newport Beach, CA 92663 
Suite I, Second Floor in “The Cove” shopping center, a newly re-vamped spot. Originally the space was a motel during the 1960’s, and then converted years later into separate office suites. Grading problems with the land behind the building forced office occupants to vacate, leaving the owner two choices, first to demolish it and develop a new project, or two, find a way to repurpose it and make the building functional. The owner opted for the second choice and built a retaining wall with a French drain to prevent grading slides, and, more importantly, the demolition to this lovely retro building. Now the land is split into different retail boutiques, which are primarily female owned. Keeping with the repurposed and renewable source theme, Caitlin and her mother Donna decided to take their barren suite and turned it into an eco friendly studio, which brings me to their very precise specifications

Vintage re-salvaged wood was the biggest highlight of the room. The floors were originally from a church and at the amazing price of around $5.00 a square foot. Another element in the store is a striking console table made from salvaged barn wood, dark and rich in color, every piece was purchased for approximately $250.00 and assembled by John Whelan. Both wood specs were sourced by The Vintage Floor Company at unbelievable prices located on Redhill in Costa Mesa, or at their new location 3303 Hyland Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. (714) 429-5958. Visit them at www.vintagewoodfloors.com

The real mood setter at Little Relics is the third spec, the paint. A soft slate grey sets off the white trim and is a great backdrop for the shining jewelry pieces. The eco-friendly paint is by Benjamin Moore in their Aura Series. Priced a little more than regular paint for the square footage of the store the extremely low VOCs were worth the extra money. Starting at $21.99 qt. and $61.99 a gallon. For more information contact www.benjaminmoore.com

White aspen and birch trees are farmed and harvested for decorative uses. At Little Relics they are used as the curtain rods cleverly adding texture and a natural vibe. Sourced from Natures All Inc. based out of Marengo, WI, Call (800) 878-6360800 or contact them at www.naturesallinc.com.

An interesting centerpiece and conversation piece is a Loll Designs chair. Made from recycled milk cartons this chair is very chic and very eco-friendly. Loll’s Vang chair is perfect for the modern touch in the romantic ambiance. The Vang comes in eight different vibrant colors to choose from and retails at $386.00. Located at1325 N. 59th Avenue West, Duluth, MN 55807 | phone: 877-740-3387 | Fax: 218-525-2850, or contact them at www.lolldesigns.com.

A great resting place to drink wine, try on jewelry and relax is on the leather Klippan loveseat by IKEA. Clean lines and sleek chrome legs give a simple modern touch to a romantic atmosphere. Priced at $399.00 you can get this sofa at any IKEA around the world. Contact them at www.ikea.com. Enter your zip code to get the closest IKEA store nearest you.

The LED track lights fixed firmly to the ceiling are perfect for a space that has a constant display change for the best presentation of merchandise. The Universal Line Voltage Track Head by Nora Lighting was an easy way to get a lot of bang for the buck. Item # NTH-109, and priced at $22.00. Purchased at www.lightbulbetc.com in Costa Mesa you can contact them at (949)646-5227.

The drum light in the center of the room is a simple and understated, not distracting from the other items in the room. The Embarcadero Flushmount drum by Forecast is a soft elegant centerpiece. Priced at $378.00 at other web sites, www.lumes.com is offering it at a 33% savings for $178.00. Neutral shade fabric and brushed or polished chrome finishes.

Billowy and sheer sheer string tie curtains define windows and filter sun light while giving that desired romantic feel to the rustic birch tree curtain rods. The textured cotton tie-top drapes from Pottery Barn Home are priced from $39.00 to $69.00. Made from pure cotton and detailed with blind-stitched hems. Available in different sizes to fit to size. Contact them at www.poterybarn.com.

Other unusual and antique finds that help define the mood of the store were collected at different flea markets in and around Southern California. The Irvine Flea market, Long Beach Flea market, and the Rose Bowl Flea market. For locations, times and reviews go to www.collectors.org, or www.yelp.com.

Please visit Little Relics, it’s truly a jewel box of a store and with such design flair!