There is something very old fashioned about handwritten shop signs and windows that I knew when I had a shop I would most certainly write many of the signs in the shop. Next week the hideous brown paper that is covering up our shop windows will be finally coming down (I've had it UP TO HERE with them) and so I can get to doodling on the shop windows to my heart's content.







I'll only be drawing on one shop window as the other main window is being saved for our shop logo. I haven't decided if I will be incorporating the triangle on the AV logo in the shop window or if I should just have ADORED | VINTAGE. We'll see... that's another task all together.

I have been a huge fan of FOUND Vintage Rentals for awhile and was browsing around and instantly realized I basically wish I had everything in their warehouse to furnish the ADORED VINTAGE shop! This afternoon my fella and I had a relaxing visit with some of our shop friends over at Individual Medley and Myrtle and being in their shops just really inspired me to really get going with the brick + mortar.

The past month has been spent trying to catch up on work, processing tons and tons of packages coming in (I don't know if I mentioned this before, but I bought a vintage store that went out of business in the Midwest...so yeah, LOTS of deliveries to process lately!), and getting my new dwelling in order...so needless to say, the brick + mortar went to the back burner. Now that everything is all good to go with the apartment, it's time to really focus on the shop! For the most part I have just had the hardest time getting into some kind of schedule or sense of order because I was half living out of boxes and moving stuff around...do you get like that? Like you JUST CANNOT FUNCTION properly because half of your life is out of order?

ANYHOW... back to FOUND rentals... I was revisiting their lovely site again and started saving pictures as inspiration for store fixtures for my vintage shop. I spent about 2.5 hours doing research for other shop decisions, but the part I am most excited about is decorating the vintage shop and sourcing fixtures at the flea markets! Sometimes I can't believe I do what I do. It's pretty incredible and humbling.

If I may just go on another tangent for a minute... if you have a dream to do something (open a shop, write a book, become a designer...), you can bet your bottom dollar that if I can do it, YOU can do it. It won't be easy, it won't be cheap, and it won't happen right away. I get emails from women asking how I did it, if I have advice, what are my sources...and the best advice I can give is that if you're committed to your dream, your vision, it will come true because you'll do whatever it takes to make it happen.

When I went full time with Adored Vintage back in October I had no idea that in 5 months I'd be opening up an actual shop! It's pretty crazy. And wonderful.

Progress has officially been made in the shop! A new door has been installed so now I can move to and fro much easier than the past few weeks since I've moved! I don't know why, but this ONE single "to-do" (ie. Get New Door Put In) has been such a mental block for me about owning a retail store. Maybe one of those when one door closes another one opens...except there WASN'T A DOOR so...ya dig?

So now that THAT'S done, I feel like we are moving forward! The shop doesn't have great lighting as is. There is a single ceiling fan light. I'm not in love with the ceiling fan but the tiny shop REALLY heats up during the day so for practicality, the ceiling fan stays. As you know, this is our first time opening up an actual store front, so we're getting ideas and figuring stuff out as we go. First on the list... lighting! So naturally, I went on a hunt on Pinterest for some retail lighting ideas.


src: // Afflante.com


src: // House of Bliss via Artilleriet


src: // Pinterest


src: // Rose and Grey


src: // Blood and Champagne


src: // Pinterest


src: // April May Studio


src: // The Pantalones


src: // Pinterest


src: // Pinterest


src: // Pinterest


src: // Flickr

In case you didn't know by now, Adored Vintage is opening up a brick & mortar vintage shop in downtown Long Beach! Today I finally got to unpacking my old atelier and I have a lot more inventory than I previously thought! A few weeks ago I had looked for an office space in addition to the brick + mortar, but after a mental pros and cons list, I've decided to go another route.

Instead of an office space I'll be getting more industrial storage for all the backstock. Eventually I would like to expand to a larger retail space and don't want to be tied to a commercial office.

Anyhow, I have been scouring Pinterest for retail shop inspiration and visually it is finally forming in my brain! The space has it's challenges (it is only about 250 sq feet) and very large floor to ceiling windows. I haven't even started on anything in the shop other than unpacking a few boxes of vintage clothing, but already the excitement of "setting up shop" is tingling inside me!

So here are 10 Ideas I have for the Vintage Shop!

Industrial Garment Racks




I will be following this Industrial Clothing Rack DIY. I'm not quite sure if I'll paint the pipes gold/white... probably not gold. But white/grey...perhaps!

Chalkboard Wall + Greenery


I've always loved chalkboard walls! In my previous apartment, I painted the kitchen with chalkboard paint and had such a blast throughout the year drawing doodles and having my friends leave me notes.

Black + White + Grey



The overall color scheme for the shop space is white, grey, cream, with hints of black highlighted by greenery. I want it to be a pretty neutral canvas so the vintage clothes can really stand on their own and be the highlight of the shop.

Getting excited!

All the photos above are from my Retail + Boutique Shop Inspiration board on Pinterest!