NORWICH – A local woman with a flair for eclectic and vintage design has recently brought what started out as a home-based hobby to the general public for all to enjoy.
Erica Kenyon, the mad genius behind the collection of boutique offerings, took the plunge into retailing her wares at a familiar brick and mortar establishment only after testing the waters elsewhere – realizing that she had the potential to move product lucratively.
Handsome antique furniture pieces needing a little bit of love are transformed into one-of-a-kind creations at the hands of Kenyon.
“I have been hand-painting furniture for a while now, and I love it all; from bright colored pieces that knock your socks off to the beauty and serenity of the many shades of white, grey, and black,” Kenyon said. “I do all of the upholstery and finishes myself, that's the part that I enjoy the most. I was selling some of my work in a shop up in Hamilton, but I quickly realized that I that it would be more convenient and more profitable if I could somehow sell closer to home.”
Taking advice from another entrepreneurial spirit, Kenyon was invited to utilize some retail space near the rear entrance of the Solstice Whole Foods store by owner Barb Collins. All pieces displayed are as appealing to the eye as they are functional.
“We had just been talking about what I should do next in terms of expanding,” Kenyon said. “The furniture I choose is usually the large, heavy pieces. I literally started running out of space. I had furniture stacked everywhere in my home.”
Kenyon began her journey to what would eventually become known as “Sovereign Design” at her home as a blow-off from the stresses of long days in the courtroom. “I am a court reporter (stenographer) by day, and an avid crafting machine at night, she said, “although I love stenography, it just keeps me glued to a computer way too much.”
An ode to her dedication to dictation, Kenyon's creations often lend themselves to a certain theme. “I usually find myself taking it a step further and painting some sort of typography or vintage image, because, well, I just can't help myself,” she said.
