We always love crashing a well designed house to get some inspiration and steal some ideas. But we also know that homes aren’t the only place to look for decor inspiration. Which is why we decided to take you shopping with us for some pretty amazing and totally implementable at-home ideas. Allow us to introduce you to Clover.
It’s an amazingly cool consignment shop for kids that just opened in Richmond’s Carytown district last month – and they gave us a sneak peek at the space before they unlocked the doors to the public. We scored the special treatment because the shop is a spin-off concept from our friend Lesley who opened the grown-up consignment version called Clementine years ago just across the street (both are now owned by two other fams). We also crashed her charming abode back in ’08, so we know she’s the real deal when it comes to having some serious style.
Oh, and you probably remember us mentioning Clover a few weeks ago in this giveaway because their floors sport the Sunny Goode paint treatment.
But the creative and inspiring decor doesn’t stop at those insanely amazing stenciled floors. Clover is full of playful DIY projects that are as adventurous as they are affordable – and it’s always good to remember that sometimes you just have to go for it to achieve that perma-smile-inducing look. It’s definitely not your typical kids clothing store:
Let’s start with what you can’t miss when you walk in: the dragon. This colorful Chinese dragon greets you at the front and weaves its way all the way to the back of the store. They scored it at Pearl River Mart in NYC (a store that Sherry often reminisces about- I’ve never been, but it was on Design Star this season for their first challenge). After Lesley hung it she wondered if it would scare any kids, but luckily they all seem to love the playful and imagination-inducing addition to the space. Maybe it’s that cheerful yellow color or those furry pink lips that keep the scare-factor down?
The front half of the store is split into boys’ clothes to your left and girls’ to your right. Each wall features an art installation – like buoys, which act as a colorful twist on the traditional nautical theme. The authentic buoys were a found on eBay for just $5.99 a pop (Lesley saved on shipping by making sure to order them all from the same vendor). The awesome 2″ thick braided rope also came from eBay – apparently it’s the same stuff you’ll find schoolkids climbing in gym class.
Over on the other side was a 3D collage that was strangely fascinating and beautiful at the same time. Lesley meticulously pinned and velcro’d flash cards, paint swatches, playing cards, and even Pez dispensers into a wave of bright colors that anchors the entire wall (scroll up to the second photo to see it from afar). Even though there’s no apparent theme to the items, it’s somehow inherently playful and fun – and weirdly hard to take your eyes off of! Kind of like Where’s Waldo without the guy in the striped shirt. And we love that she used free items (like paint swatches) and super affordable things (like playing cards- 52 for $1) to cover a lot of ground without breaking the bank.
The wall art isn’t the only non-traditional element when it comes to the clothing areas. Even the racks themselves are a unique creation for Clover. They took metal plumbing pipes and had them fashioned into double- and single-level racks to house a slew of consigned clothing at the exact heights and lengths that they needed. We think it’s so cool that they didn’t go the expected route by defaulting to a basic wire rack. It adds just a glimmer of edge to this kids store, which keep things from veering off into the sugary-sweet territory.
And speaking of shelving, to house some of the non-hanging items, Lesley scored two of these wicker and glass shelves on Craislist for $45 each, then painted them a bold watermelon color (leftover from the floor) to fit seamlessly into the space. Sherry was especially enamored with the chic criss-cross back:
Back in the dressing area (little kids need to try stuff on too, right?) they converted a closet space into a private changing room with some clover-esque Ikea fabric ($8/yard) that they paired with a colorful backing (see the stripes reflected in the mirror?) and embellished with some red pom-pom trim. Lesley even loaned us some leftover fabric for one of Clara’s weekly photos. Score!
Next door to the dressing room is a little spot to entertain tiny shoppers, complete with two pint-sized chairs scored for $10 at a yard sale and painted a bright cloverly green (with already-owned paint). I picture this as the spot where exhausted baby husbands rest their feet while their baby wives try on outfit after outfit (at least there’s a nice little flat screen TV for watching Sportscenter Sponge Bob).
And of course there’s the spot where money is forked over. Clover opted for a simple teacher-style desk (which was scored at a local thrift store and painted black) to act as their check-out HQ, which is especially perfect for pre-teen purchasers who are just learning to pay for their own things.
Above the desk hang two pendant lamps that Lesley actually fashioned out of $10 industrial lamps from Home Depot topped with red bushel baskets (the top of the lamps feature a ceramic resting point for the basket so they never threaten to overheat the woven buckets). So simple and smart, right? And the DIYed pendant lights fit right into the color scheme thanks to some red paint (applied by none other than Lesley herself).
On the desk itself, they had a piece of glass cut to size and underneath it they laid some fun patterned fabric. But it’s not just any fabric, it’s custom Clover fabric that they had made by Spoonflower.com. We hadn’t seen any Spoonflower fabrics in person before Lesley’s, but we’d been in love with the concept for a while. Basically you can upload your own design (any design! the sky’s the limit!) and get it turned into custom fabric for as little as $16/yard. You can even check out a sample swatch before finalizing your order to make sure it’s perfect. We love unique and thoughtful touches like this- especially because Lesley only needed two yards of fabric and now has a desk that she literally “designed” to take Clover’s decor to the next level. Plus the desk was such a cheap thrift store find that she didn’t flinch when springing for the custom fabric to finish it off.
Last but not least, we’ll take all of you organization nuts ’round to the “employees only” part of the store where Leslie worked her magic again to beautifully arrange all of their extra inventory and supplies (despite it not really being directly visible to shoppers). They created an awesome workspace with butcher block counters (which they snagged on discount from Lumber Liquidators, who knew you could get a countertop there?). We love how clean and organized it all looks – and of course the fact that Lesley used more steel piping as fabric rods to close off some of the compartments below has us especially enamored.
And how could we not share a close-up of the über-organized baskets with charming tag labels that pepper the space. If you can believe it, the baskets were from Walgreens of all places (small ones were 2 for $5, big ones were 2 for $10). Doesn’t it almost make you want to work at Clover – just so you can bask in the beautiful order of things?
So that’s our spin around all the inspiration that is Clover. We hope you guys spotted as many fresh ideas in there as we did… maybe even a few that you can adapt for your own home! If you’re here in Richmond you’ll totally have to swing by (they’re near the Galaxy Diner) to see it for yourself – especially if you’ve got little ones to clothe (or just entertain for a while). And a big thanks to Lesley, Lyn, Jill and all the other Clover-folk for letting us pop by to enjoy all the amazing DIY details.
Did you guys spot anything in particular that caught your eye? Let’s play the always entertaining what’s-your-favorite-part game. And feel free to share any retail stores in your area that also boast unique decor. Who knows, if it’s not too far from Central Virginia we may just swing on over…
Christa M says
What a fun store! Wish I had kids to shop for (and was in the Richmond area) Thanks for taking us on a virtual tour!
I thought of you guys this weekend when I saw the Sherwin-Williams paint chip commercial. So creative!
Christa M says
This one :) Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWUrM0IZaDQ
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah we love that campaign! Even the print ads are fun! Thanks for sharing the link.
xo,
s
Suzie says
What a great shop!! I think my favorite part is the wall of flashcards, pez dispensers, paint swatches, and playing cards. The whole place is adorable!
amy says
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the dragon!
LauraC says
So cute!
Cait @ Hernando House says
SUCH a cute store! Too bad I don’t have kids, or live in Richmond! Great inspiration for a few things in my house, though! haha
liz @ bon temps beignet says
This store is so fun! Love the buoys.
Angela says
Cute! Thanks for showing us.
If you don’t mind I have a few questions that are not entirely design related? How were the prices? Did you buy anything for Clara while you there? And lastly will you consign any of her clothes there later?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Angela,
The prices were great- lots of deals to be found! In fact we just got an email from someone saying she stopped in at our suggestion and got a ton of fun stuff for back-to-school. We didn’t buy anything for Clara while we were there (mostly because we were chatting up Leslie for the details for this post while keeping Clara happy and snapping photos) but we’ll definitely be back. And we certainly look forward to consigning things there one day (although we’re hesitant to do anything rash right now with Clara’s clothing since we may have another girl in the future). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Carly says
Gorgeous! That store is complete eye candy! Checked out their website and it is equally charming & creative!
I wish them much success with their adorable store! Thanks J & S for sharing Clover with those of us that don’t have anything that special in our area!
Jessica @ How Sweet says
Oh wow that shop looks awesome! I want those lime adirondack chairs!
Kimberly says
I am in LOVE! I love the colours, the design and all the fun finished touches! I wanna shop there! Do you know where she got the racks for the clothing, I am in DESPERATE need to get my hands on some like that! Or, did she have them made? I’d be forever grateful if you could find out the scoop!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kimberly,
She had them made from plumbing pipes. There’s a bit more info in the post. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Ariel says
I love the amigurumi octopus on the desk, but that’s probably because I just learned how to do that a few days ago.
CR says
This place looks 1,000x better than Clementine in Carytown. I’m in!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey! We love Clementine! It’s definitely also worth checking out for anyone who’s in the area!
xo,
s
jillian m. says
Favorite part? Everything! This shop is so colorful and adorable. I love stores that look personal. I can tell the owner has a fun personality just from the vibrancy and cute small details.
Cheryl says
So fun and playful. Any idea where the black supports for the shelving in the employee area are from? LOVE those!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Cheryl,
Our best guess would be Ikea or a thrift store, but here’s hoping Lesley stops in with that info for ya!
xo,
s
Cat@BudgetBlonde says
If anyone is interested in seeing pictures of their sister store, Clementine, I did a blog post on it:
http://www.budgetblonde.com/2010/06/sweeeeeet-clementinneee.html
It is an equally cute and adorable store with some DIY door tables! Thanks for sharing Clover, J&S!
xoxo!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for sharing the Clementine link Cat! Love it!
xo,
s
Rachel @ La Bella Bungalow says
I absolutely love these posts! I love to see all the unique ideas that boutique owners use to brand themselves. Clover did an awesome job on what appears to be a smaller-sized budget. I’d have to say my favorite thing is the DIY wall projects. Thanks for sharing!
Rachel
xoxo
Amy N. says
What a great-looking store to shop at! My favorites were the industrial-looking racks and the use of the color “watermelon”. What a fun mix!
tina says
how charming! love the bike in front w/the basket of flowers vs. urn w/flowers. cute! the more i see/hear about richmond (one of my best friends lives there too) the more i wonder if our plan to move to charlottesville this year should be reconsidered!
Catherine says
Clover is such a charming addition to Carytown! I’m so glad you’re featuring its brilliant details. My favorite was the buoy and rope wall. I’m saving that idea for the inspiration folder for a future nursery/bedroom. And I’m uber-jealous of the shelving units from Craigslist. What a find!
DemMom says
I was in Clover last week, and when I saw the paint swatch art I thought of you two. My favorite parts (in person) were the check out area/desk, and I will admit to sneaking a peek into the “behind the scenes” area. I had a feeling it would get my organizational love flowing, and it did not disappoint!
Gina A. says
I looove this store! If I lived in the area I would totally shop there for my niece/nephew that is on their way! The storage for “employees only” reminds me a little of the metal shelving unit I have that I covered with fabric also!
http://temporary-nest.blogspot.com/2010/04/behind-curtains.html
I love stores like this that really have someones heart and soul in them. :) Hope they do great!!
elz says
The pendant bushel lights? A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. May try to replicate those!
heather s. says
This has nothing to do with this post – sorry! I was just reading the Detroit News and who did I see but you guys!:)
http://detnews.com/article/20100816/BIZ04/8160324/1013/Facebook-s-too-public-side
YoungHouseLove says
Yup- there we are. We did a little associated press phone interview and had no idea it would pop up everywhere (we were on MSNBC on Friday). Craziness! Of course we weren’t talking about our Young House Love Facebook page (this one) but were talking about our personal accounts. We love that everyone comes over to visit our YHL page! And it’s not the end of the world if readers have access to our personal accounts either – we’ve learned that putting a ton of private info anywhere on the internet (on Facebook or anywhere else) probably isn’t the way to go in this day and age anyway!
xo,
s
Erin says
ooo, darn, I wish I could go shopping.
Lark says
Like Cheryl, I’d love to find out where the black shelf supports came from! I’m in the midst of getting my kids’ rooms equiped with desks and would love to get some DIY shelving in there too. Thanks for all that you do.
Marisa @ vinyasa mama says
I am constantly in search of baskets and those are the best prices I’ve ever seen! Also great to see such a cute space for a consignment shop – makes it feel like a boutique!
Lesley G. says
Hi! The shelf brackets in the back came from Van Dyke’s Restorers (www.vandykes.com)- just type “shelf brackets” into the search bar. I chose this style because I think the pattern mimics the scales on the side of the dragon, but there are SO many other lovely ones to choose from!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for stopping in with that info Lesley!
xo,
s
Ben says
I hate to be the curmudgeon of the comment section but as much as I really like the colors and details, I feel the overall design was lacking in this shop.
The whole experience of going to a consignment shop is about exploring and finding unique things. To me, the sort of meandering discovery process that separates this type of store from a standard retailer is lost in the arrow-straight center aisle and neatly perpendicular racks of clothes.
Lauren says
I absolutely love shopping at Clementine. I am just so happy they they decided to open something up that is perfect for me to be able find great finds for my friends and their kids. :) Thanks for sharing/crashing!
Laura says
What a great store. I loved the bicycle out front with the open sign & basket as planter on it. Also loved the metal plumbing pipes as hanging racks, the red bushell baskets as lamp shades for the pendant lamps, & the large tie on tags used to label the baskets.
patti says
i think i’m in love…too bad i live all the way across the country!
blueloom says
What a cute store! I’m sure it’s very popular in your area. Do you think it will be Clara’s favorite store one day? Can’t believe how fast she’s growing. And she is already helping daddy with blogging!
Cheers!
kinga
ri says
very cute! do you know if they carry maternity clothes?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Ri,
We’re thinking they don’t, but Clementine might (since they’re the sister store with adult offerings). Maybe you can follow the link in the post to their site and give them a call to see? Good luck!
xo,
s
Kristen says
first of all, this store is so adorable. the next time i’m visiting college roomies in richmond, i’ll have to stop by! second, this may seem like a bizarre question, but i was wondering if you knew what font “clover” is written in? i do a lot of design work (professionally and personally) and i absolutely adore it!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kristen
Funny you ask – Clover’s logo is actually Lesley’s handwriting (as is Clementine’s). Perhaps Lesley’s hand is for hire! :)
-John
jja says
Cute store. :_) I wish them lot of success! And that they remove flat TV ?!? from palying corner for kids and put more toys and chak board inside. I never saw TV in playing corner of shop or restaurant. KIds can play together and not exercise passive staring all in one direction.
Jen says
Love this :) wish I had the guts/money to make a switch and open up a shop like this in my town. Thanks for the inspiration!
Cordia says
I love it. It’s fun, fresh and funky. The colors are great and the store looks so neat and clean and easy to navigate, especially with kids. I love those baskets and love even more that they came from Walgreens cheap! I am going to have to see if my Walgreens has any when I go pic up my pics!
Curious says
Cute store. Too bad they have to sort things by gender. It’s just kids, and there is really no reason what so ever to categorize like that.
However, is it the store or yourself that makes it genderspecific? Why would pez dispensers be a girl thing?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey “Curious,”
Not sure I totally get your question, but our guess is that most people find it easier to shop for clothes – even kid’s clothes – when they’re sorted for boys and for girls, especially if you’re looking for a dress for your daughter. And pez dispenser’s aren’t necessarily a girl thing (nor are buoys only for boys) which is one of the things we liked about the design choice: neither is overtly gender-specific, but are still unique enough to distinguish the two-sides of the store. Hope that helps!
-John
heather j. says
I’ve been DYING to get in that store! Now I’m dying to work there! Hmmm…you think I could bring my 5 kiddos?
I especially love the desk! So simply done, but, wow, what an impact!
Gotta copy that idea…
Carol says
I love the workroom! You MUST visit Wilson, NC and check out La-d-da, “where good art doesn’t have to match your sofa”. The store is located in historic downtown and it’s only about 2 hours from Richmond. Exit 121 on I-95.
D says
That place is great!
traci says
Leslie rocks. She definitely has some great style. If I didn’t live in NY, I would be all over that store. FUN!!!
Christy Q says
Love it!!! so many great ideas! Where did Lesley find the tags for the baskets? I can only seem to find them in bulk (i.e. by the gross) and would love to find them in smaller quantities but not so small as in groups of 5 or 10 which is what the specialty scrapbook stores sell them for and a bit overpriced. TIA!!!
Victoria says
I can’t believe they were able to get away with so many bargains! I love the fact that their store is so colorful, I’m sure the kids will feel right at home there. Great job Clover!
Lesley G. says
Hey everyone! Thanks for all the kind words about the shop!!
Christy, I bought the tags at an office store, in maybe a quantity of 50? They’ve been in my stash for so long I can’t remember how much they cost. :)
kaela says
I love the racks the best. It is all inspiring as a whole. Makes me want to quit my day job an open a consignment shop. Really.
Kaela says
I changed my mind. After looking at it again a third and fourth time, my hands down most favorite thing is the floor!
jilly says
this is soo cute. its been my dream to open up a snazzy vintage store, but something like this might be easier for me to accomplish lol
Lutz Schwartz says
so true..it’s better if you would get ideas on how others design their own house or establishment..this would help you to make great design for your own and you can combine the ideas you’ve got to make a unique and very own design…