Local interior designer Kelly Ford is opening a retail shop and gathering space in downtown Greenville.
House of Ford will feature selected furnishings and items for the home. Ford said the heart of the business is hosting.
“So much of it was through the lens of how you connect with people,” Ford said. “All of (the items) have to do with things that would help you set a dinner table, or fun things that allow your cooking experience to feel more beautiful.”
Along the walls you may find books, pastas, jams, teacups and plates along with stemware. The space is adorned with high-contrast touches indicative of Ford’s design style, bringing feminine and masculine elements together. The store has been ready for about a month, but the team decided to allow “roots to grow in silence” while they found its identity.
House of Ford will have a coffee-and-pastries component with plans for a selection of specialty drinks, although that element is still a work in progress.
Ford said she hopes people come in and enjoy the space to work or grab a coffee, or maybe even bring one in from nearby Methodical Coffee. Still, the heart of the space is in retail, with gifts and bespoke items for homes.
Ford and her team will take biannual trips to fill the store — one to Paris and one stateside.
The store was formerly the office for Ford’s firm, Ford Interior Design. Slowly it morphed into something else as Ford tried to make the space more than an office.
It will open Oct. 24 and operate Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 25 W. North St. in downtown Greenville across the street from Rush Wilson Limited.
