Our Story - Dori and Jessica

We have been next-door neighbors for five years. In that span of time, we both have chosen to leave established careers to pursue more creativity, autonomy, and achieve something approximating work-life balance. (We will let you know when that happens.)

After running into each other at the hardware store (Really, we should have carpooled.), we realized we were both working on projects at home. Dori was refurbishing her attic bath and spare bedroom, and repurposing furniture; Jessica was refacing and repairing her kitchen, framing out cabinets and constructing a wood backsplash.

Thus started an inspired and ongoing conversation about how to honor old houses by reviving their pieces and parts (furniture, fireplaces, light fixtures, etc.). But more than just restoring, we are interested in rethinking the purpose of each item: for example, turning old shutters into hanging herb gardens.

After hitting tree-lawn gold one afternoon (A neighbor was throwing away a stockpile of vintage, wood chairs), we decided to collaborate on a restoration project. Since then, we have taken home many more tree-lawn treasures, and become the grateful repository of friends’ and family’s unwanted home goods.

Between us, we have five school-aged children, two dogs and a gate (which we cut, hinged and latched) connecting our yards, and a glorious workshop in Jessica’s garage, where all the creativity and restoration magic happens.