Danielle Kalish has been dreaming of owning a retail shop for as long as she can remember. “I’ve only been looking for a space for 18 months, but this has been a pipe dream my entire life,” she says.
Kalish, 37, saw her dreams come true with the opening of Abode by Parklyn Interiors, her new home decor and accessories shop, in Clayton. The goal is to introduce new brands to her customers and give them a place where they can touch and see the products in person before choosing to buy.
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Though her vision for the shop is clear, the path to establishing the new venture has been anything but direct. Kalish has worked in the fashion space since graduating from Southeast Missouri State in 2010, with a degree in fashion merchandising and marketing communications. At Caleres (formerly Brown Shoe), she’s risen to the role of senior design director.
But in addition to a love of clothes, Kalish has always maintained a keen interest in interiors. Her husband, Powell Kalish, 39, who is a commercial real estate broker, buys, renovates, and sells houses. Over the years, the couple has lived in each of the homes–there have been five to date–with Kalish overseeing the decor and design of each of them.
“Friends and family would come over and see our homes and ask me to help with their projects,” she says. “At the time I was just decorating for myself. Then, 2020 happened. Travel for work came to a hault and I found myself with more clarity and sitting in my spaces thinking about their design.”
Kalish’s first official interior design client came to her in the fall of 2020, promoting her to launch Parklyn Interiors. A friend had inherited her grandmother’s house, one that hadn’t been updated in decades, and Kalish jumped in to help with its design and remodel.
“I’m not one note of anything,” she says. “I’m inspired by so many aesthetics and styles. If I had to describe my work I would say it’s classic and timeless, but always with a twist or a funky element that makes a space feel personal and unique.”
Abode’s offerings mirror that design aesthetic with its generous mix of modern and antique items, colors and neutral palettes. A splatter vase by Sharland England, for instance, shares space with a pair of antique bookends that are like mini busts of President Abraham Lincoln. She scored them last weekend at the Belleville Antique Show. A vintage fauteuil or armchair is paired with a new jute rug from St. Louis-based Wonderwall Rugs. Throughout the 800-square-foot space, customers will also find a selection of block-print pillows ($75), blankets by Australia-based Raine & Humble ($70), a pair of vintage table lamps by Ethan Allen ($120), coaster sets ($49) and a collection of vintage art ($200). The shop’s price points are accessible and the atmosphere is welcoming, just as Kalish planned.
“It can be overwhelming to go into a designer showroom, which is why I purposely called this shop Abode, not Parklyn Interior Design Studios or something like that,” she says. “I want this space to be super-welcoming. We have items with lower price points…I want people to be able to stop in for teachers’ gifts or birthday presents.”
As for the design of the shop, it’s as intentionally thought through as the merchandise. A botanical mural by Rebel Walls flanks the back wall, and the remaining walls are painted Farrow and Ball’s Shaded White. An Old English-style wood table is large enough to display merchandise and hold the checkout area, making it a centerpiece of the store. Kalish arranges the furniture, including a vintage dresser and large brass mirror, to create a homey feel. The lighting was swapped out for a classic sconce by Ralph Lauren Home and a hanging rattan pendant from Crate and Barrel.
The charming appearance of the storefront and its prime location in the DeMun District attracted Kalish’s attention. She had been in and out of spaces all over St. Louis, but she was drawn to this building’s proximity to her house in University City, which gives her the option to walk to work.
“This area is close to my heart. I lived on Alamo in DeMun when I first got out of school,” she says. “My first date with my husband was at Jimmy’s on the Park and we still go to Sasha’s for celebrations.” The couple was at the restaurant celebrating the approval of their new retail vendor’s license when they noticed a sign announcing that Dot Dot Dash, the building’s previous tenant, had moved. The next day, Powell called the building’s broker and within a month the couple signed a lease for 736 DeMun.
Kalish is enjoying this new chapter in life, balancing a small business with her job at Caleres, where she works full time.
“I hope that both designers and non-designers will come in and enjoy shopping retail again,” she says. “I don’t want people to feel like they have to rush in and out. I want them to stop in and stay a while.”
Hear more from Kalish on the House of Lou podcast.
