Debbie Donnelly never planned to open a furniture and home decor store–she’s been the busy owner of a full-service interiors firm for more than 30 years–but the pandemic and the resulting supply chain delays motivated her to venture into the world of retail.
“My goal is to provide a place where people can come in and grab and go–instant gratification,” she says.
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After looking for the right property for two years and then taking two months to renovate the space, Donnelly opened the doors to Donnelly Decor on April 28. Located on Ballwin’s “Furniture Row,” as she calls it, the stretch of Manchester Road between Route 141 and Weidman is populated with retail stores that specialize in decorating the home. “I think we’re all peers,” says Donnelly of her neighbors, including Marketplace at The Abbey and Shubert Designs. “We’re all in this together.”
The 3,000-square-foot building features a light-filled, double-height entry with coffee on one table and chilled wine on another. The scent of dark ebony wood and Douglas Fir emanates from “Black Forest” candles by Archipelago, which are available to purchase. The shop is divided into distinct design personalities: items for gift giving, Paris flea market style decor, and furniture for every room in the house, including upholstered sofas from interiors brand England, credenzas by John-Richard, area rugs in a range of sizes and colors, and totem poles by Four Hands. Donnelly plans to shake up the inventory often enough that shoppers are always surprised by something new. “Everything that I sell is ready to go off the floor, but if you want to custom order a sofa from a different manufacturer, in a different fabric, then we can do that for you,” she says.
Donnelly’s interior design studio is located in a large room just beyond the showroom floor, making the store a one-stop shopping destination for those who want the option to buy from more than 200 manufacturers without paying a design fee. The studio’s perimeter is lined with racks of fabric swatches and a conference table holds lookbooks from vendors such as Global Views, Hooker, Massoud, World’s Away, and Chelsea House. Later this month, the first shipment of outdoor living furniture from Sunset West will begin to arrive. According to Donnelly, the presence of a showroom as part of an interior design business qualifies her for additional discounts from manufacturers; she passes those savings onto her clients. “We try to get the best prices,” she says. In addition to the studio, high-end cabinet designer Kim Matthews and interior designer Ellen Kurtz will set up offices on the premises, allowing all three women to collaborate on projects and source furniture for their clients.
“I think the biggest thing [about the shop] is that you have the most variety in style and price that’s instant and ready to go,” says Donnelly, who attends furniture and gift markets four times a year. “Some of it feels luxurious without the luxurious prices.”
Location: 14288 Manchester Road
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m.
