In February, Megan Temple closed The Dollhouse in Brentwood to allow time to focus on finding a new location for her interior design studio and retail shop. She was searching for a storefront that would attract foot traffic, she says, as well as give her room to expand the company’s retail presence.
A 1,300-square-foot space in Downtown Kirkwood (124 West Jefferson) checked both boxes. And, now, after a nine-month-long renovation, Temple and her team are ready to welcome clients and passersby during a grand opening party on November 1, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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“My goal was always to end up in Downtown Kirkwood,” says Temple, who owns and operates both Megan Temple Design and The Dollhouse. “I had been watching the area for a couple of years. This was the first space to open up that was the right size, right location, and right price.”
In addition to an inventory of new furniture, The Dollhouse offers an assortment of other items for the home, including colorful glassware, flavored cocktail mixers, flower vases, and coffee table books. Temple designed the showroom using many of her favorite things, like the custom-striped sofa from North Carolina-based Vanguard Furniture, and the Regency-style brass bench covered in Schumacher’s Queen of Spain fabric. Together, they help create a colorful and welcoming vignette in the street-facing window. A selection of black-and-white striped pillows from award-winning painter Windy O’Connor, and holiday décor from Cody Foster, are arranged on built-in shelves.
The shop’s unique assortment does more than tempt the eye, however. It offers a glimpse into Temple’s interior design vernacular, which she describes as “10 percent off.” Or, as she explains: “Not so unique that we’re not understandable. Design with a little twist. With us, there’s always an unexpected item or two in the décor but nothing that would make the design too complicated.”
Some of the designer’s signature elements, from Sherwin-Williams’ Peppercorn paint color to The Vale London striped wallpaper, are shown in situ. A statement chandelier–the Kelly Wearstler “Cubist” for Visual Comfort Signature–hangs above the communal desk. “It moved with us from our Brentwood location,” says the designer. “I love oversized lighting and the shape works well with any table shape.”
But before Temple could move in, there was a lot of other work to do. She removed the old carpeting and cubicles left behind by the previous tenant and added on a conference room and kitchenette.
She wants the space to feel inviting and approachable, to be the type of place where passersby feel comfortable stopping in to inquire about the company’s design services, or to simply ask for advice about choosing that perfect pillow or birthday gift.
“We want this space to give people a glimpse into our designs and gives them exposure to our brand,” says Temple. “This shop is full of things that inspire us. From the price points, to the brands, to the unique inventory.”
Where: 124 West Jefferson
Hours:
Tuesday to Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Need to know: Half retail store, half interior design studio, designer Megan Temple and her team can help clients choose custom pillows, furniture, or décor to spruce up their home.
