Brick & Mortar Friends: Maison d'Etre

We're pleased as punch to give a big Bean Up The Nose Art "HELLO!!!" to brick and mortar friend, Maison d'Etre.

Yes folks, that's French.  And this amazing store, located at 5640 College Avenue in Oakland, is Frenchy-French, chic, hip, colorful, design-savvy . . . and, well, let's just take a look so you can see what we're talking 'bout.  Basically:  heaven.

The fabulousity starts outside the front door, where you get a welcoming vision of the shop's blend of luxe vintage, color, and fun.

Inside, treasures abound.  

See this fruit basket with strawberries?  

THEY'RE PORCELAIN AND CLAY!!!  You could have them sitting in your kitchen, looking wonderful, and never going bad . . .  .

And that is simply one amazing find on this table of enchanting dining room/kitchen goodies.

Owner Fred W., who along with Patty B. has been in this business for 17 years and at the current location for ten, has a gifted eye for selecting and displaying objects that will blow your creative socks off.  Look at the chandelier here.  Who includes these kinds of detail?  The NUMBERS?  And the little stuffed dudes hanging down lower?  How terrific is THAT?!?!?!?

You'll find this hanging above a scrumptious bed display, in a section of the store devoted to homewares, clothing (kids and adults), and all sorts of other yumminess.

Turn around, and your eyes will be feasting on more housewares, accessories, jewelry, amazingness.  

You could spend all day in this store and not see everything -- there is so much to look at.  But you never get the feeling it is too much, too crowded or overwhelming.  It is simply a delight.

Fred loves his customers, and the relationships he's gotten to develop with them through the years.  He also enjoys his hunts for merchandise, from new to vintage.  And wow, is he good at finding stuff.

The shop also features a great blend of paper products, including this display of terrific books, journals and notepads.

And more paper products.  And, what is even more special to us here at Beans about this photo?

Yes, you guessed!  Those are our luggage tags!  

Merci bien, Maison d'Etre!!!  We're more than honored to be included in your tantalizing trove of treasures.  That you're carrying our luggage tags and greeting cards delights us more than you know . . . since we used to be treated to shopping on College Avenue as a kid, as the toniest place in the East Bay from whence we hailed.  We're lucky to be there as Beans!   ROCK ON, MAISON d'ETRE!!!