Hubbard business is simply Fabulous

By LINDA M. LINONIS

linonis@vindy.com

hubbard

A sign in Fabulous Interiors LLC advises, “Reduce Reuse Recycle.” Entrepreneur Joyce Cravener built her business on that mantra.

Though the economy was tanking, Cravener opened a resale furniture and accessories store on Main Street in June 2008. Success prompted a move to a larger place with more display space and windows at 18 W. Liberty St.

Why is this business succeeding and growing in a difficult economy? Maybe customers appreciate the nostalgic appeal of some of the vintage pieces in the shop. Maybe it’s that ever-growing “green” contingent who admires Cravener’s recycling ability to make “old new again.”

But don’t get the idea she buys anything and everything at the auctions and estates sales she frequents.

“I’m picky about what I buy,” she said.

And if she does buy something that’s a bit worn, it’s because she sees potential. Take a dining room table whose top was damaged. She used damask fabric on the chair covers then copied the design on the table top. It’s now a one-of-a-kind set. “There’s value in refinishing older items” she said.

Cravener doesn’t have any formal training in decorating or detailing; she’s self-taught. “I just have a passion for decorating,” she said. “I like to draw and create.”

And she has a knack with color and design. “I like to think of different ways to use furniture and accessories,” she said. “The eclectic look of today is about mixing older furniture with new ... it’s timeless and unique.”

She noted that she tends to use neutral colors that will blend well with existing furniture. A fainting couch, a piece from a bygone era, has new life upholstered in crisp black-and-white French country style. It would fit well into the sitting area of a bedroom.

An old library table she bought prompted her to inscribe William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18, on it. The verse, which begins, “Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate,” might inspire someone.

A child’s oak desk with a hutch could be used for study or storage. A bookcase, dating to 1910-20, detailed with inlay, might be a perfect addition to a living room or office.

A clock collector might appreciate a coffee table imprinted with Roman numerals in an endless march of time, or it could serve as a reminder to slow your hectic pace.

Cravener displays an old stereo cabinet as the perfect place for a flat-screen TV, its shelves and compartments available for storing DVDs.

“It’s about thinking outside the box,” Cravener said. She said one use for old feed and potato sacks is as chair covering.

She took an old feed bag with the words “Caf do Brasil” on it and turned it into the perfect extra chair, maybe for the kitchen.

Cravener’s displays are eye-catching. A mass of twigs hangs above a dining-room table with golden accents, creating a whimsical look. There’s also a Christmas nook, where you’ll find accessories for that season and more.

But if you feel lost when it comes to decorating, not to worry. Cravener makes house calls and will help you pull your look together. Some people request a certain piece, and she searches for it. “I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback,” she said about her service and store.

Her store is a one-woman show in the fact she’s the owner, salesperson and makeover artist. Her husband is a behind-the-scene asset.

“My biggest plus is my husband, Gary,” she said, noting he has been in the upholstery business some 30 years and his brother, William, even longer. She plans to offer upholstery classes for small items.

Her website http://fabulousinteriorsllc.wordpress.com/ features decorating tips and photos.