Pillows with welcoming quotes are stacked on a shelf adjacent from a hutch filled with hand lotions and bars of soap near the store’s entrance.
Apple-scented candles — just like the one burning in the store — are packed onto a nearby rack, directly in front of a bed displaying the store’s seasonal sheet collection and hangers holding solid-color robes.
These are some of the items found at Painting with Flowers, a home goods boutique on Main Street in Port Washington, which owner, Gayle Silver, said are handpicked by her and other staff members “to fill the homes of Port Washington residents.”
“I want to fill the store with great lifestyle items,” Silver said. “I would never buy anything for the store that I wouldn’t want in my own house.”
This past weekend, Painting with Flowers celebrated its 30th anniversary, kicking off the weekend with a champagne toast on Friday — the start to a weekend sale.
“I can’t believe we’ve actually come this far,” Silver said. “When I was starting out all those years ago, I didn’t expect this. I thought it would be something I did for a short time, but now look at this store.”
Beginning her career as a garden designer, Silver began doing designs for Port Washington residents, she said.
In 1986, she set up her designs in the corner of a friend’s store, and people began to notice and demand for her products grew, allowing her to expand into her current location at 298 Main Street, she said.
“It’s really great to see how much she’s accomplished,” said Alison Packer, Silver’s daughter, who has been helping with the shop since its inception. “I began helping my mom out when I was in high school, so I’ve seen how much she’s done since then. It’s incredible.”
The store features a variety of home goods, including art, candles, furniture, jewelry and gifts. It recently began selling clothing, too.
Competing in a challenging small business market, Silver said she keeps up with bigger retailers and online stores by buying unique items for the store and staffing the store’s floor with experts.
Marilyn Armbruster, an employee for six years, said all of the store’s staff specializes in different areas, allowing the purchasing process to run smoothly, which allows the store to carry a variety of products.
“We all specialize in different areas, so we all have an eye for different things,” Armbruster said. “Sometimes it’ll be one person picking out the jewelry, or clothes or candles. We all play a different role.”
Silver said she and the staff go to shows to purchase items about six times a year, buying unique items that are frequently repurchased because of the customer demand.
“All of these items are from different artists and designers,” Silver said. “It might be pottery from Astoria, or something from somewhere further away like Ireland. I try to find things that are different and that will catch people’s eyes.”
Lori Murphy, a store employee for 18 years, said working at Painting with Flowers is a “therapeutic experience,” because members of the staff aren’t co-workers, but friends.
“Everyone gets along with everyone and we rely on each other for a lot of things too,” Murphy said. “This is such a family environment and I love working here because of it.”
Ila Scheckner, who has been working at the store for 14 years, said the store’s environment “brings out people’s happiness.”
“It makes you feel like your part of a community,” she said.
Katherine Lee, a customer who has shopped at the store for years, said she continues to come back because the store has evolved, but the “style and fresh feel” has remained the same.
While the store uses social media more to promote its products and brand, Packer said, it still features similar designs and products that it always has.
“We’re a local store and we’ve been promoting ourselves more, and we ship nationwide,” Packer said. “But we’re always looking out for our community.”
Silver said Painting with Flowers participates in local charitable causes because the community has helped her out and she wants to help out Port Washington.
“This is a community I’ve lived in for years, so we love to give back to it,” Silver said.
Focusing on picking out the perfect products for the store, Silver said, she’s going to continue running the store the way she knows: Only buying products she thinks would look good in her house and offering a wide variety of options from different designers.
“She’s just got a great eye for things,” Packer said. “She knows what’s beautiful.”
