By Olivia Shumaker
Review Intern
Downtown Lake Orion is proud to welcome the newest member of its business community.
Open since the Flower Fair on the weekend of June 2 and 3, Vignettes offers visitors a variety of one-of-a-kind items.
‘So far I’ve had a really good response,? said owner Deena Maurus.
Though Vignettes is new to the site it occupies, Maurus is not. She was working at the store when it was called Painted Lady. An artist herself, Maurus sold some of her own work in the store, as well as at various Lake Orion events including Dragon on the Lake a few years ago. Over time she became familiar with the owner of Painted Lady. When the owner decided that she was not going to keep Painted Lady open any longer, Maurus decided to give it a whirl.
‘When Debbie decided she wasn’t going to do it, I thought ‘Hmm. It’s not that far, it’s a cute little spot,?? Maurus said. ‘It felt comfortable. It felt right.?
Maurus moved in over the course of six days, painting, changing the lighting, and getting the floor redone in time to open for the Flower Fair, which proved to be good timing. ‘I sold most of my larger pieces and I got a lot of custom orders,? Maurus said.
Since opening, Maurus has tried to bring her own flavor to Vignettes, greeting customers with the enthusiasm and extravagance of her theater-music background. She sells many of her own pieces, including painted furniture, such as a carefully aged secretary desk or an ocean blue dresser, and handmade paper crafts like Eiffel Tower-print custom gift tags. Walking into the store, customers may be captivated by a velvet-upholstered dining room chair, or a small dress form in a pink tutu intended to become a little girl’s lamp. Her sister creates pillows for Vignettes and does custom orders with fabric related items, and Maurus also carries soaps from the brand Wicked Soaps, created by a vendor from Charlotte, Michigan, whose scent populates the store atmosphere.
In addition, Maurus does custom orders for painted furniture and re-upholstery, as well as limited consignment. Maurus is always updating her stock and is currently looking for more local, Michigan-based artisans to sell in Vignettes.
So far, response has been positive from both customers and fellow business owners. Maurus has pointed customers to other Lake Orion stores if she did not offer what they were looking for. She has also given some of her own business to local vendors, such as The Angel, the Witch, and the Old Crow.
‘Everybody’s got their own taste, and if they don’t find it in my store, why not in one of the other Lake Orion stores?? Maurus said.
Vignettes hopes that you will visit sometime soon. Check out the store in person or on Facebook to keep up with the changing inventory and unique atmosphere.
‘My goal is to make it a place that people enjoy coming into. They feel good when they walk in and they feel good when they leave,? Maurus said. ‘Keep it fun and fresh.?