Allegan: Chez Dan and CJ

I was extra-anxious to finish with set-up at Allegan on Saturday, as the date for our long-awaited visit to fellow dealers Dan and CJ Zondervan's house in Grand Rapids had finally arrived. Located in a historic Grand Rapids neighborhhood, Dan and CJ's apartment is the first floor of a fabulous Victorian.

One step inside the front door and I totally understand why people hire an interior decorator like CJ! There is something wonderful to look at every time your turn around -- my favorite kind of space.

CJ's talents as a seamstress are also in full view, as are Dan's as a master carpenter and cabinet maker -- he completely renovated the spacious kitchen. Plus, there are rows and rows of decorating books; I could just move right in! (Maybe they wouldn't even notice me if I stayed very quiet.)

CJ's previous house had been featured in the Better Homes and Gardens book, Flea Market Decorating (pages 48-56), so you can take a better look. Be sure and stop and see them at Allegan next month; we're trying to lure them up to the Chicago shows again, maybe in the fall.

I should add that there was plenty of great conversation, dinner at the best burger-joint in town, and a quick peek at Zondervan's space in the Blue Door antique mall (front counter picture below), while they pulled a few items for Sunday. The mall was great -- you should definitely stop when you're in the area.

Back to real life! Sunday was the perfect show day weather-wise, and the crowd did not disappoint. Great to see so many of our favorite Michigan, Indiana and Illinois customers! We could have sold a whole truck load of small furniture, so that will be high on our shopping list for this week. I bought a couple of nifty industrial pieces that will form the basis for our Kane load. Check back a Friday for a preview! xo