Fab Furniture Finds

Story by Christine Reese and Michelle Brosco Christian

Lucky owners of a hand painted piece of furniture by Erin McClintock-Hoffman, of La Plata, know that it needn't be large to attract all the attention in a room. No matter how large, or small, owners of Hoffman's work can take pleasure in knowing they have a one-of-a-kind piece.

The artist began her craft when she found a table that "needed a good home." Hoffman liked the style of the table, but not the color. She took the table home, sanded it, painted it and added her own "whimsical flair."

Hoffman is known for her whimsical style and personal touches on her designs. If you have something in your home you like, but don't like the color, Hoffman says she can change it to compliment your décor or add that special touch to a room. While Hoffman sells her unique pieces by special order, she also has smaller home accents available at Joson Fine Jewelry and Home Boutique in La Plata.

Former tobacco farmer John Bealle markets his handmade furniture at La Plata's Sycamore Accents and Gifts. After retirement and the tobacco buyout, Bealle found he "had time to kill" so he "bought a few tools" and began crafting handmade furniture and accents out of local wood.

In addition to Bealle's handmade tables, trunks, bookcases and many other items available through Sycamore, he also makes special order furniture. For those looking for that hard-to-find custom piece, Bealle says he'll "try to make just about anything."

Furniture sold at Periwinkle Place in Lusby isn't locally made, but the service you receive has a local flavor served up by owner Shannon Scott-Leach, who's lived in St. Mary's since the first grade and later taught first grade there many years.

Don't let the small cottage where Periwinkle Place is housed fool you, because while the display space may be limited, the availability isn't. "We have a little of everything and we do custom orders," said Scott-Leach. "We look for things others in this area don't have."

Periwinkle Place specializes in upholstered furniture, offering hundreds of styles and thousands of fabrics. "We try to stay away from run-of-the-mill furniture where what you see is all you can get," said Scott-Leach, adding that one of the furniture lines she offers allows a customer to choose from 30 different paint colors and even the amount of distressing on a piece.

Charlene Tsirigotis, owner of the Apple Basket in St. Mary's County, says her store carries "an eclectic mix" of furniture, from large hutches and nightstands to reproductions of Colonial furniture. And, she added, the stock is changing frequently, so you never know just what you'll find in the unique general store (circa 1800s).

Traditions of Loveville offers antique furniture along with contemporary, hard-to-find home décor-it's the place to go when you are looking for sophisticated, upscale furniture that can't be found at traditional furniture stores.

According to Traditions owner Becky Boyles, although the store carries some major furniture companies such as Lane, they "specialize in handpicking from smaller, superb quality companies with pieces that are different from the mainstream. Those pieces include everything from small leather pub chairs to huge bookshelf wall units."

As Traditions got its start as an antique store, much of their new furniture has an aged, antique charm you can only get from handmade, rather than mass-produced pieces. Traditions is also a full service interior design store, carrying all major fabric and wallpaper companies, and taking on virtually any custom sewing job.

Boyles said, "Do not be put off by the upscale nature of this store as we pride ourselves on having items in all price ranges. Also, don't be fooled by the exterior of this shop, which looks small and is housed in the historic Loveville Post Office Building." They have over 4,000-square-feet of rambling, inspiring space.

Often, a shock of color and clean-lined design, or a distressed cottage look, can be found at S-Kape Bed and Bath Decor, in Leonardtown, which provides bed and bath furnishings. Owner Shari Knowlton carries selections from Seabrook Classics (cottage furniture with the look and feel of coastal life) and other furniture makers, as well as local artwork. Shari said the store also offers complimentary in-home consultations.

"We're offering something colorful, bright, cheery, and casual," said Knowlton, adding that S-Kape's furniture offerings are special orders because there are "so many options," including 40 different paint colors and different finishes.

Seek and you shall find:

When you're looking for unique furniture finds, start locally. You might be surprised by how much is available right in your own area.

Apple Basket: Mechanicsville, 301-884-8118. Large collection of Victoriana including antique reproduction furniture.

CL Barnes Furniture Co.: White Plains, 301-645-8040. Wide variety of furnishings for every room.

Country Furniture Inc.: Waldorf, 301-843-0031. Large showroom of country-style, wood furniture.

Home Front Furnishings: Prince Frederick, 301-855-9966 or 410-414-7077. Home, office and entertainment furniture, including pool tables and billiard supplies.

Home Impressions: Leonardtown, 301-475-9660. Hand painted furniture, upholstered furnishings by Country Manor Furniture.

Periwinkle Place: Lusby, 410-326-8006. Unique home décor, specializing in custom order upholstered furnishings.

Raley's Home Furnishings: Waldorf and Lexington Park, 301-645-4600 or 301-863-8181. Large selection of brand name furniture of all types.

Sofa Corner: Lexington Park, 301-866-5300. Sleep sofas, leather collection and custom orders.

Sycamore Accents and Gifts: La Plata, 301-934-9008. Fine furniture reproductions and hand made furniture by John Bealle.

Thompson's Furniture City: Hollywood, 301-373-2151. Large selection of quality brand furniture.

Traditions of Loveville: Loveville, 301-475-8280. Elegant designer furnishings.

Outdoor Furniture

Stevenson Pools: Dunkirk, 301-855-6512. Various types of outdoor furnishings.

Tri-County Hearth & Patio Center: Waldorf, 301-645-7270. Two-story showroom and custom orders of patio furniture.

Waldorf Pottery: White Plains, 301-870-3002. Fine garden furniture and home décor.