Great Jones Home: A window into style

Whenever I find myself by the storefront of Great Jones Home in Belltown, I perform a self-indulgent ritual: I stand in front of the display window and gaze with awe as if I was looking at an art exhibit, a la Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." After a few seconds of ogling, I give in and walk into the shop.

Fashion rules at Great Jones Home. This is where the eclectic style of Paris meets the flair of Miami. Here you'll get a taste of mixing paradoxical trends in home décor, blending contemporary furniture with antique, vintage and art deco finds, and accentuating the furnishings with dramatic avant-garde art pieces. Wander around this vibrant boutique and you'll find one-of-a-kind, grab-it-while-it's-there home furnishings such as the 19th century French gilded mirror ($4500), Louis Vuitton oxford bin ($595), handpainted Hermes cocktail tray with stand ($1295), Italian vintage console circa 1940s ($3160), Spanish sunburst mirror made by an artist in Barcelona ($6800), cobra nightstand ($1600), French camel hair sofa from the 1930s ($6995), vintage gold bamboo bench ($1100), mirrored pink leopard ottoman ($925), crimson red coral-shaped salad servers ($82) and more. You'll also find candy-colored bowls and plates that look good enough to eat, sweet-smelling candles, coffee table books on fashion, architecture and design, crystal candlesticks, charming chandeliers, luscious bath and body products, and other swell goods that Martha Stewart would be proud to claim.

"Our customers are really hip. They're pretty daring and don't want the traditional format that fits in a certain box," says Carrie Hayden, owner of Great Jones Home. "They want something different."

Great Jones Home has been in business for ten years, though it was 2001 when Hayden, 34, acquired the name and space and began creating the kind of shop she wanted. "It was kind of a rebirth for the store," Hayden says. "Since the clientele was already established, we wanted to continue its growth and transform the store to have its own identity."

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JOANN NATALIA AQUINO

Living room, Great Jones Home style. Contemporary furnishings are mixed with antique, vintage and art deco finds. (Each piece sold separately)

To add a more personal touch, Great Jones Home began offering design consultations starting at $120 per hour to cater to each of their client's needs. "We go through a list of what our clients want to accomplish and put together a plan," she says. "We can also help them shop around the store and make sure that they select the right pieces and assist them with all their other concerns."

This spacious, nifty shop also carries custom-made wallpapers and various types of deluxe fabrics by the yard for fashionable beddings, pillows and upholstery that suits each individual style. With Great Jones Home's vast selection of plush silks, linens, children's fabrics, indoor/outdoor fabrics, suede, velvet, microfibers, natural fibers and imported textiles, you can reupholster your favorite well-loved but worn-out furniture, filling it with new life and refreshing the ambiance of your home.

"We try to carry items that are fun, stylish and really cool," Hayden cheerfully says.

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JOANN NATALIA AQUINO

Multi-color decorative pillows.

As the shop celebrates its fifth anniversary, Hayden, reflects on Great Jones Home's growth, success and vision. "It was a personal accomplishment to get over the five-year mark," she says. "Now that we've made it, hopefully we'll be around for a really long time."

Offering fancy and funky at the same time, Great Jones Home is sure to become one of your favorite places to shop or simply to browse around. Next time you're around the Belltown neighborhood, don't just stop and look through the windows of Great Jones Home — come in and wander. It's well worth the visit.