Housewares shop Spartan has been a Remodelista favorite ever since owner Currie Pearson opened it in Austin, Texas, in 2008. Currie lives most of the time in Portland, Oregon, however, and she recently opened the doors to a Pacific Northwest outpost of Spartan this past October.
Currie worked with friends Ruth and Peter De Jong of De Jong & Co., who co-designed the store and kitted it out with custom fixtures. The team kept it simple: they built a dividing wall, fitted shades to the two walls of 15-foot windows, and painted the floors and walls. Says Currie: “The biggest nail biter was deciding on white paint colors. We considered so many.” With the newfound square footage, Currie is planning to host more events and to bring new companies into the fold: lighting by Lambert & Fils, ParkerWorks, and Workstead; furniture by De Jong & Co., rugs by Armadillo & Co.; and fine art. Here’s a look inside.
N.B.: You can find both Spartan and De Jong & Co. at our upcoming Remodelista Market at Rejuvenation in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, December 17, and Sunday, December 18.
Photography courtesy of Philip De Jong and Currie Person.
Above: A vintage 1970s Gerard Van Den Berg Sofa next to the Grue Floor Lamp by Lambert & Fils and Tall Buddy Floor Lamps by ParkerWorks. The leaning mirror is by De Jong & Co. and is available through Spartan.
Above: Currie’s dog Greta rests on a rug by Armadillo & Co.
Above: De Jong & Co. designed a Claro Walnut slab and signature base table for the shop; the walnut Bas Chairs are also by De Jong & Co. The Waldorf Suspension Light by Lambert & Fils is $615 and the Amphora Hanging Vases are by Kati Von Lehman.
Above: The Helios Lamp by Workstead and a pair of Judy Jackson White Vases ($48 each) on the Mandelbrot Credenza by De Jong & Co. (contact Spartan for pricing and information).
Above: Display furniture throughout the store was designed by De Jong & Co. from domestic plywoods: low rectangular displays on casters, a sales counter from oxidized maple (right), and tables in bleached maple. A pair of Hiro Barstools in Oak from De Jong & Co. are available through Spartan.
Above: A French cleat floating shelf with Clam Lab Tall Vases ($330) on the left and the Blue Grey Bowl ($264), Cerulean Bowl ($264), and Family Member Vases ($298 each) all by Victoria Morris on the right. A trio of Dibbet Stools from De Jong & Co. in oak and walnut in the foreground.
Above: “We really wanted to encourage people to sit, relax, and stay a while,” says Currie about the custom corner sofa design kitted with art books and magazines. “We love that people come to our shops and feel like they can hang around—not feel pressured—to explore, rest, and keep exploring.” The artwork is by Portland artist Amy Bernstein.
Above: The floor is painted with an industrial epoxy in Benjamin Moore Cloud White, walls are also Benjamin Moore in Glacier White, and the shades are from The Shade Store. For more on white paint, visit 10 Easy Pieces: Architects’ White Paint Picks.
For more inspiring shop interiors, see our posts:
- Shopper’s Diary: Neutral Essentials from a Dutch Design Company
- Shopper’s Diary: Everyday Objects, Artfully Sourced, at Momosan Shop in London
- Shopper’s Diary: Kick Pleat in Austin, Texas
- Shopper’s Diary: The Kitchen Sink and More at Set & Co. in Dallas
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