A longtime Salmon Arm antique business located in an historic building is sporting a refreshed look and feel, courtesy of new owner Carmen Schmid.

Schmid took ownership of Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe last November. Previously, it had been run by Joyce Skinner since 1995. Like the vintage/antique products within, the location itself is unique, in that it is accessed by the alleyway between Alexander and Ross streets, and is located at the bottom of the Masonic Lodge which was constructed in 1922. According to Skinner, the space once served as a bathhouse.

乌鸦传媒淚 love history and I乌鸦传媒檓 glad it has a sassy past 乌鸦传媒� anything with character I love,乌鸦传媒� said Schmid who, through interactions with Skinner, was encouraged to buy the shop.

乌鸦传媒淚 hadn乌鸦传媒檛 intended on buying a business乌鸦传媒� but it was serendipitous that Joyce and I connected the way we did,乌鸦传媒� said Schmid. 乌鸦传媒淪he just really felt I was the right soul for this shop and I kind of felt that too. It was very personal.乌鸦传媒�

Schmid hails from Kamloops and, prior to locating to Salmon Arm, she had a lengthy career working as a professional photographer in Vancouver and Los Angeles.

Schmid moved to Salmon Arm to be close to her parents. Taking over the antique store, she explained, was a way of 乌鸦传媒渞ecreating乌鸦传媒� herself with another passion.

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乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e always loved vintage antiques since I was a kid, so it sort of made sense,乌鸦传媒� said Schmid. 乌鸦传媒淚t was kind of full circle for me. And also I restore and redesign antique and vintage furniture. And that乌鸦传媒檚 what actually led me to come in and talk to Joyce.乌鸦传媒�

After taking over the business, Schmid enlisted the help of volunteers who, over several months, helped renovate the space to fit her vision for it. Carpeting was torn out, floors restored, walls painted white, new lighting installed. The end result is a brighter, more open space that is now home to Schmid乌鸦传媒檚 renamed Curiosity Shop & Retro Haus Design. The shop, which formally reopened April 6, features curated collectibles, vintage items and antiques.

乌鸦传媒淭hese items, they乌鸦传媒檙e not only old 乌鸦传媒� some are 100 years old, they乌鸦传媒檙e still here today 乌鸦传媒� the quality surpasses the quality of a lot of items made today,乌鸦传媒� said Schmid. 乌鸦传媒淚 think the newer generation is very concerned about the environment and I want to bring back reuse of vintage items, not necessarily just for decor, but are utilitarian as well.乌鸦传媒�

Schmid said she乌鸦传媒檚 in the process of adding tags to items being sold, providing a history of each 乌鸦传媒渂ecause I think it乌鸦传媒檚 important for people that are in here buying, who may not be collectors, to understand about, for example, Depression glass and the history behind it, because it makes it more special and unique.乌鸦传媒�

Schmid is open to taking items on consignment, and visiting residences of people who may have antique items they乌鸦传媒檙e interested in selling.

With Retro Haus Design, Schmid re-imagines and restores antique furniture 乌鸦传媒渦sing only high-end artisanal products.乌鸦传媒�

In addition to the new look, visitors to the Curiosity Shop will also be greeted with vintage tunes spinning on a record player at the back.

乌鸦传媒淚 would have things like poetry readings, art shows 乌鸦传媒� I kind of want to bring a little bit of my culture from big cities, I want to bring some of that here to Salmon Arm,乌鸦传媒� said Schmid. 乌鸦传媒淚 want to incorporate some of that into the shop and make the shop interactive as well.乌鸦传媒�

More information can be found on the Curiosity Shop & Retro Haus Design page on Facebook, where images of new items are posted regularly.

lachlan@saobserver.net
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