Retro Den Holiday Gift Guide
/The holidays are upon us, friends. We've put together a little gift guide to make selecting that thoughtful local gift a little easier. But wait! What about your wishes this year? Before you do anything, come in and fill out our Retro Den Wish List (or just email us your list!), then tell your friends and family to come see us because the Ashleys at Retro Den know what you really want for the holidays.
Now for that gift guide!
1. Plants!
Succulents, air-plants and containers galore! Stop by the plant bar and pot up a succulent or two right here in the shop. We can teach you how or we'd be happy to do it for you! Our ridiculously wonderful selection of planters include both vintage and hand-built. We are especially into containers by local artists like Mudhouse Studio and the Makerage!
2. Wooden Letters
These letters were handmade for use in a foundry located outside of Oklahoma City. They worked as molds to create aluminum and plastic business signs for over fifty years. Gift one for home decor (hanging on a wall or leaning on a shelf!) or make a personalized ornament using our festive baker's twine.
3. A Home Refresh!
Oh hey! Word on the street is our in-home styling sessions are a wonderful gift to both give and receive. Do you know someone who wants a home that brings them energy and joy? Well, you can give them just that for the holidays by getting two Ashleys to help them complete their space. See our home styling offerings to decide what package works best!
Photo credit: Molly Thrasher Visuals
Photo credit: Molly Thrasher Visuals
4. Vintage Barware
Decanters, ice buckets, pitchers, cocktail glasses! Everyone loves a good drink, especially around the holidays. Help your friend start her vintage barware collection or make a pretty contribution to your weird uncle's established one. Either way, vintage barware is sure to be a crowd pleaser.
5. Lantern slides
We have a crazy wide selection of vintage lantern slides collected from across the country. Get a handmade wooden frame to hang your slides in a window or just lean it on the sill. These slides are a great personalized gift and great fun to look through.
6. Vintage postcards
Our vintage postcard collection is top notch. Find a wide variety of genres from different time periods as far back as the 1800s. Some even have handwritten notes from decades past, which we think add to their character and value. Take a moment to flip through our postcard books to find just the right one.
7. OK Collective candles
Hand-poured soy candles by local makers OK Collective. We offer three lovely scents - Teakwood, Oakmoss & Amber, and Blood Orange. Who wouldn't love a candle?
8. Macrame plant hanger DIY kits
For that person in your life who loves a good DIY project, pick up a House Sparrow Fine Nesting macrame plant hanger kit. The kit includes step-by-step instructions and all needed materials. For those not so crafty people, pick up an already completed hanger in the store. And a plant. Did we mention we have those too?
9. Vintage Chotskies
Oh man, we are your source for vintage chotskies. From brass animals to prop cameras, our shop is packed full with interesting objects that are fun to give and receive.
10. Sticks and Rocks
No, really. You can buy sticks and rocks as gifts. Our driftwood is locally sourced from the Arkansas River and can be used as decor (try pairing with air-plants, pine cones or other greenery for a different look!) or made into other useful objects like a lamp. Also, remember the pet rock craze? Let's bring that back. Or maybe let's just agree that rocks as decor give a good natural look to your space.
Pair with a card
And last but not least, take advantage of our one-stop shop with handmade greeting cards by the talented, friendly ladies of Laurel & Marie. The perfect companion to your local gifts.
When you Shop Local
When you shop local, you are supporting the hard work of your friends and neighbors. You, the local shopper, make creative shops and businesses possible, and we really appreciate that. Thank you!
Three Ashleys, Two Kitchens: Meet Ashley Whiteside
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We do home styling for people. We come into spaces that aren't quite done and leave them beautifully finished. We move, we shift, we work with your style, we shop your home and give you resources. That's what we do. What we don't do, however, is completely reconfigure kitchens.
Ashley Palmer and I both have kitchens needing help, but we were struggling with the logistical side of the redesign–what materials would work best in this situation? Who do I hire to make cabinets? Can I knock that wall out? Palmer checked out various contractors who couldn't relate to her design sense, and I have had a year of troubling, sticky small home renovations with craftsmen who didn't quite work out. It wasn't fun.
Read MoreCalifornia Boho Style Airbnb House
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Have you suddenly had the itch to hang a basket on your wall? California-inspired bohemian modern decor is coming on strong these days. My family of three traveled west to Summerland, California, near Santa Barbara, earlier this summer and stayed in the MOST lovely Airbnb. It perfectly illustrated the sweet simplicity of California boho style.
This was our first trip with our daughter who was nine months at the time, and we vowed to stay somewhere so pretty that we didn't resent our baby when we had to be in the house at an early bedtime. It is very important not to be mad at your adorable baby while trying to relax on vacation. And look just how lovely our home away from home was!
Read MoreOur Top 5 Reasons Why to Shop Vintage
/Shopping vintage. A topic obviously near and dear to us Ashleys' hearts. We both quit our professional day jobs to run a vintage home shop afterall. Why is shopping vintage so wonderful you ask? Here's why!
1. You need old and new in your home. Ever go into a house and it feels like a catalogue or, on the other extreme, a thrift store? That, my friends, is because every home needs both old and new pieces to look balanced and pulled together. While there are always exceptions, only having new pieces in your space leaves it looking sterile and unimaginative, whereas only having vintage can give off a grandma vibe. That's why it's so important to mix it up and let the pieces complement one another to achieve an optimal look. The new lends your home a modern and fresh feel whereas the vintage gives it soul and character. One without the other wouldn't be nearly as beautiful. Let them work together for you.
Read More
