the

boutik

meraki

images of the floods, the construction zone at Meraki's first location, as well as images of Meraki throughout it's transformation

Construction

an image gallery of the construction that took place at my first location at 190 main st. i had been open for about 6 weeks when it started.

"the new owners will continue to work when they want, *even though the lease says any work done on the building will be done after business hours* and we're not going to renew your lease. you can stay if you want, but the rent will go from $1,000/mth to $2,500/mth. my clients need to recoup the cost of treating you like shit."

190 Main St.

Dump trucks filled with garbage were backed up as close as possible to my porch/back entryway.

Construction

190 main st., space no. 01

Huge trucks like this blocked the entrance almost daily.

constructive
eviction

190 main st., space no. 01

Construction

"Let's make sure we back this one up as close to her windows as possible. that dumpster isn't gonna fill itself. "

190 main st., space no. 01

Construction

"did you guys clean up your shit before you left for the day?"
"nah, boss."
"perfect."

190 main st., space no. 01

Construction

"can you reach it billy bob?"
"just make sure your dick is in view for her customers."

190 main st., space no. 01

Construction

"fellas, did we make sure to pile as much garbage into that trailer as possible?"
"sure did, boss."
"that's what i call teamwork. who wants to go get a brewsky?"

190 main st., space no. 01

Construction

"where you at boss? are you gonna grab this?"
"make sure you're standing as close to blocking the entryway without actually blocking it as you can."
"10-4"

190 main st., space no. 01

Construction

"we made sure to park our bohemath trucks just far enough apart to take up the whole parking lot, but not far enough for anyone else to park."

190 main st., space no. 01

Construction

"make sure you put that giant thing in the entryway. it's nice and ugly."

190 main st., space no. 01

Construction

Shit. this photo doesn't go here.
Wrong location. they all look the same.

190 main st., space no. 01

86 partition

I'm here to show the world that a woman can be light and dark, gentle and fierce, strong and soft, warrior and healer...

and that makes her a monster of a woman.

Before and after photos of the inside and outside of Meraki at 86 Partition. I didn't photograph the first two spaces much.
Space N. 01: Construction zone
Space N. 02: Duct tape holding the ceiling up

Before

after

I poured all of myself into this space. I swear my heart actually broke in half when this was taken from me, and I think the part that broke off is still there.

I adored the color of the walls in this space. It's actually what made me love it so much. But it ended up clashing with the clothes and it made the space feel small (it was) and dark.

BEFORE

Light walls brightened the entire space, made it look bigger, and helped the clothing pop. Artwork also looks better on a clean, white, wall. I hung everything from pieces of driftwood that I foraged down by the river. Gorgeous and FREE! (Retail fixtures are crazy expensive.)

AFTER

The previous tenant (and very close friend of mine) built out the fitting rooms. The look went perfectly with her inventory; dark and intimate.

I wanted everything to be bright and earthy; I have an obsession with California, and I wanted that to show in the store. All in it cost me about $50 to redo the fitting rooms.

BEFORE

I replaced the old curtains using long pieces of white fabric. I used a big piece of driftwood and hung them floor to ceiling. It completely changed the look of the entire space and became one of my favorite features. I have a long standing obsession with driftwood, and since the floors had been damaged so badly, I had them redone. Those floors were my favorite thing - I loved them.

AFTER

While I loved the way the space looked, it was too dark. I wanted a brighter, more earthy look mixed with a Brooklyn vibe, and dramatic fitting room curtains that were that showed the height of the ceiings.

BEFORE

It came out exactly as I saw it in my head - at least for those 10 minutes before I changed my mind again.

I was obsessed with my store. People complimented it every single day - from the scent of palo santo when you walked in the door to the artwork on the walls, to the overall look and feel. 2 years and 3 spaces later - I had finally done it. And then *poof* - it was taken from me.

AFTER

I made my first cash wrap from old doors I found at one of the many abandoned houses I toured. I used two ceiling tiles for the front, and scraps of wood for the frame. I salvaged a huge piece of plexiglass for the top, which was next to impossible to cut to size - I almost gave up.
Cost: FREE.
(If it's free - it's me.)

BEFORE

This was NOT free, but it was exactly what I had wanted and I didn't have a lot of time to figure it out. The first flood destroyed the one that I made.

This had the higher end, chic boutique aesthetic that I was looking for, and it blended perfectly with the design.

AFTER

I hated that sign. I don't know what I was thinking other than "I just wuv purple. Purple pwetty." I couldn't wait to replace it. And while I could have made it myself, I turned to ETSY instead; the sign was beautiful but started to fall apart after a year. (Turned out it didn't matter...because I was evicted.)

The dark green exterior broke my soul every single day.

BEFORE

I painted the outside white; I, of course, did not touch any of the moldings. I loved how it came out. I eventually painted the floors of the window displays white as well, it was bright, inviting, clean, and chic. This was shortly after the second flood; I was forwarded an email exchange from Tasyka between RUPCO and the Historical Board about it. I swear...Tasyka was excited to tell me I was in trouble. Except I wasn't.