Published 12/20/07

Eclectic elegance the theme at Gatherings

by Beckye Randall

Whether furnishing an entire home or looking for that one perfect accessory, Gatherings should be at the top of your shopping list.

The beautiful store, located at 1515 Third St. in downtown Marysville, is filled with inspiration for every decor. Owners Carol Rochon and Jana Demarais call it “eclectic European,” which is an apt description for the mix of antiques, contemporary furnishings and unique artwork.

Both women are avid collectors and each brings a unique sense of style to the business, but their individual paths to the partnership started in very different industries.

Rochon had a career in department store merchandising before discovering a talent for fabrication. A few years ago she began “repurposing” salvage items like old windows and other architectural pieces, transforming them into works of art for the home and garden. Her designs were so popular she was soon working 18-hour days to keep up with the demand. Besides supplying her original items to wholesalers, Rochon traveled to estate sales up and down the West coast, buying antiques that she resold in local shops.

Meanwhile Demarais was in the restaurant and catering business as manager of Donato’s, her family’s popular eatery. While food was the restaurant’s prime attraction, the antiques Demarais displayed artfully in the downtown Everett location added to its funky appeal.

“There were a lot of my kids’ toys on display there,” she said. Vintage wagons, tricycles and dolls lined Donato’s walls and complemented other antique finds.

After the restaurant closed, Demarais found herself with rooms full of decorative items. Rochon, managing a growing inventory of antiques and original pieces, was in a similar situation. They discussed possible business ideas and were ready to move ahead when they found the perfect opportunity.

About a year ago, the two friends learned that the downtown location was being vacated by the former business, a quilt shop, and they quickly negotiated a lease. Over the next few months the two women, with help from Demarais’ husband, transformed the building’s utilitarian interior into a lush, elegant canvas for their creative talents.

“Because of my work with salvage materials, I’m fearless with a saw,” said Rochon. “If something didn’t turn out right the first time, I just tried it again.”

The owners began tearing out cabinets and shelves and found themselves having to patch and replace crumbling walls. They built an impressive archway to enhance the European feeling and constructed built-in display hutches that look like they’ve always been there.

Finally, on February 15, 2007, Gatherings opened its doors. The store features “the French wives’ finds” because both Rochon and Demarais are married to Frenchmen.

Among the more unique finds in the shop are the near life-size Madonna prints by artist Victoria Miller. “These pieces are so unusual and so evocative,” said Demairis. The artwork is almost 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide, featuring classic poses that could have been painted by the Masters.

“We have antiques here, but we’re not an antique store,” said Rochon. “We’re not worried about the pedigree of a piece. What’s important to us is the feeling, the design potential.”

In addition to furnishings and accessories, Gatherings carries a popular line of necklaces, reminiscent of rosaries, made of beads and intricate crosses. Infusers by Be Home Ambience, made with essential oils, are another fast-moving item. “They’re all the rage with movie stars these days,” explained Rochon.

For last-minute shoppers, Gatherings stocks two styles of luxurious bathrobes, one made of fine silk, priced at $139.99, and the other of soft and absorbent microfiber for $54.99.

Gatherings is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will also be open Sunday, December 23, from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, phone (360) 659-9729.