Up-cycle or DIY with indie store Verdigreen Home.
Verdigreen started with a simple seed of an idea: painting vintage furniture to make it look new. Azie Shelhorse started painting vintage furniture in 2010. She sold her items on an Etsy page, which reached out to others who shared her passion. With a little water and sunlight, her idea grew into a community.
“I never intended to open a store, I just enjoyed it as my hobby. But it kept evolving! I just kept an open mind,” said Shelhorse.
Shelhorse had room to display her upcycled furniture in her old Atlanta home. When her family moved here, Shelhorse rented the storefront at 182 Glenridge Ave. to showcase some of her creations. She reached out to local moms and the public to include some of their ideas in the store. Soon, Verdigreen was flourishing.
Shelhorse described Verdigreen as a “hyperlocal artisan market/upcycled vintage store.” The store is actually two storefronts connected. One side acts as a studio, where Shelhorse teaches DIY classes and workshops. The other side is a finished showroom. Verdigreen displays home goods here, everything from locally found lighting and dressers to candles and pillows.
“I buy what I love,” said Shelhorse. She added that Verdigreen’s “ethnic urban bohemian” vibe has inspired some customers to ask her to make their homes look like the shop. As a result, for the last two years Shelhorse has assisted in interior design.
Verdigreen stocks Annie Sloan products. Non-toxic and waterbased, Annie Sloan products are easy and forgiving for anyone to use. The paint’s saturated quality provides a matte faux finish that elevates vintage furniture. Shelhorse was fortunate enough to have trained under Annie Sloan several years ago.
Verdigreen supports local artists and musicians. The store features “Free Friday” a few weeks out of the year. The store hosts local people, music and food on these occasions. Additionally, Verdigreen hosts Ladies Night’s throughout the year. On Saturday morning, Shelhorse teaches weekly workshops in Verdigreen’s studio.
“When we first moved here, my kids weren’t school age yet. I wanted to find a way to connect with others within the community. I wanted to be a part of something. It’s important to support each other, woman to woman, stay-at-home moms doing crafty things,” said Shelhorse.
Check out Shelhorse’s work on Verdigreen’s Instagram at instagram.com/verdigreenhome and Facebook page at facebook.com/VerdigreenHome. Visit Verdigreen’s website at verdigreenhome.com.
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