Housed in a bright, welcoming space, the recently opened Blue Elephant consignment shop provides a stylish backdrop for its vintage furniture and housewares. Cream tile floors and a white tin ceiling accentuate the frosty blue hue on the shop's walls, while an unused rustic fireplace adds a touch of coziness. A family affair, the 425 N. Strawberry St. store is managed by a brother-and-sister team, Jessica and Johnny Andrews, and owned by their mother, Patsy Magraf. Midcentury modern selections are well represented, alongside kitsch from the 1970s and art nouveau pieces, everything from furniture and household accessories to linens and glassware, hand-picked from all over Virginia. Decorate your home with an emerald-green canopy chair or a vintage-inspired wooden cabinet splashed with deep orange tones. Industrial antiques are another highlight, from vintage workbench lamps to Edison light bulbs.
Despite the variety, Blue Elephant's interior is open and uncluttered. "We are very selective in what we take," Jessica explains. "We won't take anything that doesn't fit the store's setting." The aesthetic continues outside, where the shop has a back patio for customers interested in browsing through outdoor furniture.
Jessica also hopes to sell handmade jewelry alongside a selection of paintings. Don't let the well-appointed décor fool you; the shop doesn't boast expensive prices, says Jessica Andrews: "By having things that are a little newer and some fun items, it's not outside the range of a normal person." For more information, call 355-0406 or visit blueelephantrva.com .
