You can't miss the eye-catching window displays at Bohland & Graham (2605 W. Cary St., 859-1577), which feature furniture, art and home accessories that cater to the seasons.
"We've made a plan to change our window once a month," says owner Liz Ughetta. She and her husband, Mark, recently opened the antique shop on Cary Street in the Fan.
Liz Ughetta's parents owned a New York City antique shop, giving her an up-close look at the business of being a business owner. But while that knowledge has come in handy in opening Bohland & Graham, the shop reflects her own artistic vision. "I created a store where I would love to shop for home furnishings, irresistible accessories and gifts for friends," she says. One of her favorite items is an 18th-century Welsh oak cupboard with a glossy finish.
The Ughettas' store blends neutral tones — tan, black and white — to create an elegant but warm backdrop for its American and English antiques. Mahogany furniture ranges in price from $100 to $5,000, while smaller offerings — among them, bone jewelry (estate finds) and hourglasses — run from $12 to $40.
The shop gets its stock from vendors, estate sales and historic houses. Liz Ughetta picked up fireplace fenders from the summer home of Abraham Lincoln's great-grandson on the Piankatank River in Hartfield. Along with catering to clients' requests for specific items, the Ughettas are working on a database that will allow them to let customers know about new offerings.
The shop offers free local delivery, will arrange shipping to far-flung destinations, and provides repair and upholstery services. It also has 20 percent designer discounts available on selected items throughout the store. —Erika Blankenship
A Whole New Lu
The plum brick and cheery teal door of Carytown's newest boutique, LeenaLu (3143 W. Cary St.), is certainly inviting, and once you've made your way inside, you'll find feminine accessories at savvy price points. Owner Lee Ann Ibañez opened the store in late November, and she says her goal is to flaunt an expensive look without the dollar signs — "to be able to look fashionable without the price," she says. LeenaLu offers everything from sleek handbags (less than $30) to purple studded heels ($33), as well as sunglasses, jewelry, scarves, hats and jackets. For more information, call 358-0639 or visit twitter.com/LeenaLu. —EB
High-End Finds
Attached to the back of Shops at 5807, Patterson Avenue's stylish co-op of local retailers, Lavish Apothecary opened in late fall, offering high-end, hard-to-find grooming products. They include Italian-imported Marvis toothpaste, offered in five flavors, as well as the soy-based True Gentlemen shaving cream and brush set. This month, Lavish introduces two new lines: Eve Lom, which features a facial cleanser that tones skin, exfoliates, removes makeup and cleanses all at once, and Becca, an Australian makeup line that features concealer in
34 shades, as well as 30 shades of foundation. For more information, call 716-0187 or visit shop5807.com. —Bethany Emerson
Moving House
After four years in Shockoe Bottom, House of Lukaya moved to 1 1/2 S. Stafford Ave. in mid-October. "I finally admitted to myself that location was not really for retail," owner Lucretia Jones says with a laugh. The Richmond native offers clothing, jewelry and wall art at her boutique's new Fan address, as well as a variety of custom oil fragrances — for which she'll blend any of her hundreds of all-natural essential oils upon customer request. Jones' newest product, Lavage á Trois, is a shampoo, conditioner and body-wash trio that's made from pure castile soap and flower waters and blended with rosemary-infused olive oil. For more information, call 377-3380 or visit houseoflukaya.com. —BE
