SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — In an era when many businesses are closing their doors, Lisa Faitell is doing the opposite.
On August 1, the award-winning interior designer opened Faitell Attractions, a design showroom and curated furniture consignment store on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara.
Aware of the economic challenges wrought by the pandemic, Faitell sensed an opportunity.
"Most of my friends and people in the community that know me said, 'oh my gosh, you're so brave!' I interpreted that as: 'You must be crazy!'” Faitell said.
"But I realized very quickly that people are spending all this extra time in their homes, looking at their walls and interiors and wanting to make improvements. They're spending money on their homes because they're not spending it on other things like travel."
A relative newcomer to Santa Barbara, Faitell has a loyal following on the East Coast.
She has run two of her own design firms, Faitell Interiors and Homme Interior for more than 20 years in New York, winning the "Best of Houzz Award" three times, and the "Best of Manhattan Award for Design”.
She moved to Santa Barbara three years ago to be closer to her daughter, then a student at UCSB. Faitell serviced her clients on both coasts until COVID brought things to a halt.
But New York's loss is Santa Barbara's gain. Faitell hopes to make Faitell Attractions a regular destination for locals looking for unique furniture and home decor.
"When people come in I want them to say: 'Wow!' And that is exactly what’s happening," Faitell said. "We want to be the go-to resource in the community."
Faitell Attractions' showroom features stylish and unique vintage and gently used furniture, antiques, art and home décor accessories from around the world.
Faitell selects her pieces from a range of sources including private sellers, estate sales, stagers, and antique shows.
Although Faitell curates her collection with a variety of styles, her emphasis is on the Mid-Century Modern Design.
"It's very colorful," Faitell said. "I think people are looking to add color to their lives given all that's going on in the world. Color makes people happy."
The store also features a design showroom showcasing custom window fashions including blinds, woven wood shades, roman shades, honeycomb shades and drapery from Horizon Window Fashions and Norman Shutters.
In addition, Faitell offers private interior design services for clients seeking personalized design expertise.
Lisa’s daughter, Nikki Faitell, has joined her mother’s enterprise, creating a dynamic mother-daughter duo. Nikki graduated from UCSB in 2018 with a BA in Communications and Technology Management.
"It's an exciting opportunity," Nikki Faitell said. "We each have unique skills to bring to the table. We're teaching each other and both learning as we go.”
To spread the word about the new store, Faitell Attractions has been hosting regular special events and is currently offering 20% off window coverings through the end of October.
Faitell Attractions is located at 619 State Street in Santa Barbara. Store hours are on Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Business Matters / California / Community / Economy / House & Home / Lifestyle / Santa Barbara- S County
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