LANCASTER — Everything old is new again at The Lost Crate, a chalk paint furniture store along West Fair Avenue that’s set to have a grand opening Dec. 1.
Owner Rhonda Broyles, a Lancaster native, moved her successful chalk painting business from Boardman, Ohio, where she’s lived for 35 years, back to her hometown earlier this year.
It took her a few months before she settled on the 1700 West Fair Ave. location where there’s ample room for a retail store, classroom and work space for custom projects.
The building had been vacant for a while and she said it’s taken her a few months to get the space and displays ready for customers.
Broyles said she’d rather refurbish a piece of well-made antique furniture than buy something new that’s more expensive and lower quality.
“I’ve always been attracted to old furniture,” Broyles said, adding that just because it’s chipped doesn’t mean it should be thrown out. Broyles prefers a rustic chic style, but said she custom paints furniture in many other styles.
Painting is both therapeutic and enjoyable for Broyles. Chalk paint became her favorite medium because of its versatility and ability to cover up imperfections the old furniture she loves often has.
“Chalk paint is very forgiving,” she said. “You can do the rustic, the distressing and you can get a high-end finish,” she said.
In addition to selling paint, furniture and new home decor, she also offers classes to teach people how to paint their own furniture, including mommy and me classes, sip and paint gatherings and birthday parties.
The Fair Avenue storefront is Broyles’s second shop. She opened her first retail store in Boardman three years ago before closing it in April to move to Lancaster. Prior to operating the Boardman store, she spent about two decades painting furniture out of her home.
At first it was only a hobby, but eventually people commissioned Broyles to paint their furniture — everything from a night stand or chair to an entire bedroom suite. Broyles said she also takes a creative approach when it comes repurposing furniture, like turning an unwanted TV stand and turning it into a wine rack and bar.
In Boardman, Broyles said The Lost Crate was successful, generating enough sales that the chalk paint manufacturer allowed her to have a private label. She described the paint as being a higher quality than what is available at home improvement stores. The private label offers a total of 54 colors and 11 waxes. Each wax changes the color’s look, creating nearly 600 different designs on various surfaces, including leather, fabric and metal.
“There’s no reason why someone couldn’t find something that fits their home,” she said.
For more information on individual or group paint classes call 740-785-5079 or go to TheLostCrate.com.
740-681-4342
@SpencerRemo
Store hours
The Lost Crate will have a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 1. The regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
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