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Feature Story : Berlin Village Gift Barn
Offering an array of home interior options Village Gift Barn and Country Gatherings make shopping an experience By Joanne Lehman Wander through a barn like few found in rural Holmes County. The Village Gift Barn and its sister store, Country Gatherings, located next door, offers a fabulous selection of home furnishings and accessories. “Our goal was to make a place where visitors could come and enjoy their experience,” said owner Ruth Schlabach. The Village Gift Barn buyers look for the latest trends and colors in accessories, lamps, wall art, area rugs and furniture. The company has been in business since the spring of 2000. In 2006, they doubled their showroom space, which occupies three floors. Country Gatherings, located just across the way, offers colonial, primitive wares and Early American furniture and accessories. Heather Yates is the interior designer for the Village Gift Barn. Whether a customer needs help from the ground up, is remodeling, or is simply after a fresh look for their home, Yates is available to consult with them. “Sometimes our visitors bring pictures of the rooms they are working on and I help them place art and accessories. We tailor make the design to fit the client’s needs. I am a very visual person, so it’s easy to look at a photo and take it from there.” Yates will go to a client’s home to assist them in their design as well, but often in-store consultations are all that is needed. Schlabach and Yates said that while some of the clients live in the area, many of the visitors who come to the store requesting interior design help are from surrounding cities and states. The company also has a floral designer on staff, Peggy Andrews, who creates attention-grabbing arrangements of all sizes and will custom design an arrangement to fit a specific color scheme or specific placement in the home. Throughout the barn you will find a variety of wreaths and floral arrangements for your home or office. The Village Gift Barn has something for everyone. “We like to have affordable merchandise for any customer who walks through the door. We have merchandise from $2 on up and many gifts which are different from all the other stores in Berlin. Customer service is our main focus.” In the coming year, the store will offer new and expanded lines. Fresh Produce is a new line of comfortable cotton clothing. The expanded boutique also features a large selection of Vera Bradley handbags, as well as many fine jewelry options. The lower level of the store houses the floral design department and includes accessories such as fountains, casual furniture and area rugs, as well as a good-sized “opportunity corner” for the thrifty minded. Upstairs in the loft, customers will find a lamp and art gallery with a selection priced under $100. The store also has a wide selection of beautiful bed and table linens. Store merchandise includes upholstered furniture, a lodge area, and tables and chairs are displayed in artful arrangements so customers may better picture the furniture and accessories in their own home or office. From the lower level of the Village Gift Barn, visitors can follow a path across the parking area to Country Gatherings. Here the sights, scents and sounds of a simpler time are ready to inspire and refresh. Tammy Weaver is the manager of Country Gatherings and emphasizes that the store carries American-made products and offers many local and Ohio made items, including pottery. Local furniture builders supply Country Gatherings with painted reproduction cupboards and shelves. Additional lines of furniture available include Johnston Benchworks and Lawrence Crouse, among others. The store also offers period lighting and hand-hooked wool rugs. Delightful miniature gardens are sure to please and make a wonderful living souvenir for gardening enthusiasts. Country Gatherings offers garden inspiration year around in its brightly lit indoor garden room. Seasonally, a large outdoor courtyard area features a potting shed with garden art, outdoor furniture, and fresh herbs. The Village Gift Barn and Country Gatherings are located at 4755 SR 39 in Berlin. Hours are Monday through Thursday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Phone the Village Gift Barn at 330-893-2648 or Country Gatherings at 330-893-1174. |
Address: 4755 State Route 39 Berlin, OH 44610 330-893-2648 Visit Us: Summer M-Sat 9-6, Fri 9-7 Email Us: ruth@oldeberlinvillage.com Visit Our Website: www.berlinvillagegiftbarn.com
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