Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pam Dimock Kelly Lambert. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Pam Dimock , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
From day one, we have tried to not jump on the home decor trend bandwagon. We’ve made a few mistakes along the way and veered off the road but we have learned since then to level set, trust our own judgment, and not let naysayers and negativity influence our decisions.
We use vintage and antique items as the base of our decor. We feel it’s important to showcase the beauty and sustainability of something vintage. There are so many mass-produced furniture and decor pieces that offer nothing out of the ordinary and only contribute to a wasteful environment. We emphasize the quality and uniqueness of vintage items and show how to integrate these pieces into one’s home. Historic objects exude a charm that mass-produced items cannot hold a candle to.
Additionally, we have personally designed several items for our shop and have curated a selection of timeless home accessories. We pride ourselves on sourcing inventory from small businesses that you won’t find in your big-box or discount home decor store.
Pam Dimock , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
About 25 years ago, we started going to craft fairs and flea markets and found ourselves gravitating toward vintage objects.
As the years passed, our style evolved and we found that European antiques were the soul of our passion. We drove our husbands crazy with our constantly revolving furniture and decor. Luckily, they allowed us to have full creative control over our homes. Neither had any interest in decorating, thank God. We started avidly collecting items that were not necessarily of value, but items that spoke to us. It doesn’t matter that a piece isn’t “perfect.” Imperfect objects only add character and speak of history. As a bonus, if your child (or husband) accidentally damages a piece, well then, so be it.
There were naysayers along the way, of course. Those who would ask, “Do you have anything that’s not white?” or, “Why don’t you add some color?” or, “Why do you like pieces that are old and chippy?” We chose to not listen to unsolicited advice and to follow our instincts. Flea marketing and antiquing is not for the faint of heart. It’s not that we don’t love color. We used to have a lot of color in our homes back when the kids were younger, and even pre-children era. But we found that we tire of it easily. There’s something serene and calming about white; something we feel that buffers the ugliness we often see in the world. Our homes are our havens, and everyone should be able to retreat to a space of serenity.
Flash forward 20-plus years and here we are! After navigating life the best that we could, one of our daughters created an Instagram page for us on a whim. We created Ivory Lane Home as an avenue to share our love for vintage, European decor and to inspire others to think outside of the norm when designing and decorating their homes. We have learned a lot, but there is still so much to learn on this journey. We are thankful for where we are now in our lives, but at the same time, we have big dreams ahead!
Our niche is our unique style and discerning eyes. Through our experience in flea markets and antique scouting, we’ve developed an eye for finding the beauty in pieces that are often overlooked by others. We pride ourselves in having the ability to imagine time-worn items outside of their current state and how they can transform a home with just a little bit of TLC. We see beauty in objects that have been weathered and aged to “perfection” by years endured and showcase both of our homes on social media because of the seamless flow of our design styles. We think it’s important to not get caught up in the current home decor “trends” and to stay true to yourself and trust your instincts. Our aesthetic is a neutral combination of soft and romantic, juxtaposed with vintage architectural pieces and elegant European antiques.
We want our customers and followers to know that we take an extensive amount of time in choosing the perfect items for our shop and clients. These are pieces that we love and would use in our own homes. We never rush anything, even if a client is pushing us to do so. Sourcing can take days, months, or even years. Patience is a must and helps to avoid costly mistakes.
How’d you meet your business partner?
We met by chance as neighbors and instantly clicked. We both had very young children at the time and channeled our creativity through scrapbooking, craft fairs, flea markets, and antique stores. Sometimes our kids were dragged along kicking and screaming, so it usually involved some sort of bribe to get them to behave (Parenting 101). We started flea marketing locally and as our children grew, so did our footprint. Our journeys have included multiple states, torrid weather, 101-degree fevers, U-Haul rentals, knee-deep mud, high winds, some regretful purchases, and questionable decision-making. But we still loved every minute of it.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.
We’ve merged our love for the “perfectly imperfect” pieces into a small business scouting for clients. This has morphed into selling on both Etsy and our website, ivorylanehome.com. Social media has enabled us to continually evolve and presents us with many new opportunities. We continue to service clients locally as well as out of state. Our clients seek us to assist in decorating their homes with uncommon and breathtaking decor. We always want our decorating to bring joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ivorylanehome.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ivorylanehome
- Other: etsy.com/shop/ivorylanehome
Image Credits
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