Curio

09/25/2026

Hmmm....

09/24/2026

This.

I’ve seen versions of this conversation shared around Pottstown quite a bit lately, and I understand why. Vacant and neglected properties don’t just sit there quietly. They affect the businesses beside them, the people who live nearby, the people who own and maintain their properties, and the way a community sees itself.

I agree that there need to be both incentives for people who want to invest in their properties and meaningful consequences when properties are allowed to deteriorate indefinitely.

And selfishly, as someone who desperately wants to bring Curio No. 7 into Pottstown, I think about this a lot.

I want to be able to afford a space here.

I want to take a tired storefront and make people stop walking when they pass it. I want to create beautiful windows, restore and reuse things that deserve another life, fill a space with books and stories and carefully chosen objects, and create something that makes people curious about what is happening inside.

I believe the visual care we put into a property matters.

A beautiful, thoughtfully maintained storefront doesn't just benefit the person running the business. It contributes something to the block. It tells the people walking by that this place matters. It gives other people a reason to invest, too.

I want Curio No. 7 to be part of that kind of Pottstown.

I just need the opportunity to get through the door.

Vacant and blighted downtown property is extremely costly.

The people paying that cost are not the property owners. It's the adjacent business owners. The neighboring property owners. The residents and taxpayers.

Everyone pays except the people responsible.

So what do you actually do about it? All week people have been asking, so here are the tools that work.

On the incentive side: facade grants, historic tax credits, low interest renovation loans, gap financing, and density bonuses for upper floor development. These work for property owners who want to do the right thing but need help getting there.

On the consequences side: stepped up code enforcement with real teeth, minimum maintenance legislation that sets a floor for property condition, vacant property registries that track who owns what and hold them accountable, and demolition by neglect ordinances that make it illegal to let a building deteriorate to the point of collapse.

These aren't radical ideas. Thousands of communities across the country have implemented every one of them. The legal authority exists. The tools exist.

Responsible property owners who invest in their buildings should not be penalized by the negligence of others. That's not fairness. That's not how standards work.

Both tools exist. Use both.

*This is the work I do with communities across the country. If your town is ready for an honest conversation about its civic health, find me at revitalizeordie.com

09/24/2026

A little front-door transformation 🌿
This one was definitely a learning experience for me! I was hired to give this front door a fresh new color, and after a few rounds of testing and tweaking, we landed on this beautiful soft sage green.
I wanted something that felt warm and welcoming against the cream siding and those gorgeous shutters—something with a little personality, but still timeless.
I’m really happy with where we ended up.
The final image is a styled/AI-enhanced visualization of the entry, rather than an actual photograph of the finished landscaping. I loved it so much, though, that I had to share it because it really shows how beautifully the new door color works with the house.
One door, a lot of paint samples, and a whole lot of learning. 😂
Another project finished—and another reminder that sometimes getting the right color is half the art.

06/26/2026

Serpentine Oak Chest — "Mistress Maybelline"

A two-drawer serpentine-front chest restored with a deep, dark stain that lets the grain do the talking. The wavy, shaped front and matching scalloped apron give it real movement — this isn't a flat box, it's a piece with curves and presence.

Original cast brass hardware in a shell-and-scroll motif, refreshed with Rub 'n Buff to bring back its warmth without losing its age.

Cabriole legs carry it gracefully off the floor on brass casters. Both drawers retain their original locks (no keys included), and open to a custom black-and-cream harlequin liner — a small surprise of pattern where you'd least expect it.

Sized perfectly as an entry chest, dresser, or anchor piece for a reading nook — anywhere you want a little weight and history in the room.

Details:
Solid oak construction
Restored dark stain finish
Original brass hardware, hand-detailed with Rub 'n Buff
Two deep drawers with custom harlequin liner
Cabriole legs on new brass casters, serpentine front

Dimensions: 31½"W x 19½"D x 29⅜"H
Condition: Restored, structurally sound, minor age-appropriate wear

Price: $425

06/25/2026

I've always been fascinated by the stories that spaces can tell.

This image has been digitally enhanced—the wallpaper isn't really there, and the mirror doesn't actually reflect an opening onto a sunlit balcony overlooking a hidden street. But the feeling behind the image is real.

When I redesigned this vintage desk for my daughter, I wasn't just refinishing furniture. I was helping create a space for dreaming, learning, creating, and imagining what comes next.

The best interiors do more than look beautiful. They tell us something about who lives there, what they love, and who they hope to become.

When I look at this desk, I don't just see furniture. I see possibility!!

06/25/2026

Fresh paint can completely transform a space.

Curio No. 7 is now booking a limited number of painting and refinishing projects for summer and fall.

Services include:
• Interior painting
• Accent walls
• Front doors
• Furniture painting and refinishing
• Cabinet and furniture refreshes
• Small home improvement and decorative painting projects

Whether you're looking to brighten a room, update a cherished piece of furniture, or give your home's entrance a fresh new look, I'd love to help bring your vision to life.

Free estimates available.

Message the page to discuss your project or schedule a consultation.

Before-and-after photos coming soon!

Curio No. 7

06/12/2026

The antique and vintage community lost a light this week. Lisa Cellini, owner of The Swamp Door Antiques & Curiosities, passed away at 59. She was a keeper of beautiful things and a generous, luminous soul. This is for her.