The Little House - CLOSED

Entering The Little House stirs youthful memories of happening upon safe, secret hiding places that provided warmth and a sense of refuge. A narrow, spiral staircase leads you down to the intimate interior that holds a limited amount of apparel for him and her, artwork, candles, postcard sets and jewelry. The space may be on the small in square footage, but the design is clever and thoughtful, which brings a feeling of comfort to the space.

Three clothing racks display carefully tailored shirts, delicately patterned dresses and blouses that are soft to the touch, all of which were made upstairs in the design studio. The denim in the store comes from a quality denim factory in the Dominican Republic, and washed pairs are available so customers can see how the denim reacts to machine wash. Reversible python bags and a bag made solely from leather are also on display. Interesting textures keep your senses attentive, as do the warm colors that come from the lighting.

The artwork is skillfully placed throughout the space and includes ceramics from the 60’s and 70’s period, vintage postcards, intricate knot sculptures and photography. The black and white images currently hanging echo the cave-like aesthetic of The Little House. And the miscellaneous products that are available for purchase include hand-poured candles, jewelry constructed from found pieces like vintage pendants and carved ivory, hand-painted tea cups and something I find to be very special and unique, a “Remember to Write Me” collection of postcards. It includes a set of 12 cards that are wrapped in a leather package, and there is one card for each month of the year. You can keep the postcards as art or send them along to someone. The set promotes a basic human desire to communicate, and there is something very profound in what The Little House is doing, as they try to go beyond static retail exchanges and encourage positive principles within and outside of its shop.

The Little House believes strongly in the process of opening a gift and the wonderment that accompanies that, so it pays special attention to the packaging of its pieces upstairs. The business also has a membership program that introduces members to merchandise early and invites them to dinner parties and other private events. With the homey atmosphere, the firm stand against mass production and empty consumerism, and the aesthetically pleasing products and displays, it is quite clear that the owners of The Little House, Joel Alexander Morales, Michael Capotosto and Savania Davies-Keiller, have a vested interest in the customer’s experience in their store.