Brushed Designs blossoms in Waterford

Brushed Designs in Waterford has a large stock of unique home decor and gift ideas. 

Brenda Moser

Advocate Correspondent

With spring just around the corner and winter soon to be a distant memory, it is time to get out, enjoy the warmer weather and plan yourself a road trip to check out the many quaint local shops.

Make sure you have the time to carefully check each one out. You are sure to find something different, something special.

One of those stops is Brushed Designs, located at 30 Main Street South in Waterford. Owner Tracie Plommer has owned the store for eight years now. As the interest in her products grew, she decided it was time to expand and moved to her current location.

“I always dreamed of having my own shop and wanted a bigger space for décor.”

She started with just the front half of the store for the Fusion paint line and one of a kind gift ideas.

“I began mostly painting custom furniture, for customers, in a back workshop and it has blossomed from there. Creative gifts and accents soon followed.”

After a fire in June 2018 forced her to close, she was determined to reopen and be even better than before. She has achieved that and more!

Her back workshop became more store space and has a large stock of unique home decor and gift ideas that continue on from her front of store selection. Stock is always changing and new items added.

“I like to be different so the community doesn’t have to go far to find that special, unique item that you can’t find elsewhere. My customers come from all over. We have customers from UK, Manitoba, Alberta, BC and many other places. Some used to live in this area and moved away but will always stop in if they are travelling this way.”

Tracie likes the creative part of her job but also loves meeting new people. When COVID hit and restrictions were enforced she got a website up and running. From there through COVID she offered live ‘Sit, Sip and Shop’ events and continues her online events on Facebook and Instagram, maybe once a month.

“I have a very loyal following” Tracie said.

“I like to be different in the stock I carry so customers don’t have to travel far to find what they’re looking for. I like the creative part of my job but I love meeting new people. I really love it when they send pics of projects they’ve completed.”

Her assortment of accent stock and products continues to grow. She carries a line of Beekman 1802 products that includes lip balms, hand cream, facial wipes, body cream and lotions. She also carries Maison Berger Paris, a line of home fragrance lamps and other home fragrance products.

“It was one of the first products I brought into the store because it is one of my personal favorites.”

Another popular line is her Jellycat products she now carries.

“It has gone gangbusters from child’s gifts to all ages. It’s a UK brand of very good quality stuffed animals and huggable soft toys that babies and even up to 70 years old love.  But they’re hard to get right now.

“One of my favorite parts about owning the store is making it look more like your home than just a display. There is always something new. Just as the seasons change so does our taste as we age,” adds Tracie.

Plommer still does some custom painting work and interior design but will teach her customers how to do it themselves.

“I do more one on one with step by step instructions and am eager to explain the process. I can’t sit still… There’s always something to do.”