By Jessica Miller
Laurie Shults’ Brick Elephant Design (summer showroom 9 West Summit Ave, Lakewood) is ready to offer vibrant and distinctive décor to homes of the western New York area. She intuitively brings rooms and homes to aesthetic life using the home goods most suited for the occupants’ daily lives. Shults can see the potential in what her clients already have, and she also can curate one-of-a-kind items that tie together an inviting space. She is also looking forward to the chance to demonstrate her craft while she is in the area as she travels back and forth from Georgia.
“I’ve always been an artist,” said Shults. “Design is what I’ve always been drawn toward on some level.” She is so drawn that she couldn’t help but continue her passion when returning to Lakewood from Atlanta to help her family. A large former barn is now Brick Elephant Design’s studio—a current exhibit to her vision and eye for the unexpected thanks to her remodeling efforts. Clients who have seen Shults’s handiwork in the studio itself know they are in capable hands. Like any footprint Brick Elephant Design has visited, mass-produced items become timeless bespoke conversation pieces under the business’s influence. Seasoned Lakewood residents may also remember the quonset hut summer showroom’s days as the local movie theater. This is yet another way that she is bringing new life to things and places with beloved memories.
Distinct furniture and décor are in abundance in the showroom with pieces to suit any mood and budget. The luxury Shults specializes in is personalized to the space’s occupants and is apparent in details like funky cabinet pulls and vintage drapes. Brick Elephant Design’s mission is “Aligning Self and Surroundings”, so individualized and unanticipated combinations ultimately make perfect sense when the final reveal is made. Even if the just right art isn’t onsite in the showroom yet, it can and will be made or obtained.
The artistry available for purchase isn’t limited to interiors by any means. Brick Elephant Design now also gives customers the chance to wear their self-expression. Crystals, clothing, jewelry, and shoes are part of the experience inside the showroom. The attire, like the decorations and furnishings, is simultaneously fun and refined. Trendy and classic pieces for any ensemble or occasion—including a pair of Uggs—can be purchased as part of the full Brick Elephant Design experience.
Textiles in the form of drapery and rugs are especially in abundance in the summer showroom. At press time, there was still one chinchilla rug left here. If chinchilla isn’t one’s personal style, there is bound to be a rug that is in harmony with their home ready to be claimed, so savvy shoppers would best consider looking over the selection. It would also be wise to consult Brick Elephant Designs this summer while Shults is available for service in Lakewood. Call 716-450-0396, email brickelephantdesign@gmail.com, or fill out the contact form from brickelephantdesign.com to find out what visions they have for your space and budget. Of course, the summer showroom is also a great place
