EASTHAMPTON — For years, Westhampton resident Kim Downey has cultivated a flair for interior design. Now, she is bringing this passion to Cottage Street with her new business, Olivia Pearl Interiors.
The business, which opened at 106 Cottage St. in April, offers a range of home decor items, such as throw pillow, blankets, ceramics and candles, curated by Downey.
Downey has been a stay-at-home mom for the past six years, and during that time helped to design the interiors of houses her husband built. In this process, she discovered a love for interior design and home decor.
“Everything in my store is something that I would really put in my own house,” Downey said. “It’s a lot easier to sell items like that when you feel passionate about them.”
Downey first considered opening the business about a year ago, and easily decided on its name, which has family ties: Downey “was very close to” her grandmother, she said, “and (the name) Pearl has been in our family for many generations.” Her daughter, Olivia Pearl, also provided inspiration.
“When I had my daughter, Olivia, I knew her name would be Olivia Pearl,” she continued. “And when I opened my store, it was the same. I knew it would be Olivia Pearl Interiors, and I never second-guessed that it felt right.”
The decision to open the store did not come as effortlessly as the name — one of Downey’s biggest hesitations arose from the risk of opening a new business during the pandemic, with many businesses shuttering or cutting back due to the impacts of COVID-19. Some family members expressed the same concerns, she recalled. But in a way, the move felt overdue.
“Being a stay-at-home mom, I was always waiting for the right time to go to work,” Downey said, “and I just sort of thought, if I keep waiting for the right time to go to work … it’s never going to happen.
“At some point, I think you kind of just need to go for it,” she said, “and the excitement was what really fueled me.”
The decision feels like it paid off, Downey said, noting that people seem eager to return to their pre-pandemic activities.
Downey is one of several Cottage Street business owners to take this leap in recent months, with three new businesses springing up on Cottage Street as Easthampton reopens. Earlier this month, Downey joined other Cottage Street business owners to participate in the city’s second Sidewalk Sales, which had a successful launch in 2019 before the pandemic forced the event to go on hold for the next year.
Downey is also working with local artists to display their work for sale or display in the store. Downey primarily sources her inventory from online vendors, but hopes to also work with local artists and makers to stock the store in the future. Items range in price from around $10 to $200.
Olivia Pearl Interiors also features a kids corner, and Downey plans to hold craft days for kids once a month.
Olivia Pearl Interiors is open Thursday and Friday from 12 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.