Rackage: Contessa S. Home on West 3rd Street Brings French Country and San Luis Obispo

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We finally got over to Contessa S. Home at 8159 West 3rd Street, a French Country-infused home and lifestyle shop, which looks deceivingly small from the storefront—two windows gazing into what are actually two anterooms leading into a 2,000-square-feet space (a former book bindery).

You'll find a trove of gifty items here. "My goal is to have something for everyone," owner Kimberly Stanier told Racked, "whether it's $20, or a more significant gift for the home," such as antique day beds or one of the most exquisite Italian scent diffusers you've ever seen or sniffed, which will knock you back a few hundred dollars. Apparel includes dresses and knits from Odd Molly and cardis for babies or toddlers, handmade from vintage knits and lace. There's also Marseilles soap, beeswax birthday candles, flower bulbs for $1, Seda France candles, tons of travel, decor and cooking books, solid bistro-style cutting boards, and crafty handmade party hats.

"I'm lucky, there are so many amazing artists in San Luis Obispo, and I'm bringing their wares here," Stanier said, who is based in SLO (has two shops there) but has an apartment here, spending much time in LA with her husband, a cinematographer. In fact, she was eating at Little Next Door when she saw the space for rent. "I thought, I want to have a store there." This was after seeing a 'best of' section in Lucky mag on LA retail. "The shops were good, but I thought I could do something really good."
· Storecasting: Contessa S. Home on West 3rd Street [Racked]