The Shop
On Front Street, right next to the big blue windmill that marks the beginning of Lynden’s historic downtown retail area, sparkles a bright home decor shop, the kind of place you just can’t resist popping into.
Owner Hollie Morris says she always wanted to own a shop, but it was only when the perfect storefront opened up and her new husband gave her a nudge that she took the plunge, leaving behind a 20-year career in kitchen design to launch Opal & Oak. Her husband’s encouragement wasn’t just lip service, either; they co-own the store together.
The Atmosphere
Morris’s efforts have certainly paid off. Opal & Oak is the definition of inviting: the large front windows cast a warm glow out onto the sidewalk, and the first thing I noticed upon opening the door was how incredible it smelled inside. Not overwhelming, just gently fragrant.
It’s the candles, Morris said when I commented. They perfume the store even without being lit, and I had to credit the selection of scents for not clashing with one another—they all had the same clean, contemporary profile.
Visually, the store is vibrant and cheery, full of bright—but again, not clashing—colors and inviting textures. The product displays are small enough and well enough placed to offer multiple visitors the ability to browse at the same time without feeling crowded.
Photo by Kris Gray Photography
Photo by Kris Gray Photography
Key People
Morris and her husband employ two part-time staffers, but everyone’s favorite employee is their infant son, Max. He’s the shop’s unofficial mascot, and has been pretty much since birth.
“A few months after we opened the store [I found out] I was pregnant,” Morris says. “And I was like, ‘Well, God has his plans. So we’re going for it. We just opened astore but here we go.’”
Regular customers love Max (who, I can confirm, is exceptionally cute), and often comment on how much he’s grown since they last saw him. His presence gives the store even more of a
community feel.
Photo by Kris Gray Photography
What You’ll Find
Opal & Oak sells everything from jewelry and scarves to mugs and vases—they even sell houseplants! The selection is eclectic in the best way: a wide range of items with a cohesive style.
“I make sure it’s something that I like or love,” Morris says. “I also have to think of the demographic of the area and what would actually sell. So some things I may not have in my house but
I still appreciate and love them.”
Favorites
I expected Morris to hesitate or wring her hands over this one, as so many shop owners do when asked to choose a favorite ‘child,’ but her answer came swiftly.
“My current favorite is actually on that shelf right there in the middle,” she says, pointing to a tall wall of shelving displaying mugs, small cream pitchers, and a coordinating framed print. “I love everything on that shelf. The checkered, the bright colors, the warm kind of spring/summer colors…”
I have to admit that those mugs caught my eye as well, the minute I entered the store, and I had to resist buying one. Clearly, the display is doing its job! 655 Front St., Ste. 6, Lynden
360.778.1760, opalandoakhome.com
Photo by Kris Gray Photography
