The Toledo City Paper depends on readers like you! Become a friend today. See membership options
Twist, a whimsical shop on Monroe Street, features vintage furniture restyled with modern fabrics, shiny adornments and bright colors. “We look for quality furniture. We’ve run into a lot of laminate, but if it’s not wood, it won’t take paint well,” says Jenifer Tucker, owner of Twist. The shop was born from a love of antiques and shopping. “We were bringing so much home that our husbands said ‘no more shopping!’ We had to find a place to put it all,” she jokes. The shop is open four days per month with notifi cations of upcoming coming only by email. Twist has a comfortable charm and owners who are eager to get acquainted with each customer’s taste and style.
Quality character
The ladies at Twist, Jenifer Tucker, Margaret Penn and Debbie Bogart, ensure that each piece in their store is a unique creation, constantly visiting estate and garage sales along with consignment stores.
“There are so many young people that are interested in furniture with character,” says Penn. “Our customers are looking to add individuality to their homes,” she
states. The women of Twist are as colorful as their furniture. “We develop relationships with the shops we visit and with our customers. That’s one of the most beneficial things we do,” says Tucker.
Individual encouragement
When it comes to offering advice to budding homeowners or decorators, Twist has plenty of it. “Look for something with good bones and clean lines. Go to blogs. Google how to paint a cabinet and see what pops up, there’s tons,” according to Penn. Perhaps the most valuable piece of info for do-it-yourselfers is Penn’s encouragement to “put it on your calendar.” The beauty of scheduling allows new projects to take flight, rather than to sit in a garage and be forgotten. “If you bring it home and don’t do something with it that day, get it on the calendar, and get to it that
weekend, because there’s no time like the present,” she advises.
Shopping for vintage pieces has allowed plenty of opportunities to find pieces which not only appeal to all ages, but boast realistic price points. “Chain furniture stores often have unrealistic prices for people who are starting out. However, a piece you love from your mother or grandmother will last a lifetime,” Penn says. Most of the work is done on site at the shop, but upholstery
projects are sent off site. “People assume they would have to spend the price of a new chair to get an older one recovered, but if you get one at a great price or have one you love, then reupholstering is a great option,” says Penn.
Along with savvy home decor, Twist also provides a monogramming service, Not Your Mother’s Monogram, to add creative fonts to pillows, blankets and more. To sign up for Twist’s email list, send requests to twisttoledo@gmail.com Twist’s April showcase begins Wednesday, April 13, until Saturday, April 16. 4330 Monroe St. 419-472-0766. https://twisthome.biz
