Renee's "foyer" is defined by several small tables which are for sale, and a display of clothing and decor items. What you can't see in this picture: fresh coffee and cookies put out every few hours. Notice the category signs hanging from the ceiling: Merchandise carried includes missy, juniors, plus sizes, some menswear and small household items.

I just had to show you Renee's dressing rooms. Each is a little unique oasis. One dressing room has a TV and doubles as a play area if needed. I don't have a wonderful shot of Renee's windows, but you can see, in the first photo, that they are hand-painted to reflect the season. You peek past the butterflies and the lace swags to see the shop brimful of goodies. The painting is done by a customer every 3 months.

I didn't get this shot just right, so use your imagination. What I wanted to show you was how Renee took a batch of for-sale small pieces (luggage rack, end table, cupboard) and combined them to make a walk-around island of a variety of goods. SO much better than one's first instinct, which might be to line the furniture up against a wall (probably under the menswear rack, which is what you see in the background.)

Leaving Renee's, a fun touch on the push bar of the door, right where you look down to put your hand: a Thanks for shopping Renee's message!

Lina Beth's Fine Consignments is in a small strip of shops across from a major mall on a major road.

Lina Beth's foyer is defined by the rattan table you can see just half of here, backing up to one of several merchandise that function as mini-swing shops. 

Next, a shot across the front of Lina Beth's as you step in, looking parallel to the display windows. I wanted to show you her simple and elegant solution to those full-wall windows: sheers, hung from cafe rods held to the ceiling with cup hooks. Notice that they are of varying depths, and that the furthest-from-us drape starts at the window and is caught up deeper within the shop. Notice, too, the crystal "chandeliers" hanging within the display space. No shot of Lina Beth's dressing rooms, but they did have that infamous suggestion of Kate's: Fresh clean robes for customers to use to come back out on the floor and shop some more!

Another attractive solution: Lina Beth has broken up the long wall runs so many shops have with a breathing space of a display. In crowded seasons, this area can be filled with a rack. Note the incandescent lamp, too, adding warmth and charm.

Just one more photo and I'll let you go: notice Thank you for shopping Lina Beth above the door as you leave (and notice, too, how the little archipelago of islands adds class and dimension to the shop...)