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Bower Decor Market at The Highlands Helps Create ‘Home’

Photo by Joselyn King Alice Parsons, owner of the Bower Decor Market at The Highlands, offers chalk painting supplies and classes, furniture and decor accessories at the store.

TRIADELPHIA — Alice Parsons says her place in the world is “to help people create home.”

Parsons, owner of the Bower Decor Market at The Highlands, operates a store that not only sells new and refinished furniture pieces, but also teaches customers how to refurbish older items with chalk paint.

Annie Sloan brand chalk paint is a staple at the store, as are all the supplies needed to put paint to vintage dresser or buffet — and add stencils or gold or silver leafing.

Business has been brisk since people found themselves spending more time at home in a COVID world, according to Parsons.

As people sat in their living rooms and bedrooms, they decided they really needed to update their spaces, she said.

As new furniture offerings are presently limited, chalk painting items already owned became a viable option for many, according to Parsons.

For most, chalk painting is easier than traditional painting. The paint is thicker, and prep work such as sanding the item to be painted usually isn’t needed.

Brushes and any spills can be cleaned up with just soap and water.

“People love it for that,” she said. “And it’s a great stress reliever, too.”

Prior to the pandemic, Parsons taught group classes to those wanting to learn more about chalk painting. They learned about the paint, and about the effects of lacquer and wax finishes.

But limitations on storefronts due to COVID placed a limit on how many people can be in a store at one time, and classes had to be canceled, she said.

Parsons has been working privately with individuals and small groups of two or three people interested in chalk painting, and she said group classes will likely begin again in September.

Chalk paint lends itself to both rustic and modern finishes, Parsons explained.

The shop itself focuses on providing furniture and decor items ranging from farmhouse modern to bohemian.

New hardwood dinette furniture has made its way onto the showroom floor.

“We have new furniture. It’s beginning to come back into stock,” she said.

Parsons’ husband, Lew Parsons, is a cabinet maker who sometimes crafts one-of-a-kind items for the store. A hall bench he built is presently available for sale.

Accessories such as candles and pillows are among the offerings at Bower Decor Market, as are unique gift items such as candy bar birthday cards and wine gummies.

The store is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday. The store is closed on Sunday.

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