Villarosa Maison – French European vintage style in the heart of Nelson
It’s been a project fueled by passion and love for Rosanna who was born and raised in Wellington and relocated to Nelson 30 years ago. It was more than sunny weather that attracted her to Nelson, her Great Grandfather and Grandfather had lived here so it was the perfect place to put down roots, and raise her family of 5 children. With a love of all things French and interiors she established her own business, selling at market’s to fit in around family life which led to creating her own website and then opening her retail store featuring a boutique range of French European-styled homeware, gifts and clothing.
The French European style is defined as a mix of rustic and refined decor inspired by the homes in the French countryside. It’s a popular style worldwide because of its comfortable and casual elegance that’s never pretentious, which is why it!s so popular here in New Zealand and around the world.
Think softly patterned fabrics in muted tones, distressed, painted, and vintage furnishings and accessories including the warm patina of wood and natural materials. It’s perfect for country, urban and coastal living.
“I have worked in retail over the years since I was 13 years old. I’ve learnt a lot from my time working in my friend’s Mother’s fabric store and House of Green Ginger (just to name a few) and always dreamed of having my own store so I could share my passion for interiors, fabrics and beautiful French European vintage pieces that have a story to tell. We opened our original small shop in October 2016 on College Hill and last July expanded into the newly refurbished old Antique space with all our homeware and linen, keeping the original store for our European linen clothing and jewellery ranges. Sourcing these kinds of products is like a treasure hunt. I am always hunting for beautiful vintage pieces and spend a lot of time searching for authentic European brands from around the world.” says Rosanna.
Rosanna knows what she’s talking about, as there is a story behind everything in her shop. It’s ideal for choosing a gift or a centrepiece in your home as the history of the vintage pieces add a whole new layer of uniqueness.
The new shop is in the Dowsons Centre in the Montgomery car park and has a wonderful layout. You can wander around several times and see something new every time. The name was suggested by a friend – a combination of Villa (the home they have lived in for 26 years) and Rosa (short for Rosanna) while Maison is the French word for home.
“It’s a great location and our neighbours in the arcade and many other local business owners have all been so welcoming. We love the vibe of being in a busy central city location and with the arcade walk-through traffic, customer’s popping into Benge & Co for their weekly fresh fruit and vegetables and Saturday morning market crowds coming in, we are really enjoying meeting new people who are discovering us and chatting with them about our lovely ranges or helping them to find the perfect gift.”
There is something for everyone here with treasures from as little as $4 for a petite French guest soap ranging up to $6,000 for their stunning French Country island bench. Rosanna strives to source beautiful ranges with a point of difference to create a unique and welcoming feel so that you know you can find a special gift or treat for yourself. Lovingly and tastefully curated, there’s a lot of effort gone into the presentation. That’s something Rosanna loves to do – and it shows.
Family life is very busy with their 2 youngest children still at home and the running the store, which doesn’t leave a lot of time for play but in their free time they are enjoying renovating their 116 year old villa and redesigning the gardens and also love to spend as much time as they can with friends and family. It’s hard to beat living in Nelson and it has been a wonderful place to raise their family.
They have the online store where you can enjoy browsing or purchase online and spend a lot of time packing orders with care and sending them not only around New Zealand but also internationally. Villarosa Maison is totally worth a visit! You might just find that perfect something you!ve been looking for.
www.villarosanz.co.nz
www.facebook.com/Villarosanz
www.instagram.com/villarosamaison
Explore the virtual tour at Villarosa Maison.
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