Back in March we took a needed break from the rampant closing of local businesses to report on a new home furnishings boutique that was taking a chance and relocating from its native Bucktown neighborhood in Chicago to Milwaukee's Third Ward.
Owner Suzanne Rafenstein moved her shop, Embelezar -- Portuguese for "to embellish and to become beautiful" -- to 241 N. Broadway and officially opened in June.
"The idea of Embelezar was bringing together a collection of special, exotic pieces from around the world to decorate your home," says Rafenstein, who originally opened her Chicago shop 11 years ago when the now trendy neighborhood was just starting to see some signs of evolving into the shopping hotspot it is today.
"(It) is an upscale, hand-picked collection of home furnishings and architectural and cultural artifacts, both international and domestic, catering to those with a bent for gracious living."
Some of her pieces include painted Asian cabinets, Venetian silk chandeliers, rich textiles from Turkey, India and Philadelphia, suede journals from Brooklyn, Moroccan ceramics, Afghan rugs, Peruvian serving pieces and Maori carved stones.
"I look for items that I would love to have in my own home, something that tells a story or makes me smile," she says. "There is always a piece in the store someone will identify with -- something, perhaps, from a favorite place they've visited or long to visit, or something that evokes a curious mood."
Embelezar is an inviting space housing an inspired mix of art pieces that are both functional and fashionable and unique home décor that fits in well with the neighborhood.
"I chose to relocate Embelezar in the Third Ward because as well as falling in love with the architecture and atmosphere of the neighborhood, I respect small business and found the Third Ward to be a remarkable niche of distinctive, creative and independently-minded business owners," she says.
Embelezar is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
