Lola's perfects shabby chic

When Kasey Buick moved from Colorado to St. Charles last summer, she brought her business with her.

As her husband dove into a new job, Buick began hunting for a location for her shop, Lola B's Boutique. She found a home in downtown St. Charles and opened up for business in October.

The shop, named after her 5-year-old daughter, balances shabby chic and girliness -- whether it's furniture that Buick has redone herself, home accessories or lavender laundry soap.

"I feel like I have a nice niche," she said. "I have shabby chic and there isn't a shop that caters to girly girls."

Buick celebrated with a grand opening at her shop, 108 State Ave., last month.

"I love it," said Carol McEnany, who has been visiting Buick's shop once a week since it opened. "It's my new favorite store. She has a lot of different things you can't find in other places."

Tops among the favorites for McEnany and other customers are the city farm girl plaques in the shop. The plaques feature different sayings, such as one for family which says "Enjoy the small things for one day they'll be the big things."

Buick got her start in home decorating when pregnant with her daughter, Lola.

"I was doing her room and I had so much fun with it," she said.

From there, a few friends asked her to decorate rooms in their homes. Eventually, Buick opened her first shop back in Colorado. When her husband was transferred, Buick decided to introduce new people to her talents.

Though she orders many of the items in her store, the furniture is something she does on her own. She refinishes her yard sale or flea market finds and gives them the shabby chic look, which traditionally involves lots of whites, creams and distressed furniture.

She jokes that whatever doesn't sell at the shop ends up at her home.

"My husband thinks he lives in a doll house," she jokes.

Living just a few blocks from her shop has come in handy. Though Buick has set store hours, the shop's voice mail message lets customers know that if they happen to stop by on an off day they can call her cell phone. If she's available, she'll drop by to open up.

As a new shop, she knows word of mouth is vital, so she wants customers to be "wowed" not only by what they see in the shop, but by the customer service.

"If a group of gals show up on a Thursday, I'm more than happy to come in," Buick said. She's already done so on two occasions.

Customers like McEnany, have taken notice of her service.

"She's really friendly and it is really a welcoming atmosphere," she said.

Lola B's Boutique is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Buick said she likely will add another day to the shop's hours in the spring.

To reach the shop, call (630) 945-3306 or online at www.lolabboutique.com.