Brenda Brown refers to herself as a lifelong Ann Arbor townie, and after spending 40 years in the book manufacturing industry, she's now turning her attention to helping other townies make their homes more cozy and beautiful. Her new Jackson Rd. shop,
Annex of Paredown, offers new and vintage home furnishings, home decor fabrics, as well as design ideas and organizing services.
"I've been helping people rethink and repurpose their furnishings because they're downsizing or moving, or rethinking how they're living in their homes when they have empty nests," Brown says.
The character of the homes in and around Ann Arbor's Old West Side is how she ended up choosing her location, right at the division of Jackson and Dexter Aves. The neighborhood's homes fit in well with the era and style of her inventory and services. She opened the doors of her less than 1,000 square foot shop in early November.
"So far the reception has been wonderful," says Brown. "The neighborhood traffic in particular has been phenomenal."
While she currently operates Annex of Paredown independently, she hopes to soon add three to five contractors as instructors for home decor-related classes such as sewing or upholstery. Farther into the future, she would like to add up to two staffers in the shop.
Source: Brenda Brown, Annex of Paredown
Writer: Natalie Burg
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.