Photo by Debbie Smartt
For some, entrepreneurship just comes naturally. Generating business is in Denise Barone’s blood. She’s owned a motel in Florida, and spent the rest of her professional career in Franklin as a real estate agent and a mortgage broker. Now she’s adding retail owner to her growing list of accomplishments.
Denise opened Creative Find-n-Design in August 2011, a home decorating specialty shop that is able to offer brand-name lines at discounted prices through department store and antique store close-outs. The shop, at 110 East Fowlkes Street off of Columbia Avenue, has everything from antique furniture and gift lines to florals and linens.
“The goal is to help people live in a beautiful surrounding at a good price,” Denise says.
Though she spent the majority of her professional career in banking, Denise has always been interested in home décor. She would often help friends with their homes, and took constant inquiries for decorating advice. Denise
Photo by Debbie Smartt
never thought she’d get into retail, but she says it just “fell into place.” She knew her past experience would help the accounting side of the store, and her natural tastes would supply the style.
“It seemed natural to marry the business side with the passion,” Denise says, sitting around torn open boxes with tissue paper flowing out of the tops.
“When this merchandise gets here, it’s kind of like Christmas for me.”
Creative Find-n-Design carries an abundance of brand names, but most of its products are discounted by at least 50 percent. Denise knows that some may raise their eyebrows at her starting a business in this economy, but she says that’s exactly why she opened this kind of specialty shop. She wanted to provide downtown Franklin with affordable décor that could still create an appealing aesthetic in the home.
“Our business caters to value,” Denise says.
It doesn’t matter what style you’re looking for, because Denise says Creative Find-n-Design makes a conscious effort to offer an eclectic mix of antiques and new
Photo by Debbie Smartt
furniture. There’s original art and jewelry by local patrons, even clothing and accessories. Lines of designer bedding are in the store for more than 60 percent off the original price.
“Helping people find what they are looking for is the most fun,” she says. “But we work with interior designers, too.”
Denise’s warm personality and dry wit allow customers to feel at home while shopping for the perfect home accessory to complete a room. She points out some of the more unique items Creative Find-n-Design currently has, such as the 1956 dining room server. Its original newspaper advertisement lies tucked in the top drawer. Next to it sits beautiful Waterford crystal pieces, discounted to outrageous prices.
“This kind of furniture is a personal favorite,” she says. “My style is more sentimental.”
Denise moved to Franklin in 1992, and aside from a brief move to Florida, has lived in Middle Tennessee for nearly 20 years. She decided to keep her business in downtown Franklin because she wanted to retain that unique spark the town carries.
“I wanted to have that quaint, small-town charm,” Denise says. “Because that’s what I am.”
For more information about visit the Creative Find-n-Design website.