What she found, with a bit of surprise but mostly exhilaration, were a plethora of diverse shops and showrooms that had a defining similarity: design was in their DNA.
As she got to know Nadine Storyk Curtis, the owner of the 7 on Locust, the nearby boutique laden with unique home decor, art, rock n roll photography, clothing and jewelry, they came to the conclusion that Miller Avenue had turned into a little design hub – and they needed to celebrate it.
And thus the Mill Valley Design District was born.
“There is this core of innovative, design-focused businesses on and around Miller Avenue now, and we should celebrate that and encourage people to come to the Miller Avenue area,” Hall says.
On Saturday, Nov. 14, they’re doing just that, hosting a “design crawl” of sorts, with five locations hosting open houses from 1–5pm.
Hosts include Henrybuilt (356 Miller Ave.), which will be showcasing the gorgeous wares of Mill Valley Lumber Yard shops Bloomingayles and Ambatalia; 7 on Locust and Curtis’ interior design partner Elena Calabrese (7 Locust Ave.); interior designer Kress Jack (11 Locust Ave.) and her signature “’lil bit rustic, ‘lil bit urban girl” style; Michelle Bevilacqua and Robert Clink’s home furnishings and design shop Revelation (401 F Miller Ave.); and Poet and the Bench, the new jewelry shop and workspace at 10 Locust.
“It’s a great excuse for a field trip,” Hall says.
The 411: The Mill Valley Design District open house is Saturday, November 14, 1–5pm. Free.