May 31, 2008

Sisters feather their Nest with eclectic mixBy Erin AlbaneseMLive.com

Grand Rapids — In looking for a home for their new store, sisters Marcia Wals and Sandra Haverkamp saw the East Hills business district as a perfect nesting spot.

The women opened their home and garden decor and gift store — called Nest — earlier this month at 145 Diamond Ave. SE, just north of Lake Drive.

“It’s the urban revitalization,” Haverkamp said. “We wanted to be a part of that.”

The shop joins several new businesses that opened this spring in the Uptown shopping district, which encompasses East Hills, Eastown, Wealthy Street, and East Fulton business districts.

Other shops include Muse Boutique, a women’s high-end clothing store at 924 Cherry St. SE; Patina Antiques, an antique, clothing and gift store at 9 Diamond Ave. SE; and Blue Ave, a men’s clothing store at 972 Cherry St. SE.

Nest is selling hand-painted furniture and designer ottomans, handbags, hats and home and garden decor. It also features oil paintings by Chinese art students.

“We wanted to create a real eclectic mix of fun and affordable products,” Haverkamp said.

They plan to add merchandise for a woman’s home office, giving file folders, organizers and desk sets a feminine flair, she said.

They will schedule their first class, a wreath-decorating class, this month and add monogram stamping and floral design later.

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