 | | | Photos Sora O'Doherty | | | | | | Four equestrian friends have decided to follow a retail dream by opening an Orinda shop for home décor called Tally Home. Megan Lindberg and Liz Peterson are both designers who grew up in Orinda, although Peterson now lives in Canyon. Anne Branagh, also from Orinda, is the bookkeeper, and Kerry Armidstead is the fourth partner, who shares in the running of the shop. Although Tally Home opened on May 1, its origins go back decades.
Lindberg's parents liked to collect antiques as a pastime as they traveled through Europe, especially in France and England. They favored the French Normandy style. They had planned to build a second home in Pebble Beach. When Lindberg's mother developed cancer, she escaped into designing this home. Collecting was such a passion for her parents to do together, Lindberg says, and every piece has a story.
Sadly, Lindberg's mother died shortly after the house was finished, about 20 years ago. Lindberg's father established the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center in his wife's honor. The family wanted to assure that women experiencing breast cancer would have someplace to go and receive an immediate diagnosis, with state-of-the-art technology focusing strictly on breast health in a supportive environment. The Center is located in Oakland, a subsidiary of Alta Bates hospital. Lindberg's father sold the Pebble Beach home about three years ago and put the furniture into storage. When the family thought about what to do with the collection, Lindberg says it felt right to sell the pieces and give one-half of the profits to Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center. Pink ribbons on pieces in the shop indicate that half the proceeds of the sale of that item will go to the Center.
When the partners noticed that the shop in Orinda was going to be available, it seemed the perfect opportunity. Tally Home's inventory includes new items, and gift items, with a scattering of antique pieces, usually the larger furniture. The partners remembered Phairs as the place to go for wedding gifts, baby gifts, or hostess gifts. They wanted to fill that niche, to be a place where you can purchase truly unique gifts. The shop also offers engraving.
In addition to furniture, the shop offers gift items, including some hand made by local artisans. Marcella Austenfeld creates jewelry inspired by Native American craftsmanship and culture and her native Canadian heritage. All of her pieces are crafted in her home studio in Orinda. Jen Hensley is a fabric designer, a mom of three and a graduate of Miramonte High School. Tally Home features items for the home created by Hensley, including quilts, pillows and napkins.
A special event was held at the shop in memory of Carol Ann Read on July 12. Alta Bates Summit Medical Center co-sponsored the event. Half of the pink ribbon purchases and 15 percent of all other purchases were donated to the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Program. Tally Home may consider events to aid other charities in the future. Tally Home is located at 85 Orinda Way, close to Geppetto's Café. Summer hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays through August.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA