The Beehive is the go-to shopping destination for visitors and residents alike - looking for beautiful home accessories and furnishings. Sandra and Lesley took some time out of their busy schedule to talk all things The Beehive.
Q: The Beehive has kind of become a Fairfield institution. Give us some background and share the overall vision and vibe of the shop.
S: First off, thank you for your kind words! We are currently in our third - and hopefully final - space and our tenth year of business here in Fairfield. One of the best things about being in this larger space is that we can tell more stories with our products, which we hope will make the shopping experience inspiring but also attainable.
L: I worked for Sandra in the original Beehive location. We had spoken about becoming partners then, but you know how life gets in the way. Towards the end of 2017, we met for dinner and said, ok, should we do this?! The business was evolving, and she was doing more design, and it just felt like a natural next step. We needed a larger space to feature more of the design/furnishings aspect of the business, so we moved into the barn. I think we both felt that we outgrew that space almost immediately. When Sandra approached me about the old Victoria's Secret location, I believe my exact words were - Are you insane? I was terrified, but she had a vision, and I trusted her.
Q: What sets The Beehive apart and makes it unique?
S: We believe the future of retail is experiential, and with home decor and furnishings, it’s a lot about creating a point of view on lifestyle. With the shop, especially in our new larger space, we’re able to blend those two elements and deliver that to our shoppers. We put so much heart and soul into curating our product mix, and our staff brings their absolute best every day to create what we hope is a joyful and inspiring experience for our community.
L: Our staff. They are so invested and care so deeply about this community and our business. We all love what we do, and we love each other like family, so naturally, we want everyone to feel that vibe when they come in to shop. We feel so lucky to be a part of such a great community, and ultimately, we hope that people feel that love.
Q: As a companion to the brick and mortar, you also offer design services. How do you merge those concepts? What is your overall design aesthetic and approach?
S: Our design business is a huge component within our retail business. The two arms of the business really create this supportive ecosystem for each other. While so many of our clients are word of mouth, a lot also come to us after being inspired by the look and feel of our retail space. What we do best for our clients is create spaces that feel light, bright, layered, textured, and, most of all, inviting and approachable. We approach design with function first. Our briefing process is thorough, and the design usually falls out of that initial brief. It’s amazing what you learn about a couple or a family just by taking the time to get to know them and how they live.
L: Regarding our home decor and design, our vibe is coastal casual. We want our store, as well as our design, to feel approachable and curated. Even though we have a coastal casual approach, we’ve worked on all sorts of jobs with different design aesthetics. We want our design to feel accessible and functional. It’s so important to us that we’re not just creating a beautiful space but that we’re delivering a home that works for how a specific family lives in it.
Q: What is an affordable, simple thing anyone can do to zhush up a space?
S: The most affordable and simple thing to do is to set the mood. Tidy up your clutter, dim the lights, put on some great music, and light a candle (from The Beehive, of course!) After that, it’s all about styling! Pick an area, clear it, and then come see us! It’s amazing what you can do with freshened-up accessories!
L: New pillows and throws can easily update a space. In a kitchen or bath, a new hand soap + hand towels, and maybe a vessel with a plant always bring me joy! Even restyling a console or coffee table with something you love. This is exactly the sort of thing we want to help people discover. Styling is my FAVORITE!!
Q: What is one of the biggest rewards or lessons learned juggling projects and a retail space?
S: The biggest reward has come from one of our biggest lessons- we are only two people and can’t do it all and be everywhere. We have learned to trust our team implicitly, and that is where our biggest growth opportunity has come from. I love that we can move between retail and design; there is always something to be inspired by!
L: I learn something new every single day - it sounds so cliche, but it’s the truth! For me, and what I always share with Sandra, is that we can only do our best - and I’m learning to be good with just that. We both care so deeply about what we do and the connections we make with both clients + customers, and all I want to focus on is giving them my best.
Rapid Fire - Fairfield Favorites from The Beehive:
Go-to Hostess Gift:
S: I love gifting serving boards with a cookbook from a favorite chef, you can never have too many and they look great styled.
L: A beautiful hand soap and towel paired with a candle or diffuser - everyone deserves a fresh little update!
Essential Design Element:
S: Lighting! It’s such a key design element for a warm and inviting space.
L: Beautiful books. They add height, color, interest…they make all the difference in elevating a space.
Family Fun:
S: Proof Pizza at Southport Beach on summer Friday nights is the best way to end the week.
L: I love the Farmer’s Market and going to a live event at FTC!
Recharge:
S: Hot Vinyasa Yoga at Yoga Synergy
L: New Beauty Wellness - start with a massage and end with a Hydrofacial - so good!
Menu Favorite:
S: Lunch - The Fatone Burrito at Tasty Yolk, Dinner- Fried Chicken at Bonda.
L: Anything from Martel - but I’m partial to the duck confit! They also make my favorite burger in town.
Design Inspo:
S: Traveling is such a huge source of inspiration.
L: I’m obsessed with Jake Arnold…his design is so luxe, but it still manages to feel comfortable and cozy.
Instagram must follow:
S: As embarrassing as it is, Lesley and I are constantly trading funny animal videos!
L: As an animal lover, @thedodo brings me joy and restores my faith in humanity. 9/10 times I’m gonna cry but it’s so worth it!!
