Studio tour: Paloma’s Nest new shop

Name: Caroline and Jose Vásquez
Location: Austin, Texas
Company: Paloma’s Nest

What do you do? Paloma’s Nest creates a line of handcrafted modern heirlooms. We focus on designs for weddings, baby, home, & holiday. Often our custom pieces commemorate a special time or event.  We strive to produce items of the highest quality craftsmanship and materials that will be cherished and passed on to future generations.

What is your aesthetic? Our aesthetic is timeless. Most of our designs are simple, modern, and unexpectedly elegant. However, we do not design based on trends or styles. When we design, we look at a piece and say “Will this still be beautiful in 100 years?”

How does your studio style convey your professional aesthetic? In our product line, we stay true to the natural characteristics of the materials we use- wood, clay and porcelain, organic cotton, pure gold and silver leaf. We recently moved into this new studio space, which houses our offices, shipping area, ceramic studio, wood shop and boutique. Most everything in the space needed to be gutted before we moved in, so we were able to create an environment that reflects the brand that lives here.  We used lots of reclaimed building supplies, and got an amazing deal on overstock of pale maplewood flooring. Simple white walls, desks and tables are matched with silver galvanized metal chairs and wooden storage pieces. Lots of natural sunlight makes the space a joy to work in.

Favorite part of your studio? The expansive 12 foot long chalkboard. It serves as a “home-base” for important notes, dates, numbers, and funny jokes.

Where do you go for inspiration? Most of our inspiration comes directly from the materials we use, and how far we can push those materials, combined with a real love of history and antiques. We love to re-consider items from the past, and update them to create a “new classic.”

What tool do you use in your business that you can’t live without? Our amazing team! We could not do what we do as entrepreneurs and parents if it wasn’t for the talented and loyal folks who work with us everyday.

Is there anything you’d upgrade to? As much as we love our little kilns (they are incredible workhorses!), we would LOVE a new giant kiln, because of the possibilities it could bring for new designs in the collection.

Anything else we should know? As you see in the photos here, we have this sweet little showroom/boutique now open in Austin! If you are in the area, come say “hi!”

We will be open for extended holiday hours starting in November, around the same time our beloved Holiday Collection debuts.

Shop hours and location can be found here: http://palomasnest.com/locations.html

If you’re not around Austin, of course our entire collection is available online at palomasnest.com

[images from Paloma’s Nest]