Stepping into Found Studio Shop, a retail gift shop in Lauraville, feels like the most genuine hug from a friend. Everything is bright, fun, and comfortable—with just a touch of sass—which is exactly how owner Kacey Stafford designed it.

“One of my favorite things to do is get together a collection of things that are beautiful and functional and bring joy,” drawls the Kentucky native. “I want people to walk in here and sigh, ‘Ahhh.’ This is the ultimate retail therapy destination.”

The shop is a veritable emporium of gifting, stocking everything from jewelry and chocolate to bath and body products, pillows and cocktail shakers, and adorable goods for babies and children.

Stafford, 45, carries an extensive collection of paper goods and clever cards and plenty of fashionable housewares. Many of the items are locally sourced from Baltimore-based artists and some of Stafford’s employees are makers themselves.

The store is the brick-and-mortar embodiment of Stafford’s personality, equal parts Southern charm and endless creativity. A mixed media artist—you may be familiar with her “BMORE KIND” sticker—Stafford received a degree in art education at Murray State University in her home state and began her career as an art teacher in public schools.

Eighteen years ago, when her husband, Scott, needed to relocate for work, it brought the couple to Baltimore, where they fell in love with the quaint neighborhood of Waltherson, in northeast Baltimore. They set down roots and have been dedicated to that community ever since.

As much as she enjoyed teaching, and supporting public schools in particular, Stafford didn’t feel it was her life’s vocation. Her father owned a furniture store and her grandfather a nursery and landscaping business. Even though she knew the challenges of entrepreneurship, she always felt called to the world of independent retail. She ditched teaching and, “decided I would listen to what was pulling at my heartstrings—I wanted a shop.”

Stafford joined forces with Carmen Brock and helped open Red Tree in Hampden in 2006—it later morphed into the much-loved Trohv—but left three years later to have her children, now ages 10 and 13. (Trohv closed in 2022.)

“When I left Trohv I said, ‘I probably won’t ever do a store again’—because it’s so demanding and takes over your life,” she recalls. But then an opportunity arose in 2019 for her to have a tiny, 250-square-foot niche shop within Red Canoe Café, right in the heart of her own neighborhood. “I thought, well, this is a good, low-risk way to find out if this is still my passion. And as soon as I opened, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve missed this so much.’ This is my passion. This is my gift.”

The little store took off. While Stafford acknowledges that retail is no joke, she says that Baltimore will turn out for the right kind of store.

“Baltimore doesn’t want a cookie-cutter world, and they don’t want vacant Main Streets or just big-box stores,” she says. “Baltimore supports and shows up for its local businesses and local artists.”

The origin story of what is now Found Studio is as much the story of a building as it is a store. Despite the pandemic being “the universe giving me a slap in the face,” Stafford knew she would need to expand when online school ended—she was home with a kindergartener and a third grader—and the world went back to normal. And she knew just where she wanted to go: a building on Lauraville’s main street on the same block as Red Canoe and near her friend and fellow local retailer, Christina Brunyate, who owns Domesticity Sewing Studio.

The building had history; it had been everything from a pleasure club in the ’80s to, more recently, a DIY home projects store. But it had stood vacant since 2015, and Stafford had always kept her eye on it. In a twist of fate that can only happen in Smalltimore, the building’s owner turned out to be Stafford’s neighbor. It took a year—and a whole lot of that Southern charm—for him to agree to sell.

“It took a lot of negotiations and meetings, and I finally convinced him with my nice Southern drawl and a couple glasses of bourbon,” she quips.

She and her husband acquired the building in November 2022. What ensued was a frantic year of constant work. Dead birds, dust, and detritus were cleared out. Stafford secured a Project Restore grant from the state and a façade improvement grant from Baltimore Development Corporation. Although a contractor did the heavy lift of HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, Stafford and her husband did much of the work themselves, customizing every inch of the store with an artist’s eye. They painted all the floors and laid intricate patterns of tile in the bathrooms, along with designer Gary Godbey.

Almost every piece of furniture was purchased at Second Chance, through Facebook Marketplace, or is a hacked piece from Ikea. A group of volunteers helped paint furniture. The pièce de résistance is the accent wall behind the register area that Stafford painted herself in her signature mixed-media style. The paint was barely dry when Found Studio opened, just in time for holiday shoppers.

The store’s tagline is appropriately “curated by an artist.” A committed member of the Charm City Craft Mafia, where she’s been on the board since 2011, Stafford carries many things by local artists and makers. For example, she says they can’t keep Hon’s Honey products on the shelves. (The Baltimore-based social enterprise sells honey products made by survivors of human trafficking.) She carries cutting boards made by woodworker Deirdre Smith from trees that naturally fall on her Baltimore County farm, prints, notecards, and paintings by local artists like Emily Uchytil and Gertie Smith, and candles and soap crafted by Mount Royal Soaps.

The second story of Found Studio is used as a rotating gallery space for artists and for events. Local papercut artist Annie Howe has a small studio space there, too. In the future, Stafford would like to get back to her teaching roots and offer classes in the space.

“I think this vibe is very Baltimore City-centric,” she says of the store. That local edge is important to Stafford, as she finds retail to be as much about community as it is commerce. “Creating community is the part I love,” she says. “We have a lot of regulars who come in and people come here to be surrounded by beauty and to forget about their cares, if only for a few minutes.”

For all the whimsy of its wares, it is Stafford who brings the magic to Found Studio Shop.

From the number of people who volunteered to help her and Scott get the shop open, to the dedicated customers who swing by just to say hello—and Stafford always remembers everyone’s name—it’s clear that she is a fixture in Lauraville, a splash of Southern comfort in a Natty Boh town.

This piece appeared in our March 2024 issue. For more great Baltimore stories, consider becoming a subscriber.

Carmen Brock and her house felt like strangers in the summer of 2020. Brock, the beloved owner of home goods shop Trohv, had spend the past 14 years living and breathing her store on the Avenue, which often meant ignoring her Victorian-style rowhome on Guilford Avenue, in the heart of Charles Village. It was merely a place to rest her weary head.

When, due to the weight of the pandemic, Trohv closed for good in August 2020, suddenly Brock, who was a Baltimore City middle school teacher before opening Trohv, found herself only being at home. And a reintroduction began.

“It really was a refuge—with the shop and even when I was teaching, I just wasn’t here that much,” she says.

But when Brock found herself unmoored, it was her home that she craved.

“I’m truly head over heels for the comfort that your own space can bring you,” she says. “It’s not just comfort, it’s also a place where I was experiencing loneliness and heartbreak. A safe, tender place where I could mourn Trohv. It felt like it held me.”

When Brock and her ex-husband bought the house in 2002, the housing market was “bananas,” she says. It was the fourth house they put a bid on. “I was so happy that I got it. The community here really takes notice and care of each other.”

The house, built in 1914, had good bones. “I was so drawn to the skeleton of this place, and I love sharing walls,” says Brock, who grew up on a cattle and tobacco farm in Kentucky. “I know that can be annoying when it comes to gatherings or parties, but I actually really love it. I had never been exposed to rowhomes before.”

The home was in incredible shape when she first moved in, and the original wood floors are still a gorgeous honey color with an impressive inlay border throughout her family and dining room. Tucked in the middle of the block, the 2,000-square-foot home also gets bathed in natural light thanks to three skylights scattered throughout.

While Brock’s house is not a Trohv showroom, “there is definitely a relationship there.” She describes it “almost like a sibling relationship in a way. If I was picking or buying or searching or rummaging for the shop and I found something that felt really special and I just absolutely fell in love with it, I would keep it.”

One of the best things about Brock’s home is its deliberateness. Every piece has a personal connection to Brock, and her design philosophy seems to be “worth the wait.” She got her very first coffee table 10 years after she moved into her house. She buys things piece by piece over months, years, even decades, as opposed to trying to outfit a room all at once, which she knows is not the norm.

“It’s not necessarily the approach people want to take,” she admits. “But that’s how I’ve put my house together. I just didn’t have a coffee table until I found the one that I wanted.”

Brock and her coffee table met at the Brimfield Antique Flea Market in Massachusetts, an annual show that spills out over acres of land. The table, one of 15, looked like a gallon drum and a barrel had a baby. In fact, it wasn’t a table at all. It had giant arms on it and had been used for preserving cans in a big factory. Brock went ahead and bought all 15, then loaded them onto a huge truck, drove them back to Baltimore, rolled them into Trohv, removed the arms—“I took a welding class in high school”—and sold 14 of them. The fifteenth went into her house. It now sits in her front room, nestled between her couches. It’s so heavy she often jokes it conveys with the house. “I don’t expect to move it—but it’s fine.”

Brock’s house was also completely rugless until a trip to Morocco in 2019, where she bought six rugs. “Half went to the shop and the other half stayed here.”

All of Brock’s stories are like this—an adventurous tale that ends with a special purchase, all told in her soothing drawl.

“My friend and I were staying at this ashram thing and there was a rug in our room, and I just asked the guy if he’d be willing to let me pay for it. And was he was like, ‘Yes, it’s disgusting. It’s been here for like 20 years.’” In the end she shoved three rugs into a suitcase and took the other three in her carry-on. “Isn’t it ridiculous,” she chuckles. But the thing about Brock is you don’t feel like it is. It feels like it’s always worth it for the right piece.

There’s the coat rack in the front entrance of her home with “New York School of Art & Design” messily written on a piece of green tape that’s still stuck on the side. “It’s definitely one of my favorite things,” she says. “I think that if it could talk, just the minds and ideas that have brushed past this, even by osmosis, I want to learn from that.”

Brock loves the idea of owning things that have existed in a previous life. “It’s had a life longer than me.”

As she stands in her bedroom, Brock points out that the positioning of her home—the top of a hill facing west—means this room gets pretty good sunsets. “It took me several years to notice it,” she says.

“It took me several years to notice a lot of things in this house.” The summer that Trohv was closing, “I must have watched 60—no kidding—sunsets that summer. I don’t know if it was the wonder of it, the silence of it. It was part of getting me through.”

Brock, who is working at the soon-to-open Church Bar in Old Goucher and just started offering “home consultations by Trohv,” is getting steady on her feet again.

“I feel like I’m in a better place,” she says. “I don’t know if I’m in a good place, but better—which I’ll take.”

Her house has helped get her to that better place. She says everyone assumed that, as the owner of a home goods store, she enjoyed her own house, “but I enjoy it now more than I ever have. And that is a surprise to me.”

One of the things that brings Brock the most joy is the artwork scattered throughout the house—on the walls, the stairwell, hidden in the bathrooms. All are deeply meaningful and connect her to a specific moment in time. There’s a piece by Katie Pumphrey, called “Fever Dream,” that hangs in Brock’s office. She bought it in 2017 when her dad died, and she was feeling adrift. There was something about the piece that “fit” her grieving.

“I love it and I love thinking about my dad. It doesn’t bring me sadness at this point, it brings me such joy to think about him.”

A charcoal and graphite piece by Lee Nowell Wilson, showing a woman trying to fold herself into a cardboard box, heaving at the sides, represents the loss of Trohv. And the giant 4-by-5-foot painting that hangs in her dining room instantly took Brock back to her childhood of chasing bumblebees around the farm. It was done by Jordan Kasey, a MICA grad who now lives in New York.

“This is from 2007—she graduated in 2008. This is one of my favorites.” The piece—the thing she would grab if her house caught fire—is of a young girl doing a handstand. Her cheeks pink, her mouth slightly agape. “It feels soft and approachable and tender and playful,” she says.

But Brock loves asking her guests their interpretation of each piece of art, too. “I dated this guy once and he came in and was like, ‘Carmen, your house is like a museum.’ And I think he meant it as a compliment, but I also feared there was maybe this non-cozy quality to that. And I hung my hat on that probably a little too long. I do think he meant it in a nice way. But I want people to come in and throw their shit around—I do.”

It’s taken 20 years, but for now Brock’s house finally feels like home—her home. Each time she departs, she steps onto the porch, doorknob in hand, and stops for a second.

“When I leave the house—this is literally what I say—‘Thank you. I love you. Please be safe when I’m gone. And thank you for your hospitality and love.’”

Trohv owner Carmen Brock and I both joke we gave birth the last week of October 2006. Carmen to an amazing shop on the Avenue, and me to my oldest son, Milo. Throughout every milestone—from the terrible twos to the angsty double digits to the Bar Mitzvah stage just this past year—we were both proud mamas.

So hearing that Trohv is closing next month feels like a death in the family. It makes my heart ache. I feel like I should be sitting shiva.

When Trohv—then called Red Tree—opened on the Avenue in 2006, it immediately became a favorite spot for holiday shopping, special gifts (the first thing my daughter, Willa, uttered when she heard about Trohv closing was, “But where will we get your Mother’s Day gifts now?”), items for the home, beautiful jewelry, and funny cards.

“When we first opened up people were trying to figure out what we were and what we were doing,” recalls Carmen. “People would come in asking for wigs, hair dryers, and sports bras—I loved that so much,” she laughs.

In my 14 years at Baltimore magazine, first as Style Editor and now as HOME and Weddings Editor, I have probably pulled 6,000 items to photograph for various shoots. Carmen always said yes. Even if I busted through the door breathless, gasping “trivet”—something vital I thought was missing from my latest styled shoot that was happening in five minutes—she would always say, “no problem” and have me quickly on my way. We’ve pulled tables and chairs and vases and books and jewelry and baskets. I remember at one point, the late Baltimore magazine executive editor Dick Basoco calling me into his office, “No. More. Trohv,” he admonished. That only lasted a few weeks before I was back there again.

Since I’ve known Carmen for so long, I was honored to be sent a Google document to sign up for shifts and help out the last few weeks the store is in business. The crowds have been huge (lines wrap around the block with only a few customers inside at a time) and if it could help Carmen and her associates, including Dawn Hudson and Bree Fischvogt, of course I would do it. My daughter and I spent a few hours there this past Sunday zhuzhing, rearranging, and, yes, shopping. Even with everyone coming and going and wanting to bask in the light that is Carmen, she made my daughter feel like she was number one. She gave her tasks, trusted her to answer the phone, and wrote everything Willa would need to know on a scrap of paper in her beautiful handwriting. That is the Carmen aura: freshly baked doughnuts, puppies, and a bouquet of peonies all wrapped into one.

I was also able to witness so many approaching Carmen—it’s so hard not to wrap her in a big hug—and telling her “this shop was my favorite.” Or “I bought my most beloved gift here.” Or “I came to a pop-up and it was amazing.” Ohh, the pop-ups. So many good ones.

“We did this ‘Beers and Spears’ event in 2012 where we featured Union Craft—they were really new—and Gordy’s Pickles,” Carmen remembers. “It was a really fun thing to do.” And then there were all the events with Damian Mosley from Blacksauce Kitchen. And truly one of the best gatherings involved Krystal Mack and the release of Cherry Bombe: The Cookbook. Krystal brought together local female chefs and they “all came to the shop and made amazing food,” Carmen recalls.

In my forever memory, a beautiful blanket Carmen gifted my daughter at her birth in 2009, is now my 9-year-old’s most beloved lovey. It’s probably in 17 million family photos and will always make me think of Trohv. (That and the smell of rose hips and anytime anyone mentions store windows—Trohv’s were the best.)

And on Facebook, so many stories of artists and makers repeat over and over that Carmen always welcomed them. “Trohv is one of my favorite shops anywhere and Carmen is the sweetest person on earth,” commented Elisa Shere. “They were the first ‘big’ store that approached me about wholesaling my jewelry after I quit my ad agency job.”

My friend Kate Beck posted, “It feels larger than the fact that Carmen was one of the first to make shelf space in her beautiful shop for my jam, and the enormity of her generosity towards me (and my little business) at that time. Larger than the faith they had in my quirky creativity when I borrowed items for photo shoots. And larger than the smiles, hugs, and high fives received time and time again when I went in there to chat about another nutty new business idea…”

I don’t want to give up valuable space in my Trohv eulogy to address the why. But I will say it didn’t have to be like this. Small businesses should have been given a lifeline. Now, this city, specifically Hampden, won’t be the same. It’s hard to believe all these empty storefronts are the only answer.

Trohv is the heart and soul of this community—sponsoring Stoop Stories, Pile of Craft, Skatepark of Baltimore, among a million other things. Hosting crafters and dreamers. Always saying yes. The ripple effect of this closure will be felt by many.

Asking Carmen what her next move will be is like asking a newly engaged bride when the wedding day is…we have to give it some time. I have my own fantasies that involve a Champagne bar and a curated selection of items. Or pairing up with a local chef for a restaurant and mercantile combo, like Jacoby’s in Austin. I just know Carmen won’t be sidelined for long.

“It has been the joy of my life to have a small business in Baltimore,” Carmen says. “For me, Trohv felt like a laboratory that sort of became a personal love story, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked, hustled, lived, and loved the many creative people in this beautiful town. So many people have been involved: friends, families, community members, and artists, and they are all a really big part of raising Trohv.”

And even though there have been tears, there are also big belly laughs. “We have enormous pieces of furniture and often they come wrapped in big cardboard boxes,” Carmen says. “It became a tradition: I started hiding inside of them. So when a person on staff and sometimes a customer—it was always during open hours—came in, I would jump out of it or wait until they opened it and try to move it,” she says laughing.

The thing that is most genuine about Carmen, aside from her wanderlust and wanting the world to be a better place, is that she truly gets joy from other people. She’s fueled by their energy. It’s hard for her to take a compliment because she wants to put the attention on YOU.

But Carmen, please listen up. I hope you understand why you are so loved. I hope you know the huge imprint you leave behind. Thank you for Trohv.

Whether stashing away pillows or disguising plain planter pots, baskets are a stylish and clever solution to storage woes.

With the mandated stay-at-home orders still in place, it looks like Mother’s Day is going to be a little different this year. But that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate your loved ones from afar.

In fact, local shops have come up with thoughtful presents to make contactless gifting easy. We’ve put together a handy gift guide to help you celebrate the important women in your life while supporting local businesses. These shops offer online ordering for delivery or contact-free curbside pickup, making for a seamless transaction while still practicing safe social distancing.

B. Willow

The storefront might be closed, but that hasn’t stopped B.Willow from staying true to its Mother’s Day tradition. Owner Liz Vayda has packaged two options: a seasonal bouquet or tropical potted plant—both of which come with a dried-flower card and a half-dozen rose shortbread cookies from Bramble Baking Co. Curbside pickup is available Monday-Friday from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. and local delivery with a minimum order of $50 is available on Monday, and Wednesday-Friday.

Becket Hitch

We all know these times are stressful, so why not gift mom a calming, self-care package? Becket Hitch’s Old Whaling Bath Co. Kits include body butter, salt scrub, and a bath bomb in an array of scents like coastal calm, magnolia, and “Sea La Vie.” To top it off, add an all-natural sea sponge, candle, or pajama set from their extensive Mother’s Day gift section. Free delivery is available within 10 miles of the Baltimore County shop.

Brightside Boutique

Offering gift packages for the new mom, the young mom, and the best-friend mom, Brightside Boutique has options for ladies in any stage of motherhood. The various boxes include products such as mugs, candles, lotion, and trinket trays. To make the gift even more special, they are offering handwritten notes so you can leave a loving message to your gift recipient. Shipping is free when you spend more than $50.

CF Interiors

The interior design experts of CF Interiors have gone into full mask-making mode so you can give a timely package that includes two adult tailored face masks, a Dog Lover notepad, and a candle. Local delivery is available in the Baltimore-Metropolitan area, as well as curbside pickup. Call 410-583-8086 or email info@cfinteriors.org to place an order.

Hon’s Honey x Wight Tea Company

The “Healing Hive” partnered with Wight Tea Company this year to bring a wellness-inspired gift package for all moms who enjoy their tea time. The package includes locally-sourced, handcrafted honey and tea, a mug, and a tote. Not only will you be making mom happy, but you’ll be supporting a women-run social enterprise that gives at-risk women steady, reliable work and hope for their future.

Trohv

Build your own Mother’s Day gift package with a few of Trohv’s mom-inspired products. From witty cards and trinkets, to a prayer candle dedicated to Saint Exhaustia—the Patron Saint of Tired Moms—Trohv’s gifts are sure to make your mom laugh. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on their online store, send a direct message on Instagram or contact hellobmore@trohvshop.com to place your order.

You Do You

Mona Hajj, Mona Hajj Interiors

“We’ll see interiors with a more natural, effortless look that are beautiful and relate to the client, whether it is a well-traveled global interior or a simple lived-in interior. Less interesting are the staged and stylized interiors. They are more picture-pretty than livable.”

Plaster and Marble Sculptures

Katie Destefano, Katie Destefano Design & Owner of Curiosity…Intriguing Objects for the Home.

“Plaster and marble busts have been making a big comeback, as they add a lot of dimension and expression to a vignette. Try putting one in an unexpected place like your bathroom or closet to hold some of your accessories. If a bust still seems like too much, try a torso, hand, or even foot.”

Interior Greenery

Stephanie Bradshaw, Stephanie Bradshaw

“Plants, plants, and more plants. And bringing the outside in, not just with greenery, but natureinspired hues and warmer tones.”

Groovy Designs

Darra Sargent, Dear Darling Design Studio

“This year, we are moving away from all of the mid-century-inspired decor and moving on to a new decade—the ’70s. Think lots of oranges, yellows, and teals; macramé, rattan, velvet, terrazzo, fringe, and shag. All forms of design have been featuring ’70s-style shapes (half circles, half ovals, scalloped edges) and ’70s-inspired fonts. I think this year is going to be all about that hippie style, with a big focus on sustainability.”

Intermingling

Carmen Brock, Trohv

“Sustainable products are thankfully ever-present. It’s shifting away from being a trend and more toward a way of living long-term. This all seems to be co-mingling in a backdrop of minimalism, inspired by the declutter movement, a trend that I hope continues.”

The True Meaning of Home

Patrick Sutton, Patrick Sutton

“We have seen a strong shift toward decluttered, modern interiors filled with meaningful art and art objects—rooms that are fresh and forward-thinking while still warm and comfortable. People seem to be moving toward simplicity, quality, and a desire to make each moment of their lives memorable. And they look for their homes to reflect that desire.”

Marco Ricca

Greener Kitchens

Laura Hodges, Laura Hodges Studio

Sustainability in kitchen design is coming in strong for 2020. “We love Grohe’s new smart faucet that integrates filtered water, sparkling water, and tap water all into one faucet, eliminating the need for all kinds of plastic water bottles.”

Liveable Space

Kerry Leikus, Kerry Leikus Designs

“All white walls are out. It shouldn’t take most homeowners very long to see the obvious reasons why the white trend is less than desirable. Maintaining the pristine quality and allure of the all-white look can be difficult, especially if people intend to live in the space.”

Boho Out The Door

Quintece Hill-Mattauszek, Studio Q Designs

“We are going to start to see less and less of the free and flowy trend of the bohemian and Jungalow styles. Patterns such as Shibori, boho fringe, and woven rattans will step to the side to make way for a more tailored approach with a resurgence of upscaled vintage and retro pieces. Forget the throwaway pieces and look for the character and charm that can be modernized to fit your lifestyle.”

Colored Ceilings

Julie Lilienfeld, Athena Hoffberger, and Ryan Haase of Wishbone Reserve

“Painted ceilings are where it’s at. They make the room feel cozier and can hide a number of unsightly structural elements. Don’t be shy with your color choices. There’s lots of bright pops of color: magenta, cobalt blue, emerald green, sunshine yellow, and acid orange.”

Jewel Tones

Raina Smallwood, Cedar & Cotton

“What’s winning in 2020: deep, bold colors, specifically jewel tones. Hunter greens, deep teals, velvety plums, and even black are everywhere, and not just on our walls, but on house exteriors, kitchen cabinets, and sofas. Our homes feel more personal and lived-in, and that’s definitely a win.”

Take in the outdoors while the sun is still warm and the days are long; it’s the perfect time to unwind with a picnic.

Tucked in the corners of many of our favorite stores are designs and handmade products—hidden charms, one may call them—from makers living right next door.

Let your closet truly blossom this season as we move away from predictable pastels and toward more neutral tones. Combining classic florals with bold snakeskin prints and subtle gold accents, this trend welcomes growth with a new spin on spring fashion.

Ruby Shoo amaris russet shoe ($90) at Ma Petite Shoe. Summer wallet ($12.95) at Doubledutch. Jasmin Precieux hand cream ($17) at Curiosity. Sascha Macrame bucket tote ($56) at Trohv. Floral socks ($17) at Ma Petite Shoe. Lovoda ponytail holder ($8.95) at Doubledutch. Rifle Paper Co. x Corkcicle tumbler ($33) at Becket Hitch. Yochi bee pearl bracelet ($75) at Sassanova. Loup Simone Jean ($150) at Hunting Ground. Astoria snake boots ($90) at South Moon Under. Jangles 3 angles cement planter ($35) at Doubledutch. Rifle Paper Co. recipe box ($38) at Becket Hitch. Rails kate shirt blush butterflies ($198) at Sassanova. Chronicle Books Terrarium ($24.95) at Brightside Boutique. Succulent garden metal catchall ($12) at Su Casa.

Carmen Brock is the perfect combination of Southern charm and Baltimore grit, much like her home décor shop, Trohv. For the past 12 years, Brock has curated items reflective of both Hampden’s quirky character and her own personal warmth. Nestled on The Avenue, the shop is a staple in the community where friends always drag their out-of-town guests.

And she’s known for gravitating towards local artists. “I grew up in a family business that was incredibly resourceful and relied heavily on the community,” says Brock. Her parents saved their money to buy the tobacco and cattle farm in Kentucky where Brock grew up, a dream of theirs that taught their children the value of hard work. “I learned how to rely on other clever, resourceful, creative folk in the community,” she says. “I admired that structure.”

Leaving the farm for Georgetown College in Kentucky and then Emory University in Atlanta, Brock encountered a new type of community—one of artists and other creative types. The more Brock traveled, the more artists she met, instilling in her an intense love of handmade products of all kinds and a desire to one day open a store. “I had such a deep respect for these people who were making things and loving it so much and sustaining themselves off that,” she says. As her admiration and knowledge of the arts expanded, Brock landed here in Baltimore, not expecting to call it home for very long. She took a teaching job with the city schools while waiting to move on to the next thing, but she soon realized Baltimore was the ideal location for her to open Trohv, originally called Red Tree.

“Once we were settled here, Baltimore had its way with me. It sunk its claws in deep,” she says with a laugh. After quitting her teaching job, Brock took the risk, unsure at first how to hire a staff, how to keep up inventory, and if the shop would even survive.

It’s an understatement to say that Hampden benefited from Brock’s leap. Trohv’s unusual collection of small gifts, unique home décor, charming books, and one-of-a-kind art welcomes people to The Avenue, something Brock actively strives to accomplish. The store often features staff-made seasonal decorations, creative window displays, and small workshops with local artists.

“Even just getting a customer to come downstairs to me is a success. I don’t take that for granted. When someone walks in our door, it’s a gift,” Brock says with sincere Southern hospitality in her eyes.

Perhaps it’s the engrained importance of hospitality that made Brock decide to build her shop around home décor. To Brock, choosing locally made home goods is about more than just involving the community—it’s about giving customers access to pieces that reflect both them and the Baltimore spirit. “When I walk into someone’s home, I want to be able to know something about that person based on what they choose to live with every day, and that’s what I’m trying to create here.”

Everything Brock is trying to achieve with the store is reflected in her elaborate holiday window displays: They’re engaging for artists and customers alike, educational for the staff, and just a fun part of the job. “It’s been the joy of my life to work with local artists, and I’ve learned so much from them,” Brock says. “I think I’ll be a student forever, and I’ll always be learning about my environment and how to make things mutually beneficial.”

Row 1: “Less Monday More Coffee” mug ($15) at Brightside Boutique. Violet and Brooks hair clips ($16) at Punch!. Desperately Seeking Bowie ($16.95) at Trohv. Voluspa Persimmon and Copal candle ($28) at South Moon Under. Voluspa rose petal ice cream candle ($13) at Anthropologie. Studio Oh! animal water bottle ($35) at Su Casa.

Row two: Lavender Stardust Face Body Hair roll on shimmer ($10) at South Moon Under. Thacker Le Pouch suede blush crossbody ($138) at Sassanova. Slant Collections “Hot stuff” lunch taker ($16.95) at Punch!. “Girlgang” straw ($10) at Punch!. Votive Holder ($17) at Poppy and Stella. Rosé All Day baseball hat ($28) at Brightside Boutique.

Row three: “You are Magic” card ($5) at Poppy and Stella. Toucan shot glass ($6.50) at Punch!. Illume candle ($28) at Su Casa. Quay Australia x Desi Perkins sunglasses ($65) at Brightside Boutique. Fringe Necklace ($16.95) at Punch!.

Row four: Corso Como suede flats ($119) at Poppy and Stella. Mignonne Gavigan flamingo earrings ($325) at Sassanova. Austin Apothecary illuminating body oil ($18) at Doubledutch Boutique. Three Potato Four change holder ($6.50) at Trohv.

Eric Michael sandal ($108) at Poppy & Stella.
Brilliant Ideas journal ($10) at In Watermelon Sugar.
QRTZ watch ($30-$40) at Poppy & Stella.
Bloomingvale palm plate ($12) at Su Casa.
Crap Eyewear sunglasses ($58) at Brightside Boutique.
Mama mug ($13.50) at Trohv.
Miya mini plate ($7) at Curiosity.
Mother’s Day Card ($4.50) at Bmore Babe Design.
Canteen bag ($165) at Bosom Buddy Bags.
Turkish towel ($29) at In Watermelon Sugar.
Instax mini pink camera ($57.95) at Service Photo.
Blush No. 2 ($11.01) at Boordy Vineyards.
Apricot Jam ($16) at Trohv.
Miya mini plate ($7) at Curiosity.
Beatle dish ($4) at In Watermelon Sugar.
Palm Server ($34) at In Watermelon Sugar.
Aromatic Savory Salts ($13.50) at In Watermelon Sugar.

Rainbow Rex pin ($10) at B. Willow. Fight like a girl pin ($10.75) at Trohv. More Coffee Please ($10) at Brightside Boutique. JTbeezwax pin ($12.50) at Trohv. Heart candy pin ($10) at daniellesylvan.etsy.com. Rainbow pin (set of 3/$18) at Wee Chic. Vibes pin ($10) at Brightside Boutique. Pizza pin ($8) at Brightside Boutique. Boring pin ($10) at Brightside Boutique. Terrarium pin ($10) at B. Willow. No pin ($10) at daniellesylvan.etsy.com. Beer pin ($8) at Brightside Boutique. Green haired girl ($10) at Doubledutch Boutique. Vintage Elvis pin ($5) at Bottle of Bread. Vintage ram ($5) at Bottle of Bread. Roses pin ($10) at Trohv. Herbivore dinosaur pin ($10) at daniellesylvan.etsy.com.

Wine and dine your special someone without even leaving the house with these romantic and thoughtful items for a date night in.

1. Multi-color burst earrings ($195) at Sassanova. 

2. Magenta long tassel earrings ($58) at Becket Hitch. 

3. Layered multi-color tassel earrings ($52) at Sassanova. 

4. Rose gold wing earrings ($225) at Sassanova. 

5. Orange ball drop earrings ($18) at Brightside Boutique. 

6. Gold wood block earrings ($14) at Poppy and Stella. 

7. Aztec round beaded earrings ($14) at Poppy and Stella. 

8. Blue round tassel earrings ($18) at Brightside Boutique. 

9. Pink and and grey pom earrings ($18) at Brightside Boutique. 

10. Bright orange fringe earrings ($38) at Becket Hitch. 

11. Jeweled pink tassel earrings ($16.95) at Punch! 

12. Rose gold painted earrings ($74) at Trohv. 

13. Gold tassel earrings ($9.95) at Punch! 

14. Gold circle tassel earrings ($14) at Punch!

1. Pacific Connections tissue box cover ($105) at Antique Exchange. 2. Fire red tea kettle ($48) at Su Casa. 3. Mongolian lamb stool ($399) at West Elm. 4. Orange storage container ($8.75) at Trohv. 5. Middle Kingdom small vase ($12) at Antique Exchange. 6. Lime toothbrush holder ($18) at Su Casa. 7. Tufted pedestal swivel chair ($899) at West Elm. 8. Amanda Adams felt cactus ($56) at Trohv. 9. Leaves of Grass ($16.99) and Meehan’s Bartender Manual ($40) at Trohv. 10. Surya Coast table lamp ($160) at Su Casa. 11. Blue mosaic picture frame ($42) at Trohv. 12. Middle Kingdom Lotus Root vase ($38) at Antique Exchange.

Marvey Le Pen ($2) at Trohv

South and West by Joan Didion ($21) at The Ivy Bookshop

Designworks Ink cactus journal ($14) at Poppy and Stella. 

Treason the Biddle backpack ($125) at Treason Toting Co. 

Bronze water bottle ($24) at Su Casa. 

Bettye Ace sling back pompom slides ($69) at South Moon Under. 

Heart shaped sunglasses ($20) at Brightside Boutique. 

Marvey license plate key chain ($9) at Trohv. 

Ursa Major traveler’s skin care kit ($48) at Trohv. 

Auto Bingo ($2/each) at Shananigans Toy Shop. 

The 3rd Dimension ($7) at Shananigans Toy Shop

Free Play Magnatab ($25) at aMuse Toys. 

Instax Mini 8 ($70) at Service Photo. 

Through the Past Darkly by The Rolling Stones ($20) at The Sound Garden. 

Bobino cord wrap ($6) at Su Casa. 

Large sansevieria plant ($33) and large white planter ($25) at Green Fields Nursery & Landscaping. 

Cedar and cotton tiny wicker chair ($8) at B. Willow. Snake plant ($16) at Green Fields Nursery & Landscaping. 

Vermont wood candle cloche ($86) at Becket Hitch. 3 Angles planter ($15) and capitata yellow air plant ($16) at B. Willow. 

Large ($85) and medium ($65) gold candlesticks at Becket Hitch. 

Porcelain tooth ($24) at B. Willow. 

Barrel cactus ($20) at Green Fields Nursery & Landscaping. 

Medium pyrite ($26) and bone-inlayed box ($102) at Trohv. Gold pyramid (set of three/$189) at Nouveau Home and Interior Design. 

White Mason jar ($25) at Becket Hitch. Dumb cane plant ($3) at Green Fields Nursery & Landscaping.

Barrel cactus ($19.95) at Green Fields Nursery & Landscaping. 

Banquet cacti print ($52) at Trohv. 

Vintage bottle covers ($10/each) at Wishbone Reserve. 

Spider plant ($20) at B. Willow. 

Black planter ($10) and small sansevieria plant ($16) at Green Fields Nursery & Landscaping. Station North Tool Library wooden planter ($8/each), harrisii air plant ($5), and punctulata air plant ($8) at B. Willow. Arthur Umanoff midcentury bar ($550) at Wishbone Reserve. 

1. Cider Made Simple book ($19.95) at Su Casa. 2. All-natural beer soap ($7) at Nepenthe Homebrew. 3. “Union” T-shirt ($20) at Union Craft Brewing. 4. Williams Sonoma craft beer barbecue sauce set ($29.95) at Williams Sonoma. 5. Foster & Rye beer tasting field notebook ($7) at Su Casa. 6. Sideshow Press plaid wooden coasters ($14) at Trohv. Counter Couture bison coasters ($13.50) at Trohv. 7. Soberdough brew bread mix ($10) at Su Casa. 8. The Beer Deck playing cards ($17) at Becket Hitch. 9. The Original Retro Brand “Drinking About You” T-shirt ($48) at The Girl Next Door. 10. Max’s Waxhouse Trappist Belgian Ale candle ($15) at Max’s Taphouse. 11. Unpossible Cuts beer mug earrings ($12) at Trohv. 12. Novelty bulldog wall-mounted bottle opener ($16.95) at Williams Sonoma. 13. Liquid Education: Beer book ($14.95) at Trohv.

“We try to use what we have in the store to catch the eye of people passing by,” Rock said. “They see this big idea and want to see more.”

No matter if it’s a big business or small, window displays play a key role in bringing new and old consumers through the doors. This year, Trohv used repurposed cardboard to make its snowy scene of a Baltimore skyline and various skiing and snow-shoeing activities.

“We really like the expression and challenge of using a common everyday material that can be accessible to everyone and be able to turn it into something inspiring,” said Trohv owner and founder Carmen Brock. “We can’t always pull it off but our hope is to engage people and inspire them to go out and grab some cardboard and make something beautiful.”

Also known for its jaw dropping designs, Anthropologie goes to great heights to achieve their holiday window displays. Like Trohv, they too begin the production process in September and like to incorporate reclaimed items from thrift stores around the area such as Second Chance. Although a chain, Anthropologie prides itself on one-of-a-kind handcrafted displays with no two windows looking exactly the same.

“As a company, we don’t really advertise, so our windows in a way serve as a billboard,” said Anthropologie display coordinator David Ubias. “Hopefully customers will notice that the displays are handcrafted by an individual and not just assembled from a corporate mail-pack.”

With the holidays just around the corner, remember to take a breather in between stores and take in the thoughtful, intricately designed window displays.

Precious metals have been in high demand since what seems like the beginning of time. Add metallic shades like gunmetal and silver into your personal color palette for a more dramatic look.

Whether adorned in doughnuts or displaying your favorite work of art, novelty socks are all the rage this fall. Cozy up and let loose below the knee—chances are you’ll find a pair that speaks to you.

1. Sock It to Me Boston terrier socks ($9.99) at Ma Petite Shoe. 2. Blue Q Duchess of Sassytown socks ($10) at Trohv. 3. Stance Roulette socks ($12) at For Rent Shoes. 4. Sock It to Me Sea Captain socks ($9.99) at Ma Petite Shoe. 5. Free People Melbourne ivory combo speckled boot socks ($14) at South Moon Under. 6. Gallant & Beau polka dot socks ($14.99) at Angel Park. 7. Star Wars socks ($25) at The QG. 8. Video Game socks ($12) at Trohv 9. Socksmith doughnut knee-highs ($10) at Poppy and Stella. 10. Blue Q Sugar Monster socks ($10) at Trohv. 11. Sock It to Me Llama Drama purple sock ($9.99) at Ma Petite Shoe. 12. Stance Anyaviolet socks ($10) at For Rent Shoes.

Is your medicine cabinet inspiring? No, we’re serious! Step away from those generic drug store products (or at least shove them to the back row) and fill your medicine cabinet with items to soothe, cleanse, beautify, and, yes, inspire.

Top Shelf (from left): Pharmacy jar ($18) at Trohv. Zeolite ($12) at Trohv. Everything mist ($19) at Priya Means Love. Barr-Co. soap ($10.50) at In Watermelon Sugar. Herbivore body polish ($36) at Brightside Boutique. Pomegranate eye serum ($25) at Priya Means Love. Mixed salts ($16) at Priya Means Love.

Second Shelf (from left): Herbivore soaking salts ($18) at In Watermelon Sugar. Matches and strike pad ($16) at In Watermelon Sugar. Deep blue jar ($16) at Trohv. Herbivore soap bars ($12 each) at In Watermelon Sugar. Herbivore Hydrating mist ($32) at In Watermelon Sugar.

Third Shelf (from left): Hayride perfume ($45) at Priya Means Love. Soap & Paper hand creams ($10 each) at Trohv. Garden scrub ($14) at Priya Means Love. Lattice container ($15) at In Watermelon Sugar. P.F. Candle Co. candle ($12) at In Watermelon Sugar. Fresh Sugar lip treatment ($24) at South Moon Under. Odeon nail polish ($11.50) at Trohv. Barr-Co. bubble elixir ($31) at In Watermelon Sugar.

Animals ecofriendly backpack ($37) at Trohv.

WAFF creative journal kit ($30) at Wee Chic.

Letters to My Future Self ($14.95) at Becket Hitch.

Zoo Lunchie ($14) at GreenBerries.

Original Prankster tank ($15) at Wire and Honey.

ban.do Gel Yeah pens ($13) at Becket Hitch.

Say Something pouch ($10) at Wee Chic.

Mustard Cosmo puzzle eraser ($8) at Wee Chic.

1. Three Potato Four pennant ($24) at Trohv. 2. Cocktail stirrers ($42 set) at Trohv. 3. Flamingo plate ($7) at Su Casa. 4. Crab bracelet ($22) at Route One Apparel. 5. Itineris Maryland board ($30) at Mud and Metal. 6. Black-eyed Susan sleep mask ($12.95) at Route One Apparel. 7. “Someone in Hampden Loves You” tote ($22) at Mud and Metal. 8. Lotus coordinates necklace ($48) at Poppy and Stella. 9. Rat mug ($12) at Trohv. 10. “Ravens & Bohs & Crabs & O’s” shirt ($23.99) at Route One Apparel. 11. Crab iron hook ($6) at Sweet Elizabeth Jane. 12. Write Notepads & Co. “Lenore” notebook ($12) at Trohv. 13. Patterson Park pagoda letterpress card ($5) at tinydogpress.com.

Upgrade your tablescape with personalized marble tiles.

Don’t fret if you don’t have enough seating on hand for all of your guests: Scatter outdoor poufs and lay small rugs for a laid-back lounge area.

For Harrison Long, it all started with a single plant.

“I was growing an habanero pepper plant in my backyard about six years ago,” he says. “When peppers started to grow, I made hot sauce with it, and I got positive feedback.”

Before long, Long was using the kitchen at Maggie’s Farm to turn out Huckle’s gourmet sauces. While there are lots of hot sauces on the market, Long says his “gives the pepper its due. Our motto is ‘flavor before fire.’ We roast the peppers and prep onions and garlic to pull those flavors out before hitting you with the heat.”

To date, Huckle’s is for sale at The Green Onion in Hamilton and Trohv in Hampden, retailing between $7 to $14 a bottle.

So why is hot sauce having a moment? Says Long, “The spiciness enhances the flavors, but it also brings in a fun element of danger.”

Paper Trail: The labels are made by artist Annie Howe of Annie Howe Paper Cuts, who hand-cuts the paper.