Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Wexler.
Christina, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Years ago, I took a leap of faith and followed my husband’s desires to move to South Florida. After leaving an amazing career as a video editor for The Today Show in NYC, I found myself confounded in south Florida wallowing in my “lost career”, “hurt ego”, and “new motherhood” self-pity party.
I have always been a garage sale junky and an avid lover of antiques and I found solace whilst driving through our suburban, Floridian landscape scattered with forlorn pieces of furniture from times gone by. And so it started, refurbishing pieces that were found or purchased. I was deriving satisfaction and expressing myself in a creative manner that paralleled something from my previous life.
I started painting and refurbishing from my own home in Boca but within a year developed the need for a larger workplace and better location for clients. In 2014 I rented a small 400 square foot warehouse bay- Bay38 was born. While in the warehouse I met another local businesswoman.
Frustrated by the high costs of retail space rent, we banded together to share a brick and mortar shop in Boca Raton called Vintage Home Collective which has been Bay38 Furniture’s home for the past three years.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think the biggest struggle is following your own heart and head; being true to yourself. I have gotten a lot of very constructive criticism which I gladly heed but have also been given advice that may redirect my vision. Everyone wants to put you in a “box” and curbing my own creativity or aesthetic realm would defeat the purpose of my initial reasons for being in this business.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Bay 38 provides lacquer services, upholstery, milk paint, building custom furniture, and glass work. We sell eclectic home decor and vintage furniture. The shop contains a funky mix of furnishings as well as artwork, lighting, pillows, pocketbooks, jewelry, and accessories from around the world.
There is no lack of color at Bay38, combining bright, fun colors with interesting, unexpected patterns and textiles. Bay38 doesn’t fit one specific genre but may be coined as Hollywood Glam or Palm Beach Regency with a touch of Beetlejuice!
A large part of my business is custom work, collaborating with customers on how we can transform their existing pieces of furniture. This is probably what would set us apart from other like businesses. I have never had anyone challenge the quality of work we do. Any of my customers will attest to the passion and heart that is put into every piece regarding creativity and skill.
We are a proud retailer of The Real Milk Paint Co. Carrying a variety of powdered milk paint colors, waxes and glazes. This line of earth-friendly products is environmentally friendly, non-toxic paint and protects the user from the harmful effects of traditional paint while also being kind to the environment. Learn beginning steps of prepping a piece of furniture and basic milk painting techniques.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I feel like Boca Raton and South Florida is changing- younger families are moving in and the population is no more than of mostly seniors or snowbirds. I love the joke that South Florida is heaven’s waiting room!!! It no longer feels like that.
New businesses are flourishing! Non-traditional workspaces, cool restaurants, and shops are popping up and a more ethnically diverse population is moving here. Although, I sometimes wish I was in a more urban area like Miami, exposed to a larger, more diverse clientele.
Pricing:
- Create Your Own Dog or Cat Bed Four Hour Milk Painting Class – $175 All paint, cushion, materials and drawer included. Learn advanced painting and finishing techniques. Plus, how to use a drill gun and sander.
- Basics in Milk Painting Two Hour Milk Painting Class – $85 All Materials Included Learn beginning steps of prepping a piece of furniture and basic milk painting techniques.
Contact Info:
- Address: 141 NW 20th St Boca Raton, FL 33431
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Bay38Furniture
- Phone: 561-886-7040
- Email: christina@baythirtyeight.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bay38furniture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bay38furniture/
Image Credit:
Nicky Rhea, Denise Cochran
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