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For Melissa Zelek, The Vintage Bee Collective grew from her passion for the repurposing and reuse of vintage items to make a space fresh and new but also meaningful and unique.
The extensive services and items Zelek offers through the shop and design services at The Vintage Bee Collection and the furniture refinishing at its sister company, Down the Hill Woodworkers, truly offer her clients one place that does it all.
Customers can shop the store for a carefully curated collection of meaningful and special pieces. The store, which is set up more like a room, shows people how items can be used instead of just seeing them grouped together. Currently, the shop has a selection of furniture pieces, tabletop and wall decor, as well as vases, privacy panels and other items. Many times, customers are reminded of their grandparents’ homes.
“I really only buy what I love, so I love it when someone comes and sees something that brings back fond memories for people,” explained Zelek. “And if they’re looking for something specific, then I can help people find that. I love finding people the things that are just what they’re looking for.”
Zelek offers design services ranging from product sourcing to color consultations to more traditional interior design services where she visits the client’s home and talks about what they’d like to see and pulls together the room for them.
“I love reinventing the space and showing someone what the space could be,” said Zelek. Currently, Zelek is transforming one room at The Vintage Bee Collective into a design center where clients can come and find samples of everything for their rooms from fabric and countertop samples to bathroom vanities.
“I want people to be able to come here and design a room from what we have in the store,” said Zelek.
In addition, Zelek helps with more extensive remodels from breaking ground on a space to the interior design. Zelek’s other company, Down the Hill Woodworkers, focuses on furniture refinishing and restoration. Clients can bring in a vintage or antique item that needs a revival and watch it come back to life and fit into the aesthetic of a room.
“I love reusing materials and keeping them out of the landfill,” said Zelek. “I enjoy recreating a piece and giving it a new life.”
This passion has grown since Zelek’s childhood. She’s always loved collecting vintage items and has fond memories of doing so with her father, who also taught her how to refinish furniture.
Zelek began her career working for a designer. When her side business of refurbishing furniture took off, she decided to quit working for the other designer and focus on the furniture and the sale of the vintage things she’d found. As her new business began to grow, Zelek knew she needed more space than what she had in her basement, so she posted on social media asking about the old
mill in Somers. Zelek immediately knew the space was perfect.
“When I walked in, I just knew,” recalled Zelek. “I loved it instantly.”
THE VINTAGE BEE COLLECTIVE IS LOCATED AT 49 MAPLE ST. IN SOMERS AND IS OPEN THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS FROM 11 A.M. TO 2 P.M. AND SATURDAYS FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M. APPOINTMENTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THEVINTAGEBEECOLLECTIVE.COM OR CALL 413-237-9070.