by Sherry Moeller Photos by Stacy Zarin Goldberg
With client demand at an all-time high, Tanya Smith-Shiflett of Unique Kitchens & Baths and Sara Swabb of Storie Collective, who have collaborated on projects for a few years, decided it was the right time to open a showroom and shop in Georgetown. “Georgetown is a hot spot and the proximity to Sara is great,” says Tanya.
“Tanya found the perfect spot for our shared shop and showroom,” says Sara, who lives right around the corner. “Georgetown holds a special place in my family’s heart, but this location is also a hub for DC’s trade and retail design and furnishing stores, along with a variety of boutiques, antique sellers, and home to other creatives who we love.”
Both Unique Kitchens & Baths and Storie Collective have managers onsite to ensure clients have a wonderful experience when visiting. “Our showroom features several custom pieces, including a cabinet collection we designed together, so clients are able to stop in, open and close drawers, touch the hardware, and really feel the quality of product that Unique Kitchens & Baths delivers,” says Sara. “A range of color and door style samples are available for inspiration, but Unique Kitchens & Baths is truly the epitome of custom, so they are able to create whatever a client may have in mind.”
Storie Collection carries an assortment of curated design items, including vintage and modern pieces in a range of price points, plus accessories, such as scented and taper candles. They will have an exciting collection of holiday items for entertaining and hosting family and friends.
The designers share additional insight into their backgrounds, how the showroom, shop and their cabinet line came together, and what to expect when you visit.
Provide brief backgrounds on how you started in the design business and your business philosophies.
Tanya: As owner and founder of Unique Kitchens & Baths, I have always believed that the kitchen is the heart of the home. I’m passionate about balancing function and beauty in the rooms we use the most.
While working full time in medical sales, I also began helping my husband’s building busines part-time by designing kitchen layouts. I then became an NKBA-certified kitchen designer and founder of our company, creating beautiful and functional kitchens. I continue to expand my skills, hone my expertise, and work closely with our in-house designers to create timeless spaces.
Sara: As founder and creative director of Storie Collective,
I develop and implement a tailored design with concierge- level attention to detail for our full-service clients. The result is an individualized experience, resulting in a space that is custom, yet comfortable, and timeless in its appeal. Creating purposeful and authentic spaces that our clients will love for years to come is what makes us thrive. Through global travels, my aesthetic is marked by authenticity in its use of natural materials, raw textures, and handmade objects mixed with everyday modern essentials. I love working with motivated and trusting clients to design a home that reflects their story.
I began my career in business and marketing, working for a Fortune 50 company and later a digital marketing firm where I learned to understand client goals, develop unique solutions, and deliver results that exceed expectations. I have an MA in Communications from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Business Marketing from Miami University in Ohio. As a design lead at another DC-based design firm, I found my deep passion for residential interiors and honed my aesthetic and process.
You collaborated on the design of a line of cabinetry. What was the process like to create this cabinetry collection?
Tanya: Sara and I have been collaborating on projects for a few years. She is a wonderful designer and has introduced us to some lovely clients. Creating a cabinet collection is
all about bringing out the “unique” aspects of the designer. Your style should shine in your door designs, colors and woods, and I feel we have achieved that with each and every collaboration.
Sara: We completed our cabinet collection in the last year. For us, the process of building a cabinet line was truly intuitive. We delight in lines, movement, and function — every detail of each product we put in a space — and cabinetry is no different. From my product sketches to
Unique Kitchens & Bath’s prototypes and color samples, we built this cabinet collection with our clients’ lifestyles
in mind. Together, we designed cabinetry for my home, so I have the unique perspective of being both the designer and a client, using and living with our designs every day. Given that experience, I have the utmost trust that our collaborative process really works in bringing beautiful and functional designs for our clients’ specific lifestyles.
Tanya, what are the latest items that homeowners are asking for in kitchen designs? What colors are trending as far as kitchen cabinets? Special features?
Tanya: Lower cabinets with less upper cabinetry are the top requests right now. Favorite colors are greens and blues, plus homeowners just love the spice inserts!
Sara, what are some of the products you carry in the showroom? Do you have special items planned for the holidays?
Sara: We are diligent about selecting both vintage and modern items at a range of price points. Some of our pieces are more of an investment – like our collection of vintage, handwoven rugs, but we also source accent pieces, such as candlesticks, ceramics and planters. We intentionally focus on items that clients can use in their everyday lives, but that also bring a curated, collected look to their spaces. Lighting a candle is such an easy way to soften the mood and bring warmth to your home. From beautifully scented candles to unexpected tapers for your dining table, we always have candles on hand that feel special.
For the holidays, we will be centering our collection around pieces for entertaining and hosting family and friends, such as beautiful linens, brass and wood accented serving pieces, and cozy throws and pillows to refresh your seating area. A new collection that we are really excited about is a charming line of fluted-edge serveware. They feel both effortless and special, timeless and modern, all at the same time. The collection will include items like cake stands, appetizer plates, and platters that could easily be for every day, but special enough for your holiday table. We’ll also feature pretty hand soaps and hand towels to spruce up guest spaces.
Anything else to add about the showroom and shop?
Tanya: The showroom is gorgeous and being in Georgetown provides a “destination location,” where you can come visit the showroom, eat, shop, and make a day out of it!
Sara: We are also planning to host a series of pop-ups during the holiday season. We are so excited to bring beautiful gift items to our Georgetown clientele so be sure to follow us on Instagram @storiecollective and @uniquekitchensandbaths to get that information!
Unique Kitchens & Baths | Storie Collective Showroom & Shop
1506 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, DC Open Tuesday-Saturday, 12-5 p.m.
