In case you missed it, Mike and I opened a boutique in May named TWO. TWO is a collaboration between The Bronx Brand and renowned muralist and artist CRASH. The space is small, about 450 sf (including a bathroom and storage area).
TWO
450 gross sf
380 usable sf
18’ frontage with two large windows
11.5’ ceilings – amazing natural light
The first time I met Mike at the space I was very hesitant. It was dark, dreary, there was not a lot to be interested in. Small bathroom, weathered and cheap flooring, dingy walls.
It didn’t scream AMAZING but it screamed POTENTIAL to us and we said “OK, let’s do this.” I mean, we’ve done crazier things.
Originally my goals for the space were lofty. I wanted to paint the ceiling a deep iron/black and add thin wood slats for an elevated experience. I found inspiration on Pinterest that was clean and modern.
This can be created using 1×1 or 1×2 8’ pieces nailed to either a long support/post or nailed directly to the ceiling. We have the Dewalt pneumatic nailer (unfortunately with the tank, not airless) so it would have taken a few hours – mostly spent cutting. The time and effort required for this would not have been feasible since we wanted to be open in one month. Even with the help of Brian and Khilali (who work at the store – come by and say hi to them!), it would have been cutting it close since we all worked full-time or part-time jobs.
We drafted a list of what was necessary for the store to function well and accommodate multiple vendors
Store Wish List
- Dedicated shelving and display area for The Bronx Brand
- Fitting room! This was absolutely critical for us
- Wall space for artwork and photography
- Easily collapsible/moveable furniture pieces – nothing permanent
- Adjustable shelving throughout for multiple configurations and re-merchandising
- Check-out counter that is minimal and has storage underneath for bags
- Open space for events and activities
- BOH storage with refrigerator, microwave, shelving, etc
- Sewing station/dedicated work area for Brian who does cut-and-sew jackets
- Painting station/dedicated work area for Khilali for commissioned pieces
The Transformation Begins…
First, Brian and John painted the store white to lighten it up. John also painted the bathroom a rich blue with neon blue fluer-de-lis designs. The bathroom has facing mirrors on two walls so fleur-de-lis continue forever in the optical illusion.
Next, the divider between the fitting room and storage area was framed. The actual divider/wall is made with 1”x3” plain pine boards that were cut and nailed into the frame in plank/shiplap style. The raw pine was very yellow and too distracting so Khilali white-washed it with a simple 50% water/50% white paint (1:1 ratio); just wipe it on and wipe it off immediately after. It doesn’t have to look perfect, just lighter.
The fitting room is fitted with a curtain that Brian hemmed and stitched. We mounted these Amazon hooks onto the dividing wall and a simple white mirror. Do you recognize the tree stump? It was in my old master bedroom and we couldn’t find a place for it at home. I think it works so perfectly here!
Then the flooring! We decided that the flooring refinish would have to be done in a few days, high impact, affordable, and stand up to heavy foot traffic and wear-and-tear. I researched options and decided to go with the Rustoleum epoxy garage flooring kit available from Home Depot. This kit has tons of great reviews online and the before and after are incredible. Mike and I painted the first coat on a dry night.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Painting over Existing Vinyl Flooring with Garage Paint and Epoxy
1. Read the directions carefully. The packaging will list all prep suggestions and conditions to use it. Generally, there should be low humidity, dry conditions, ventilation, and a clean workspace. This is a two person job.
2. Prep your surface. If you have existing vinyl you will be removing, consider removing the adhesive backing as well and sanding your floors. We opted to paint right over the existing floor since there was a high likelihood that the flooring underneath the vinyl was patched. It’s not ideal but it was the best decision without having to lay a new subfloor. – Use a cleaner to scrub out all grime and dirt. – Vacuum the floor for a better result than sweeping. – Dry your flooring – especially if your surface is wood, tile or concrete.
3. Tape all edges and perimeter.
*** Mix sections A and B according to the direction. I’ll explain later why this is so critical.***
4. Plan out which sections you will be working in first and which direction you will paint. Rustoleum recommends working in sections from the furthest point of the room outward so that your last section is by the door/exit. We noticed a few things: –
- This rolls on like paint so be prepared for the consistency.
- Work in 4’x4’ sections – trim in edges first. As you paint in sections, apply generous coverage. We applied more than less so that we didn’t have any splotches or uneven patches.
- Overlap sections 6” – 9” so it looks uniform and doesn’t dry in a grid formation. In the picture below you can see where we painted one section first and then tried to do the perimeter after the first section had been drying for 15-20 minutes. It dried without a problem but if you examined it closely, you could see the seam.
- Mica flakes are available if you’d like the floor to sparkle – this is your decision. We opted not to since it was a commercial space and not a garage.
5. Work your way towards the door/exit methodically.
6. Close the room off and let it dry. Suggested dry time is 12-24 hours and 72 hours to cure / before placing heavy furniture. We waited a full 24 hours before walking on it.
Painting the floor was an instant upgrade!! What do you think???
We added the ALGOT adjustable shelving system from IKEA. The instructions are more confusing than the actual product and over complicate it. Mount the suspension rail, then the wall/vertical rails. Simple.
John aka CRASH ordered a vinyl with a compilation of his tags. This is the main focus of the store and one of the first things that catches your eye. Brian installed it and trimmed the vinyl with black tape to hide any irregularities. The nook underneath the vinyl (the residential stairs are above, hence the slope) is a workstation for Khilali. It’s a great spot to get work done during the day and I find myself here a lot when I’m in the store.
One of the goals of TWO is to welcome in different Bronx creatives, vendors, and small businesses so we created “sections” for each brand using the white cubbies. The artwork, a mix of original photographs and canvas work, adds personality. The mural in the back was hand painted by Khilali.
Overtime the floor started getting sticky so it was repainted with the same epoxy mixture we used the first time. Remember when I said to mix the epoxy carefully? It wasn’t mixed the second go-around and resulted in a sticky and peeling floor. The stains were disgusting and distracting from the store. I was embarrassed by them so we decided to lay vinyl flooring over the existing layers.
Home Depot’s in stock selection of vinyl flooring is robust. I chose the 12”x12” _______ tile for only $.79/sf! Vinyl flooring is notorious for peeling up so we added commercial grade adhesive.
Flooring Round #2: Laying Vinyl Flooring Over Existing Paint
Clean the floor! Scrub, mop, sweep, scrub again. Here are our steps:
- Start in the middle of the floor. Fortunately for us, the original vinyl floor under the paint was faux wood about 6” thick. Two of the faux wood planks equaled one tile so we lined up the tiles with the wood planks.
- Start in the middle so that you trim the edges and maintain a strong focal point in the center.
- Paint on the commercial adhesive as you would be painting the floor – we used a nap roller for thick/rough surfaces and a disposable paint tray liner. The adhesive is very thin and pours like water. It goes on milky but dries clear.
- Begin laying the tiles when the adhesive is CLEAR. It should be tacky to the touch. The instructions said it would take 30 minutes but factoring humidity and temperature, it took less than 15 minutes for it to dry from MILKY to CLEAR.
- Lay the tiles down in a row, working from the center outward. It helps it you do one row and someone does another.
- We also laid the perimeter of the room, staggered the tiles since we knew it would be impossible to line up the edges precisely. Lay the perimeter of the room so that you have an understanding of where to stagger the tiles and can lay that row.
- If a painted adhesive patch dries before you lay the vinyl down, its OK. Spread adhesive again and repeat.
We worked in sections, shuffling around furniture as we went.
Laying the rows throughout the store, working in sections, two adults, took 4 hours. It took us 2 hours to trim the pieces for the edges using a utility knife and scissors. The edging was difficult because the walls are not perfectly 90 degrees – and I doubt your walls are too.
And we’re done with the floors!
Here are satisfying before and afters…
TWO had been transformed, on a budget, from a dreary and uninviting storefront to a destination we are proud of. Tremendous work went into two by John, Brian, Khilali, Mike and myself (and Penelope!).
Remaining punch-list items to tackle:
- Paint the baseboards white
- Install new lighting fixtures
- Organize the back storage area
- Replace the check-out counter with a sleeker, white option
If you’re local, come by and check it out in person: we’re open Tuesday – Saturday from 2pm – 9pm, Sundays 11am – 4pm and closed on Mondays.
What do you think of this affordable store transformation? Could you see the possibilities when we first walked in?
What do you think? I love the transformation and with a few more tweaks we’ve created an inviting boutique experience on a budget and strict timeline!
Tiarra
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