Warehaus Orlando

In November of last year, I found a hidden treasure. Thanks to the ‘gram I saw a new furniture shop in Longwood that sold my style of housewares. My style is a mixture of everything. Clean lines, bright patterns, mixed textures, and one-of-kind "ugly" to some people, but beloved by me pieces. The name was Warehaus, and I had absolutely no idea where it came from, but I knew I had to visit.

This small and literal warehouse was awkwardly sitting in a random industrial area that transitioned you from dirty gravel to warm and inviting boho scenes and mid-century modern pieces in seconds. On that day, I took a wool rug and vintage mug home, and wondered would I ever see this Warehaus again, or would it disappear as quickly as it popped up.

Fast forward to Summer 2020, and not only is Warehaus still here, but the owners had been selling goods through their online business Modify Goods for the past six years! Husband and wife team Jonathan and Janelle built an online business that specializes in selling high-end mid-century modern furniture all around the country. Last year, after selling a few more on-trend and affordable pieces locally, they found a new niche that brought them a new sense of fun and fulfillment, and Warehaus was born.

“There is another demographic that would not have purchased our high-end pieces,” stated Janelle. “However, that same customer doesn't always want to go to Home Goods or spend money at West Elm, so we wanted to be an option for well-made furniture that is also sustainable with more attainable price points.”

As with many industries, COVID left the couple feeling very uncertain about the leap they had taken, and the business they had already built. 

“We stopped the online business for a while since COVID complicated the shipping we were doing to other states. Things got messy, and we didn’t want to hinge our livelihood on the internet, so we needed to pivot to something that was going to work and be something we could share with everyone in the community”, stated Jonathan. “This is more fun for us.”

The new warehouse space, now located in College Park, is larger, air-conditioned, and allows them more space to continue to refinish pieces while having a bit more room for their two-year-old to accompany them at work. When you walk in, you may be immediately struck with a boho vibe, but if you look more closely, you’ll see a truly eclectic collection of not just furniture but decor and housewares.

Each area is thoughtfully merchandised to create a feel for what full pieces can look like when put together with complementary aesthetic touches. Like me, a child of thrift, they do not shy away from “ugly” patterns and statement pieces that leave an impact no matter how small.

“Both our parents are garage-salers” explained Jonathan. “It’s in our blood to hunt for treasures, and it’s so much fun. Our mixture doesn’t have a definitive style because it’s so eclectic, but we are big on sustainability and finding pieces that are real, solid handcrafted vintage. We look for handmade and American made, and if it is boho, we look for authentic pieces and pay attention to where it’s from like Thailand or India. It has to be unique and special to us. We focus on craftsmanship, curation, and sustainability. I’m classically trained in refinishing, so I’m able to restore items which helps. We really want to carve our own path and show who we are with pieces that reflect our personality, but that are quality.”

They have more plans slated for the surrounding green space and hope to foster more community-driven events that engage locals and focus on ways to give back. All of that is on the back burner until COVID is behind us. If you see plants in the shop they aren't for sale yet, but they are quickly working on adding that to the selection.

Warehaus is closed Sunday - Tuesday and open Wednesday - Friday for private shopping appointments from 11AM - 5PM. Reach out to them via Instagram DM to set that up. On Saturdays the shop is open to all from 10am - 6pm, but they are adhering to limited capacity, and you must wear a mask to enter. If you see something you love through social media, reach out, and they likely will accommodate purchases and holds. However, they do encourage in-person shopping if possible, as there are a lot of items you'll want to see in person.

Warehaus is located at 1529 Vassar Street in College Park.

All images are property of LemonHearted Creative.