Gather 'Round

THE SHOP: The Gathering Room, 1745 James River Rd., Ozark, 417-581-2477. (Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.–5 p.m.)

ATMOSPHERE: Chocolate-colored walls, overstuffed leather sofas and warm lighting make The Gathering Room feel like a favorite study. Walking past the rich furnishings, I immediately notice an abundance of tree branches, which create a cozy atmosphere and make me feel welcome.

KEY PEOPLE: Owner Kim Hardin greets me with a cheery, “hello” and invites me in. She opened The Gathering Room in November 2007 but has been in the floral design business for 27 years. She creates the wall murals and all the gorgeous custom arrangements dotting the store.

WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Because Kim’s floral talents are the centerpieces (pun intended) of the business, I’ll begin with them. Forget the stuffy pieces your grandmother may have had because these silk florals and botanicals challenge nature. Kim’s talents range from small, accent table pieces to almost life-sized trees. She concentrates on using high-quality silks and real branches to create a look that breathes life into dull spaces. Arrangements start at approximately $50 and can end up costing hundreds, but Kim keeps the customer’s budget in mind. The arrangements are designed to last years and never wilt, so it’s well worth the investment.

Kim’s talents extend past floral arranging to global murals filling the walls of her store. Using copies of actual vintage maps, she creates some of the most interesting and impressive murals I’ve ever seen. I am even more amazed when she tells me the maps start out in black and white, and she hand tints them to create a vintage feel. The addition of an old propeller and compass finish the look. She charges $5 per square foot to create her murals and can customize them to almost any taste, although maps are a specialty.

The globe theme continues with ceiling light treatments. Using the same idea as her wall murals, Kim mounts the maps on boards, frames them and hangs them face down from the ceiling with a pendant lamp in the middle. These are so unique they really need to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. The pendant lamps, by Architects & Heroes, continue the vintage feel of the store. Featuring fabric-covered cords and porcelain pulleys, these lamps can be adjusted horizontally and vertically. A single lamp runs about $206, and double lamps (with vertical adjustments) start at $600.
While I chat with Kim, we sit on a luxurious cracked leather sofa. I find myself absently stroking the cushions and wishing I could lie down and take a nap. Kim explains it was treated to resemble old worn leather and is virtually indestructible, making it perfect for active families. Made by Four Hands, the overstuffed sofa runs about $3,100 but will only grow softer and more beautiful over time.

With so many large, expensive items in the store, it’s easy to think The Gathering Room is out of your budget, but I found lots of exciting pieces that cost less than $100. My favorite is a globe mobile ($82.50), featuring five vintage-styled globes. I also loved a tissue box ($30) that looked like wood but felt like velvet. As a fan of Mercury Glass, I adored the cute votives ($7 each). Also among my favorites were the slanted pottery bowls ($4.25-$9) and the faux shark jaw ($6). For a real treat, take home a potted Bradford Pear branch (from Kim’s yard) for $75.

417 VERDICT: Put The Gathering Room on your list of “must shop” places, but allow yourself plenty of time to browse. There furniture, florals, rugs and tons of accent pieces, so you may have a hard time deciding what to buy.