Washington, D.C. - September 29, 2005

Love Seat

Urban Retreat Custom Furniture

You’re such an innovator.

An old leather briefcase reworked as a handbag? Genius. A silver charm bracelet fashioned from recycled buttons? Brilliant. The shoelaces made of vintage lace? Absolutely perfect.

Which makes the monotony in your home (dining room set as seen on page 46, kitchen table from page 82) all the more unbearable.

Cynthia Schneider understands your plight.

Her Reston-based warehouse-style store, Urban Retreat, sells unique furniture like what you find at Crate & Barrel, Ballard Designs, and Restoration Hardware at discounted prices. Sick of limited options, she’s opened her doors to creative-minded people who hate sameness. Stop by and see what’s available — a plummy leather chaise, perhaps, or an antique-finished console in rich copper green. The best part? You can even bring her a photo of something you’d like to own and she’ll have it customized for you.

And with hundreds of fabrics and dozens of stain colors to choose from, even a copy becomes something totally original.

Remind you of anyone?

Urban Retreat (703-689-3404 or urbanretreatfurniture.com). By appointment only Monday through Friday.