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"Ellen at BareBones has helped us since she opened her doors in Ely. We have a home that radiates Northwoods with a flair. It all started one day when I sat in the Old Hickory chair in her store. It reminded me of my dad and our cabin, and I said, "Buying this chair will be the beginning of having our home feel like our cabin all winter! Our home was built in the mid-seventies, it is a rambler, and everyone who enters instantly feels at home, cozy, and welcomed. The furniture is from Bare Bones and Ellen's sense of color and placement as well as accessorizing has proven to be a necessary annual magical touch our home welcomes. Whether or not we purchase one or several pieces, Ellen is always willing to encourage and give insight to whatever decorating need arises.
She also visited our 1940's cabin on Little Long Lake on the Echo Trail last summer, and her touches, arrangements, de-cluttering, and sketches/plans once again received rave reviews from all who entered. My philosophy is to give credit where it is due, and Ellen gets it all! I told her I probably need to mark places where she places decorative pieces so when I clean, they always return to where she positioned them! I often tell her I need her magical touch.
The best part of all is working with Ellen.
She is not intimidating, never pushes purchasing or planning implementations. She has taught me to relax and accept that decorating is a journey and a process; there are phases and it does not have to all be done at one time. She treats her clients with respect and patience and works with what we have.....whether it be furniture, art, finances, etc., ......she never judges. Ellen quietly but with determination, extreme talent, creativity, and knowledge, moves around a room knowing exactly what to do. She does it with a wonderful sense of humor and even when I have a piece that I purchased on a whim somewhere that definately does not have a place in the setting she is creating, she picks it up, sets it down, and moves on without asking what I was thinking when I bought it!
As a result, I have not made unnecessary purchases chasing after the wind; Ellen has helped me realize a plan and now I know it and do not even feel a need to change and move and buy...... I am comfortable with the decorating and confident in the plan; this has evolved because Ellen spends time discovering what our likes/dislikes are and what our lifestyle is.
I am always encouraging others to call Ellen because she is so helpful, so encouraging, so non-judgemental, does not push clients to buy....in fact, she often says, "That will be good to consider later"....
We are blessed because Bare Bones dwells in Ely. We live here year round, are a local family, but each season Bare Bones is a Destination and major part of our transition from winter to spring/summer! Bare Bones/Ellen helps brush off the winter dust, see the spetacular opportunities our home offers, and allows us to adventure outside because the inside is truly a sanctuary made possible by Ellen. And we cannot forget, whenever we have gifts to buy..special occasions or Christmas, Bare Bones is on the list.....we can always find a unique and beautiful gift there. And when our children receive a gift from there, they treat it as a treasure and place it in their homes with great respect and awe!
Bare Bones....a place of solitude and discovery....!
Cannot live without it!
Patiently waiting to dust off the winter with Ellen this week...."
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