From left: John Colondona of JM Windowtreatments Furniture & Design, his sister Deanna, and mother Michele (with a special appearance by Rosie the dog). (Photo courtesy of Lee Meyer)
Locals who have lived on the North Fork for many years remember the shuttered 1670 furnished house. North Fork people still have many dining sets, couches, and other furniture in their homes. The family-owned business now has a storefront in its 1670 Furniture House showroom, 47155 Middle Road, Southold, offering new services and products.
JM Window Treatment Furniture & Design has soft opened its new showroom and is gearing up for its grand opening on April 27th. Manorville-based Michele Colondona, who has worked in window treatments, home decor and interior design for 25 years, seized the opportunity to open. We established the showroom after hearing from our customers that they missed the 1670 house available for rent.
“We came and saw it and loved it,” Michele said. She brought along her daughter Deanna, 22, a recent graduate of Pratt University, to provide interior design services. Her son, John, 25, a contractor, is renovating the spacious, airy showroom.
The new JM Window Treatment Furniture & Design showroom is currently open during building construction. John spearheaded the renovation while Michelle and Deanna worked to outfit the showroom with furniture, upholstery, rugs, and wallpaper. They also found some new furniture customers, working with Ann Hurley, who has worked at 1670 House in the past and will work at the new business.
In addition to furniture and home design services, Michele plans to have sections for clothing, accessories, beachwear and small gifts.
Michelle is excited to work on such a major business endeavor with her children.
“I repeat, I never thought I would be working with children,” she says. “I never planned it. It just happened, but I'm happy! It's very exciting.”
Deanna is looking forward to using her degree in interior design to pursue a career in design.
“I've had some design work in the past, but not a lot,” Deanna says. “That's what I graduated from and wanted to do more of, so this location opens up more opportunities for me to do that.” She also plans to utilize 3D rendering in her interior design services. Now you can show your customers how the furniture will look in their home before they make a purchase decision.
Quiet and unassuming, John did a lot of work renovating the building.
“I'll do anything,” he says. “Hanging pictures, specks, electricity…”
“He did this whole place!” Michele exclaims. “The floor was dirty with the hi-hat, the lights, the wood flooring, the barn door, the kitchen. He did the whole place. It's a secret talent we didn't know he had.”
John also handles furniture delivery.
When they work together with their mother, the siblings laugh and say, “It's fun!''
Michele hopes to stay in this building long term.
“Once the lease is up, we would like to purchase the building,” Michele said. “We want to be here for a long time and one day we can retire. [my children] I'll take over. ”
JM Window Treatments Furniture & Design's official grand opening will be all day long on April 27th, with free wine, giveaways, raffles and special discounts. For more information about the company's services and products, please visit jmwindows.org.
