By Virginia MacDonald
MK Quinlan, the newest retail addition to Forest Park Village on Clairmont Avenue, is a concept shop that carries everything from high-end vintage clothing to jewelry, textiles, fine art and unique objects for the home.
The selection is a showcase of the interests and expertise of owner M.K. Quinlan, an interior designer, personal stylist and former journalist.
Quinlan grew up in Birmingham, and after years spent in Washington, D.C, New York City and Charleston, South Carolina, working for the likes of the Wall Street Journal, Garden & Gun magazine and several high-profile interior designers, she returned home three years ago with her family of four eager to be a part of the creative resurgence of Birmingham.
Textiles are at the root of Quinlan’s love of design and the element that connects the fashion and interiors components of her store. She is one of the first retailers to offer a la carte textile consultation for home projects.
“High-end textiles have historically only been available to interior designers, not to consumers,” Quinlan said. “There’s a shift happening in that market now where more and more people are wanting a higher level of creative involvement in the design of their own home, and in many cases, their project isn’t big enough to be worth a professional design firm’s time. But why should they not have access to the finest materials available? We offer them that access as well as our expertise for reupholstery or drapery projects without them having to formally engage in a larger interior design process.”
If someone inherits a vintage settee with great lines but the fabric needs a refresh, Quinlan’s shop opens up a world of unique fabrics that can make the furniture pop.
In today’s world of rising prices and supply chain conundrums, it’s often the more affordable solution.
“Prices for new upholstery are through the roof, and in most cases it takes a year to arrive” Quinlan said. “A good vintage sofa or settee are typically higher quality, you can get them at a tiny fraction of the cost, and even if you spend a fortune on an incredible fabric with us, you’ve still saved a bunch of money. Not to mention, you’ve got something special that sets your home apart.”
Individualism Prevails
That’s the new luxury, according to Quinlan — getting your hands on one-of-a-kind pieces, not just for your home but for your wardrobe, as well.
“Twenty years ago, it was all about the luxury labels and having the same thing as your neighbor next door,” she said. “Today, people want something special that reflects their interest and personality. Something no one else has. The vintage clothing and furniture markets have skyrocketed as a result.”
Some design experts say antique is an item that is 100 years old and vintage is anything from before 1999. Quinlan defines vintage as the early 1990s and back.
“I have clothing from the 1920s up to the iconic Princess Di 1990s era,” she said.
Her design advice? Successfully pulling off vintage is all about the art of the mix.
“If you have a 1980s house, decorating that in all 1980s furniture and art would be creepy,” she laughed. “The same goes for clothing. If you have a dynamite 1950s dress, you’ve got to give yourself modern hair and makeup, otherwise you’ll look like you’re going to a costume party! It’s all about combining pieces from different eras. There are so many ways to make a home or an outfit new by pairing opposite elements.”
One throw-back design making something of a comeback is the sunken living room, or “conversation pit” as some call it, a signature of many high-profile mid-century homes.
“I think people are drawn to these because they’re architecturally so interesting and because they’re nostalgic about a time when we weren’t all distracted by our cellphones,” Quinlan said. “A room dedicated to conversation only is a pretty novel concept these days.”
Southerners, in particular, are drawn to items from the past, she said.
“What is the Faulkner line, ‘The past is never dead, it’s not even past?’ I’ve always felt that Southerners enjoy antiques and vintage because we’re storytellers, and every piece that I sell has a story to tell,” she said.
Vintage furs are a popular item in the shop around the holidays, and oftentimes they’re embroidered on the inside with the names of their original owners.
“My clients love learning or even speculating about the past lives of the women who owned these coats,” Quinlan said.
In addition to vintage clothing and unique textiles, the shop also offers easy gifting items, such as coffee table books, one-size-fits-all neckwarmers, hats, jewelry that will add an element of surprise to an otherwise mundane outfit, and purses adorned with beads, in novelty needlepoint patterns or box-shaped in well-worn leather. In other words, one-of–a-kind.
Designer evening coats and gowns are popular for charity balls and other functions.
The high-end fabrics she offers are for home design elements and clothing. A vintage quilt can be made into pillows, she said.
Quinlan’s Artists
Every three months, the design studio hosts art openings, usually for artists Quinlan has discovered and befriended throughout her design and journalistic careers.
“I have been so excited with the reception of our artists,” Quinlan said.
Art presently featured is that of Cate West Zahl of Charlottesville, Virginia, whose abstract landscapes are reminiscent of artist Richard Diebenkorn.
When asked if she worried about ever running out of unique items to sell, Quinlan took a minute.
“Every time a new season hits, I wonder where I’m going to find the cool vintage, or the right artist that really feels of the moment,” she said. “But then, somehow it shows up at my door. I have a lot of relationships that I’ve built up over the years to thank for that. And, of course, my growing list of loyal clients in Birmingham who embrace the unique.”
