What’s old is new again at Hardware and Roses

Arianna Lester, owner of Hardware and Roses in Lexington, holds a hammer and paintbrush, which are the tools she uses to “upcycle” home furnishings in her consignment store, which also carries clothing.
{Contributed photo/Arianna Lester}

Arianna Lester hoped she would be celebrating her first anniversary in business with Hardware and Roses at this point but the global pandemic delayed her store’s opening by several months.

Now, with retail businesses able to operate at full capacity, she is looking forward to reaching that one-year milestone in July.

But Lester wasn’t sure she would ever see that day when nonessential businesses had to close in mid-March through May.

“It was kind of scary, to be honest,” she admitted. “But I had already started the renovations in here in January and had spent half my budget so I really had no choice but to open when I could.”

The store carries women’s clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as men’s clothing and shoes.{Contributed photo/Arianna Lester}

Hardware and Roses, located at 406 National Blvd., is what Lester calls a “thrift, consign and design” center.

The store sells women’s and men’s “gently used” clothing and shoes as well as women’s accessories, such as jewelry and handbags. The larger women’s section includes formalwear, plus sizes and a Chico’s rack. 

Home décor, including furniture, lamps and accessories, is also a large part of the business. Some of the home décor is consigned and other pieces are what Lester and her staff upcycle, which the proprietress explains is refinishing and repurposing an older item. She visits yard sales, thrift stores and Habitat ReStores to find furniture pieces and home accessories that can be updated and restored, often through a new paint job. Some furnishings are totally repurposed, such as entertainment centers that are transformed into home bars.

“With everyone hanging their TVs on the wall, you don’t need those big entertainment centers anymore,” Lester said, noting she adds a back to the piece and installs lights inside for a wine or coffee bar.

“It’s all about making everything new again — giving it a new life and a new meaning,” she said. “I can’t stand to see something go to waste.”

Additionally, Lester and her staff make some new home décor, such as wreaths.

Hardware and Roses initially offered do-it-yourself classes in making wreaths and refinishing and painting furnishings but attendance wasn’t what she expected.

“I think Covid kept people back from wanting to do that,” Lester opined, noting, however, she has other space in the building that could be used for classes if there’s enough demand in the future.

Lester is converting that former workshop space to an Artisan Market that will open this month. She is leasing nine spaces to local vendors.

“It’s for people who have a niche, a talent, a craft that’s similar to our theme of recycling.”

This old-fashioned writing desk was given a new contemporary look with some bright paint and a decal. {Contributed photo/Arianna Lester}

For example, one artisan crafts jewelry from old silverware and another paints old vinyl records to create home décor.

 The store itself features recycled décor and display cases. Wood and a ladder from Lanier’s Hardware are used at the checkout desk and display cases from the former Olde Homestead shop in uptown Lexington feature jewelry and accessories.

Lester credits her late grandfather, Ardell Lanier, who founded the iconic hardware store downtown, with inspiring her to open Hardware and Roses. The name harkens back to his store and the fact she uses hammers and paintbrushes to upcycle furniture and roses reflect the softer, feminine side of the business in clothing.

A crafter all of her life and a longtime entrepreneur, Lester said she is enjoying having a business that combines all her interests.

“I guess I’m a Martha Stewart plus one, as my grandfather would say!”