Doors allow us to enter and leave buildings and give us a sense of safety and security. We can lock them against danger or open them wide in welcome. For Dara Gerson and Ashley Lowengrub, the husband and wife team that owns Alkemie Jewelry at the Alkemie Road Shoppe, their door is a showpiece defining their attention to detail. The hand-carved owl door on their custom jewelry store offers a glimpse of the wonders you might find inside.
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The couple designs, creates, and sells custom jewelry that combines art and accessories using only 100 percent reclaimed metals. They pride themselves on emptying our landfills one small piece at a time. Inspiration comes to them from Mother Nature, vintage styles, and a “bit of rock n’ roll.” Every item they produce is lead and nickel-free.
The couple constructed the shop in Topanga Canyon, California, incorporating many hand-crafted features. While Dara admits that the owl door is her favorite feature, it is not the only unique architectural element. Several stained glass windows filter light into the shoppe. The sunburst window is most noticeable, featuring a rainbow of bright colors around a golden-yellow circle.
The owl door operates on a set of tracks at the top and bottom, allowing the door to double as an exterior decoration when the shoppe is open. It slides all the way along one exterior wall to rest in a front corner facing the parking area.
Alkemie operates as a sustainable company that gives back to the community in many ways. Every year, the conscientious couple donates a portion of retail sales from their website to select charities. Visit the eclectic shoppe if you’re in the area. You won’t be disappointed.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here.
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