Article Text

Stylish Patina celebrated its 15th anniversary on May 16 with a packed “Sip & Sparkle” party at its boutique at 248 West Broad Street in Falls Church.

Owner Kelly Thompson, a Falls Church native and resident, estimated that more than 100 people might attend based on RSVPs. She described the turnout as a reflection of the community that has supported the business across three Falls Church locations.

The locally owned shop sells home décor, vintage furniture and gifts, with an emphasis on small makers, local artisans and environmentally conscious shopping. It also offers furniture refinishing, interior-design assistance and real estate services.

Thompson said that range is intentional. Stylish Patina aims to assist customers through different stages of their lives, whether they are searching for a gift, furnishing a room, transforming an older piece of furniture or buying and selling a home.

“We’re always asking people, ‘What are you looking for?’” Thompson said. Even when the requested item is not in the store, the team continues searching for pieces that fit customers’ needs.

Community Connections Drive the Business

Thompson credits much of the shop’s longevity to relationships built throughout Falls Church. Stylish Patina hosts events, collaborates with other entrepreneurs and promotes local businesses and services.

Its website includes a “Falls Church Lifestyles” section highlighting restaurants, parks, health providers, professional services and children’s activities. It also features an interactive map of nearby restaurants and businesses.

Thompson said supporting other owners and responding to what residents want have been central to Stylish Patina’s growth. Some of her employees are the daughters of people she knew while growing up in the city, making the business feel like a family enterprise.

The boutique also holds classes, workshops and social events. A vintage-vessel candle-making workshop was scheduled for June 7, 2025, offering participants the opportunity to pour two candles while enjoying cocktails.

Three Services Under One Brand

Stylish Patina’s business model has three main components: real estate, retail and design.

Thompson earned her Virginia real estate license about seven years before the anniversary celebration and incorporated that work into the Stylish Patina brand. Through RLAH Real Estate in Arlington, she helps clients buy and sell homes and offers support with staging, marketing, renovation and design.

Real estate now occupies most of her daily schedule, Thompson said, but the boutique remains equally important. Store manager Catherine oversees daily retail operations, while Thompson visits frequently. The shop has four employees, and two others assist with the real estate business.

The retail side offers a changing selection of home décor, gifts, vintage clothing, candles, soaps, bath products and DIY furniture paints. An off-site warehouse and continuing acquisitions help keep the inventory fresh.

For design clients, the business provides interior guidance and furniture transformations. Thompson said she recognized growing interest in vintage furnishings and décor 15 years ago and built those services around that trend.

Corporate Experience Met a Creative Opening

Before opening Stylish Patina, Thompson worked in corporate operations and marketing and earned an MBA from the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business.

After her employer was acquired, she began consulting from home. The added flexibility allowed her to spend more time buying and painting furniture while considering a business of her own.

She later discovered a popular paint line that was not being sold locally and saw an opportunity. That opening helped turn her interest in restoring furniture into Stylish Patina.

The inspiration stretched back further. Thompson’s parents rehabilitated their Broadmont-area home roughly five decades ago, filling it with distinctive pieces rather than relying entirely on mass-market furnishings. She said that environment fostered her appreciation for vintage furniture, character and creative reuse.

Today, the shop continues to refresh older pieces with paint and help customers find unusual furnishings instead of purchasing everything new from large retailers.

Stylish Patina has also developed a sizable online audience, with more than 20,000 Instagram followers and a substantial presence on Pinterest. Thompson uses those channels to share the business, promote local life and connect her work as a shop owner, designer and real estate agent.

For Thompson, Falls Church remains essential to the brand. She said the city combines small-town charm with access to Washington’s jobs, museums and arts—giving residents the advantages of the region while preserving a close-knit hometown atmosphere.