Cathy Pearce, of Centralia, left, and Faye Matson, of Napavine, right, shop for supplies for using Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint as the Attic Door owner Kassy Mikulski, center, talks about the chalk paint and its popularity at the Tower Avenue store on Tuesday afternoon.
A wooden mirror frame that was painted with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint sits on a work table at the Attic Door on Tower Avenue in Centralia on Tuesday afternoon.
A lone can of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint sits on a work table at the Attic Door on Tuesday afternoon in Centralia.
A sign that jokingly warns husbands about purchasing the wrong type of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint hangs in the Attic Door on Tuesday afternoon in Centralia.
Used cans of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint sit on a table in the workshop area of the Attic Door in Centralia on Tuesday afternoon. The Tower Avenue antique shop offers classes on how to use the non-toxic paint on Wednesday's and Sunday's.
Attic Door Vintiques and Home Decor opened up shop three years ago and since then business has been growing.
As the only distributor of Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint, the store caters to a market otherwise unaccessible in Lewis County.
Owner Kassy Mikulski said the paint, as well as the workshops the business offers, are what make the Attic Door unique.
The water-based paint allows painters more versatility with no needed prep work.
“You don’t have to strip or sand or put down primer,” Mikulski said. “As long as your surface is clean, you can paint and put wax on it.”
The decorative paint is gaining popularity worldwide, she said, and in the do-it-yourself era, more people are interested in the product.
Renee Senter is one of those people. After she purchased the paint for the first time, she decided to paint a desk and later took on her whole kitchen because of how easy it was to work with.
“It was my first time working with the paint, but it’s amazing to work with,” she said.
A customer at Attic Door echoed Senter’s thoughts. Cathy Pearce, a Centralia resident, began using the paint approximately four or five months ago. She has painted a desk and chester drawers so far, and she loves the product.
“I wouldn’t use anything else to paint,” she said.
Mikulski said painted furniture is a popular trend right now, and the range of techniques Chalk Paint provides is highly sought after.
Not only does the store carry the product, but Attic Door is unique because it is one of the only antique shops in the area to offer hands-on workshops. The workshops help teach people the different techniques available when using the paint.
“It’s hands on to actually get a feel for the paint and to learn how to properly use the wax,” Mikulski said. “It shows them the range of the paint, it shows them how easy it is and that anyone can do it.”
The wax is optional, but can be added after a product is painted to make the surface water resistant.
The beginners class provides lessons on five different techniques, and an advanced class is also available.
Mikulski gets excited when talking about the paint, a product she sees as revolutionary. She said it makes the possibilities endless.
The store itself offers a little bit of everything, with items ranging from antiques to gently used, newer furniture. Mikulski said the Attic Door is a resale store and is arranged in a way that allows customers the ability to easily see what items go together.
Mikulski decided to start the business after her job as a medical technologist at an Aberdeen cancer clinic ended. She decided to try her hands at something completely different than laboratory testing, renting spaces at antique malls. Mikulski found her niche and decided she wanted to open up a business.
“I’ve always loved decor, that’s really where my interest has lied,” Mikulski said.
During her search for the perfect storefront, she came across the location where her store currently operates. Located on North Tower Avenue, the store is in the historical district, one she is proud to be a part of.
After two years of running the store, Mikulski decided to move to Centralia a year ago, relocating closer to her business.
“I really enjoy being here, it’s a really nice town,” she said. “It’s small town America to me; it’s uncrowded.”
Mikulski runs the store as a one woman show, being the only employee. She has turned her passion into a business, while also providing others with a chance to set up shop.
Other people and vendors rent spaces in her store and Mikulski also takes consignment items.
She has joined other antique stores in a place that was voted one of the top 10 places to shop for antiques by USA Weekend.
“I’m very proud of that,” Mikulski said. “We are a destination. If you are a destination, you have arrived as far as I’m concerned.”
