‘Bama Style: Bungalows

As promised, I went to Bungalows yesterday.  To translate Alabama to Texas…Bungalows is: 1 part McCallister Collection (McKinney), 1 part Junkadoodle (Dallas), and 1 part Hoodiewear (Richardson).  The result is all Southern Hospitality…  This picture does not/cannot capture the magic of this little boutique.  It’s fun in for summer, anytime, really…

Partners Terry Woodard and Rick Kuzmyak recently expanded Bungalows to another new sunny location in the Wharf (Canal Street @ Beach Express).  They LOVE Dallas, but that is only part of the story…jump for the deets.

Terry and Rick started in a tiny storefront in Foley, AL not far from the outlet mall.  In short order they developed a client base of the who’s-who along the Redneck Riviera.  The original store was set up in little shopping niches or vignettes.  It was almost like touring a retail museum.  I could (and did) spend hours in there.  In more recent years, they have invested in merchandising, and the store is more “user friendly”, but the magic still remains of the original. 

Both locations are filled with treasures.  The people have spoken, and Terry and Rick listened.  Right now, they are rolling out a store within a store concept for Vera Bradley goods and Dallas’ own Margee King.  Margee King is “new” for Bungalows…the gift store is now a clothing boutique.  Her super plush Minky Dot collections are a no-brainer for fun-in-the-sun (or for nursing a sunburn…)  But, Terry and Rick haven’t stopped there…by the end of summer, they will feature a full line of Margee’s hand-painted furniture.  (McKenzie Childs with sand in her shorts…)

Other novelties:  a full on pet boutique with Chanel inspired animal togs, and evening wear for Ms. Lola.  Bunglaows has lots and lots of table wear, serving pieces, bridal party gifts, and entertaining accessories.  They carry monogrammed estate goods, and fun little clocks, candles, and the like.  You won’t be hauling decor from Dallas to Alabama (when you snatch up a bargain beach property).  Oh, no…you will simply stop at Bungalows.

As promised, the rest of the story.  (Gosh, I feel so much like Paul Harvey, it’s disturbing…)  As their clients en masse were devastated by Ivan, Dennis, and Katrina, everyone suffered.  (If you call suffering: “all of your stuff floating in the Gulf of Mexico…”)  Terry and Rick were in the same position.  They offered their own personal design services gratis for as long as it took to get their customers settled in.  As a result, Terry and Rick only recently (a month ago) were back into their pre-Ivan home.  They told me in unison, “Katrina, for us, wasn’t as bad, we only had a boat in the front yard…”  Welcome home.

So, when exiting I-10 to 59, headed toward the beaches of Alabama, and you see a painted sign on the side of the road, it’s not the love shack.  It’s Bungalows.