Richmond just got a little more fashion-forward with openhouse, a new home accessories boutique in the Shops at 5807 on Patterson Avenue.

Owners Katie Howlett (left) and Megan Rupnik, both devotees of design blogs and magazines, saw a void in the Richmond shopping scene and sought to fill it with unique handmade items from independent designers. Openhouse carries beautifully handmade everyday objects, including streamlined ceramics from Perch!, hand-printed sheets from John Robshaw and screen-printed cards from Sharon Spain.

Howlett and Rupnik seek out product lines with minimal environmental impact, selecting ceramics crafted with low-impact materials and non-toxic finishes, and textiles made from organic cottons and sustainable linens. “It’s kind of like going back to the basics,” says Howlett. “There’s nothing simpler than a white ceramic jug that has no toxic dyes that wasn’t mass-produced in another country on an assembly line.…These objects have a little more soul to them.” Visit openhouse-richmond.com or call 288-5807.

Visit openhouserichmond.com or call 288-5807.

–Katherine Houstoun