Living in Baja has its advantages- eternal summers, complete with blue skies and margaritas, sits at the top of the list. But as with anything else in life, there can be a downside or two when setting up shop in paradise- not the least of which being the struggle to find a cold soda. And try telling someone redecorating their Baja home that there are no bad days. A good refurbish can be quite a discouraging task no matter where you live, but perhaps even more so when furnishing options are limited. A few well-place tips and local secrets can make the difference between a smooth home decor update and banging your head against your blank stucco wall.
New to Cabo is Simply Divine, opened in June by Washington natives Diane and Rob Hendrix. The shop is a profusion of artistry and accomplishment, filled with handmade knick knacks and quality wares with a romantic vibe. From elegant candlesticks to ornate pottery to beautifully detailed picture frames, Simply Divine has stamped their identity right in their name.
Diane’s life-long experience in design and home decorating paired with the couple’s wholesale import business of the last 15 years, brings to Cabo much more than a mere four walls packed with merchandise to purchase. Products are hand-selected and unique, procured by the eye of an Artist, and shipped directly from China, cutting out the importation middle-man, as well as the associated costs. Diane and Rob personally chose the factory they partner with overseas, directly employing two people in China year-round in the interest of both their business and those engaged in equipping it, and visiting at least twice a year to that end.
Diane is also experienced in the art of creating artificial floral arrangements, some of which can be seen in her shop, as well as Baja Flower, where her pieces are rented for weddings. Her expertise in flowers carries over to high-end artificial house plants, and while some are ready made, Simply Divine is the only store in town offering the option to create a piece from scratch, with customers hand selecting their own pot as well as the greenery.
“Not everyone who lives in Cabo is here year-round,” observes Rob. “And when they return, it’s nice for them to come home to a plant that lived on without their help.”
As an alternate route, give a second life to pre-owned furniture or wares. If you’re looking for “out with the old, in with the new-to-you”, Tienda 17 may be just the spot. Located in San Jose, Tienda 17 is a consignment shop with high ideals, meticulous about the products they commit to, and only accepting items from prior owners that appear as-new, sans stains, tears, chips, or cracks.
Since opening a flagship shop in 2000, owner Steve Barry has expanded the business to three separate storefronts, offering a wide array of household items for customers. Two of the stores are a virtual emporium of both new and lightly-used furnishings and décor; vast spaces chock full of everything for your home or office- from chairs to beds to outdoor patio furniture, and everything in between. Tienda 17’s third storefront carries a large assortment of handmade rugs, home appliances, and even workout equipment. An implicit arsenal of dishes, clocks, vases, carpets, paintings and more, the innumerable options available are sure to meet the tastes of even the most difficult of us to please. And, speaking of taste, for those of us with a sweet tooth, the two larger stores are currently offering pre-cut organic mangos in sealed bags.
Don’t forget to check in at Costco for specific items such as beds, couches, or mirrors. Wholesale pricing and free delivery of some of the big-ticket items can save you both time and money. And while the selection isn’t exactly grand or in high supply, for that matter, something just may pop.
For those looking to switch things up a bit in their Cabo home, it turns out there are a few good options indeed. But, if anyone has ideas about where to find a cold soda, we’re all ears.