Brenda Friday on Helping People Turn Their Houses Into Homes
Friday opened Shoppe B in 2021, and since then has made it into a hub for the arts in Lawrenceville’s bustling business district on Butler Street. Though her focus is interior design, she sees collecting art as a part of that process. Friday works with a number of nationally known artists and makers like photographer George Lange, whose photographs of Sophia Loren and Andy Warhol are for sale in Shoppe B. And she sees how ceramics and sculptural pieces are integral parts of a space through Laura McLaughlin’s funky, pop art-esque mugs or the technicolor psychedelia of social-media-darling sculptor Dan Lam’s pieces.
“I curate items for Shoppe B to create complete, layered rooms, from furniture to art to accessories,” she said. “When designing, I’m always on the hunt for eye-catching accessories to include something a little unexpected or offbeat to keep the space fresh and dynamic. Each selection is carefully chosen to match the unique vision I have for the store and my clients’ spaces. Everything has its own character, and nothing feels uniform.” Friday recognizes that things as small as candles are important details. They can both bring a room together and give it some of the individual moments that add character.
Brenda Friday’s Shoppe B Lets People Build Community While Helping to Build Dream Interiors
One of the most rewarding parts of doing interiors is working one-on-one with people to create a home they’ll love. “I’m having so much fun working with a couple who are combining two apartments into one, with stunning views of the river and the PPG building in downtown Pittsburgh,” Friday told TABLE. “They have a real love for color, and we installed a wall-to-wall Kyle Bunting rug that’s absolutely spectacular.” (Kyle Bunting, based in Austin, is the pioneer behind intricate “decorative hide” rugs, an aesthetic that merges western charm with upscale beauty).
Friday has noticed that in the years since she opened her shop, the city has changed a little, too. More people have moved to Pittsburgh, which has meant more people looking to make homes there. “I was amazed by the influx of new people and families moving to Pittsburgh,” she said. “My world instantly expanded by getting the opportunity to meet visitors from all over the country. Since then, I’ve built relationships with dynamic individuals, collaborating to create spaces that reflect who they are and how they wish to live.”
Shoppe B has also showed her that people crave community, especially around something as intimate as their home. “It quickly became clear to me that people are tired of only shopping online. People seem to enjoy the sense of community that comes with walking into my store, a place I’ve carefully curated to feel like the sort of well-loved home visitors can envision themselves in.”
Story by Emma Riva / Photos courtesy of Brenda Friday
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