HEREABOUTS DIANA BLOWERS
Lauren Brammer may be young, but the 2006 Xenia Nazarene Christian School graduate has a better understanding of the concept of “vintage” than many people decades older than her.
“Some confuse it with ‘antique’ or ‘old’ however, the term ‘vintage’ is used to describe an item that exhibits the best qualities of a certain era or eras,” said the former Lauren Whalin, who married Travis Brammer, another 2006 Xenia Nazarene graduate, last June.
Her love of vintage items led her to open Collage, a vintage home decor store.
“I have always loved to decorate and create. After I had planned my wedding and decorated my own house, I needed a new project,” Brammer said.
“I love vintage decor and enjoy its uniqueness and history. I am always on the lookout for modern and vintage pieces to decorate with... However; no store in our area specializes in vintage decor. In fact, not many understand the concept.”
As she explains it, “vintage decor does not focus on a specific time period, but utilizes beautiful pieces from any era. Vintage differs from antique in that it is an eclectic collage of modern and historical items. It is more focused on the features of an item as opposed to its value as a collectible.”
When she started dreaming about opening Collage last Christmas, she didn’t have to look far for a place to set her dream into motion. Her mother, Penny Whalin, offered space in the rear of her Xenia home decor and gift store, Country Blessings, at 491 W. Second St.
During Collage’s April 16 grand opening Brammer and Whalen were “overwhelmed by the positive feedback we received,” according to Brammer, who has a degree in counseling from Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tenn., and is a teacher at Grace Learning Center in Xenia.
When not working, she can often be found accompanying her husband as he performs as a part of the local band, Bernoulli. He is a history major at Wright State University and an independent tutor for children with autism.
She also likes to spend time with her family, which includes her father, Rick Whalin, a teacher at Xenia Nazarene Christian School, and two younger sisters, Abbie, who has a degree in business marketing from Geneva College in Pennsylvania and Carrie, who attends the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for Photography.
Contact this columnist at dsb@donet.com.