Let's Meet Kim Jenkins

I’m thrilled to share this month’s feature my friend Kim Jenkins with you.

Kim welcome to the Chalet please introduce yourself - Hi Meryl - Happy to be here - Hi everyone I’m Kim. I have been married to my husband Tom for 34 years. We have four children, Blake 34, Lindsay 32, Carter 28 and Olivia 24. We have six grandchildren, Easton 10, Reagan 8, Wyatt 8, Kinsley 5, Willa 4, and Camden 3.

Kim can you tell us a bit about your growing up years? I was born in Edina Minnesota and moved to Wisconsin when I was 12. My parents divorced when I was 7 and I have a brother Chris he’s 2 years younger than me. My favorite childhood memories are of spending summers with my Grandparents Bob and Jean Vaughan on their farm in Prior Lake, Minnesota. It was a magical time.

Your followers on Instagram, customers at Lulu and Olive Vintage located in Roost Mercantile in Pewaukee, WI or your on-line Lulu and Olive Vintage shop know you’re passionate about Mid-Century furnishings. Can you share what draws you to vintage items and specifically Mid-Century? I was married young and my love a vintage started out of necessity really, raising four kids on a tight budget and wanting my home to be pretty and welcoming. I would find pieces that I could paint or up-cycle. I was more of a shabby chic girl at that time. So my love for mid-century has been a process that started probably 10 years ago. I just love the bold colors of mid century design, the clean lines, the pottery and the glass items! You just cannot find that same quality and beauty these days. And if you can find these pieces at thrift stores or estate sales you can have fabulous design on a shoestring budget too!

Did you thrift growing up? I did not grow up thrifting or rummaging. My love for that didn’t really start until I was married and had kids. And even then it was not at the same scale as the thrifing I do now.

Kim you’re on the hunt not only for yourself now but, to fill a need for your customers as well. I love when you share a thrift haul in your Instagram stories. Yes, Meryl you’re right - I am constantly looking at what my customers are buying from the shops and seeing how to find more of the same. Nothing better than knowing a specific item will go to a great home!

Kim happily in her shop space at Roost Mercantile

I ask every interview regardless if they are an Interior Designer or not - Did you decorate your bedroom while growing up? Oh yes I did!! I can remember going to target and buying accessories for my bedroom and rearranging my room, picking out paint colors!

Kim’s Livingroom including the Stencil she hand-painted

Where and What you went to school for. What was your day gig before you became a vintage shop owner? I went to a technical school for nursing right out of high school. I got close to finishing the program but, I ended up quitting. I had gotten engaged and couldn’t think of anything but getting married at the time. Before we had kids I worked at a daycare and then once I started having babies I pretty much stayed home with them. After a few years I did start working as a nursing assistant second shift at a local hospital. I’ve always loved helping people! After working in the hospital I also worked in my kids school for a bit during lunches and as an aid to a special needs student. I never had a full-time job and I’m so thankful I was able to be a stay at home mom. And up until very recently I was watching my grandkids too.

When did you decide to start Lulu and Olive Vintage? I’ve always loved the creative process whether it was creating art, painting furniture etc. My business started 15 years ago. My girlfriend Penny and I started selling vintage finds periodically in a space on her property called the Cottage. After a few years of doing that we found a brick and mortar store and we went in business together as Twirly Birds. We were in business together for 8 years then life started getting crazy with kids getting married and grandkids coming along. We decided to dissolve our partnership but, remain dear friends to this day!

That’s when Lulu and Olive Vintage was born. Lulu and Olive is named after my two daughters Lindsay and Olivia. We would call Lindsay - Lindsay Lou and shortened Olivia to Olive. As you mentioned I currently sell at Roost Mercantile in Pewaukee WI. I have a ton of fun keeping the shop stocked with curated vintage goods! I also sell on-line through Chairish.

How long you’ve been in your home and do you have a list of projects you’ve tackled? We have lived in our house 30 years this summer, and basically have touched every surface, from flooring to knocking down walls, painting, windows, bath remodels, roofing, siding, landscaping etc.

Wow Kim I hear you…. I love knowing you and Tom have stayed and made the house your own over all these years. What would you say out of all the projects you’ve done is your favorite? I think my favorite project is my bathroom. My brother Chris Vaughan is a general contractor - how lucky am I?- and he has helped us so much. We’re currently in the middle of redoing our kitchen - so that may very well be my next new favorite when we’re all done!

A little peek at some shelves in Kim’s kitchen!

Can you talk a bit about your decorating process. What is your design philosophy. My process usually starts with some sort of inspiration, whether it’s a piece of art or fabric. I usually pull colors from those pieces and work my way from there. I also love to collect pieces that I want for a particular room whether it’s pillows, art, accessories etc., and when I feel like I have a good collection, I start the decorating process. So for example I’m redoing my daughters bedroom it’s becoming a guest room. I have already collected art, a rug, a mid century side table, campaign chest and a vintage gold chippy mirror. So now I feel I have everything I need to execute my design plan. I’d say my philosophy is that I always work to strike a nice balance between vintage and modern.

A few moments and spaces in Kim’s home including - the campaign chest she painted pink, some of her mid-century collectibles and a bedroom gallery wall.

The swan wallpaper and geometric design runner say High Style

How has Social Media specifically IG impacted your brand? I really have enjoyed this platform! I’m growing slowly and that’s ok with me. I have met some lovely people, a few in real life and more that I would love to meet in person! I draw a lot of inspiration from so many friends on here! As far as my business is concerned, it has definitely helped with sales, and even just getting eyes on my new shop space.

Kim I can’t say Thank You enough for saying yes when I asked if I could interview you my dear! Before we close let me ask you… What’s your To Do list for the rest of 2023. At home I’m hoping to wrap up my kitchen reno. I’m on the hunt for the perfect tile backsplash and flooring. And the guest room redo. For the shop I’m thinking about beefing up my on-line presence but, my first love is really brick and mortar - I recently moved my locations and now have 2 locations in Roost and they are doing really great. Actually there was a news story last week about the Lynndale Farm Shops and it took place in my space.

Friends here’s the link for the news story Kim just mentioned. You can find Kim on Instagram and Lulu and Olive Vintage on Charish. Give her a follow on both!

Til next time be well and I’ll see you over on the Gram!