We're expanding.
I've probably said that a hundred times over the last few weeks (months?), but every time I do, it feels a little unfinished - until now. It's not going to be an overnight install. It's going to take several weeks, but we've officially started.
We're knocking out a wall and adding square footage, sure. But that's not really what we're building.
When Sapana first opened in Round Top, we were on the smaller side of our shared building. Eventually we grew into the larger side, and that's the space where we've met so many of you. It's bright, colorful, filled with pinks and blues, and somehow became more than a place to shop.
People stay.
Friends meet there before they wander through Round Top.
Moms come in carrying toddlers and take a minute on the couch.
Someone opens a bottle of champagne after finding the perfect coat (or before).
Other days it's coffee and conversation before the shows begin.
We've even sat and laughed with you after the restaurants have closed and most of the town has gone to bed.
Some people don't buy anything at all. They just stay for a while.
I love that.
When given the opportunity to expand again, my first call for help was easy.
Lauren Wills of Wills Design Associates designed our current space not long ago, and somehow managed to create something that felt exactly like Sapana before I even knew how to describe it. She took our colors, our story, and a handful of scattered ideas and somehow turned them into a place people wanted to be.
She's been calling this new side "Sapana's big sister," and I think that's exactly right.
Not better.
Just ... older, maybe.
A little moodier.
A little quieter.
A little more collected.
(I wonder if that's how my little brother and sister would describe me .... definitely "yes" to the moody part).
Our original store leans into soft blues and bright pinks. This side plays with our other brand colors that happen to be richer and deeper. We are going to have room for some very special collections we've been dreaming about.
I asked Lauren to design a place where people would want to stay. A space that felt elevated but inclusive. I wanted unexpected pops of fun.
The fixtures are movable because maybe one night they're displaying coats, and the next they're pushed aside for a cocktail party or a workshop.
There are places to sit because not every visit needs to end at a checkout counter.
I want people to breathe for a minute during Show.
I want friends to gather before dinner.
I want someone to wander in because they saw the wallpaper through the window.
I want people to feel comfortable enough to stay longer than they planned.
Lately I've noticed something that I just can't get used to ... people stop outside the building to take pictures - or even inside the store. I still get awkward when I see it happen. My first reaction is always, "really? this space?" That's followed with an immediate sense of honor .... more like, "wow. this. space." and I feel like this is becoming exactly what I wanted to build ...
Not a store people have to visit.
A place people simply want to be.
We are working with people that we know and trust to build this space because I think those connections and relationships will help this space feel comfortable and inviting. I've always felt that handcrafted products carry the stories of the people who made them. Surely a place built by people that you know can feel special and handcrafted too, right?
When you walk into this new room, you'll see Lauren's vision, Daniel's (the trim carpenter who worked on our own home) craftsmanship, JR from Vigilant Custom Builders who we share our building with - his crew will be opening walls that they built when the building was a restaurant, My husband will be managing the rest of the project (I'm sure he'll be more hands on at some point). And once again, the very first family we worked with in India - I'll be asking them to print all of our textiles for upholstery and curtains.
Watch the process unfold on our Instagram feed over the next several weeks - and please come celebrate with us in person when we open the doors to the new side.
"Are you closing while you expand?" I hope not! Working on days that the store isn't open and closing off access to the other side when we are open for retail hours is the plan!
A Few Thoughts Before We Get Back to Construction
If you've been following along, you'll know this expansion isn't just about adding more retail space in Round Top. It's about creating room for new ideas - original block print textiles developed with our artisan partners in India, one-of-a-kind handcrafted collections, future home goods, and a place where community feels just as important as shopping.
Over the coming weeks I'll be sharing more of the design process, from working with interior designer Lauren Wills of Wills Design Associates to developing custom textiles inspired by both India and Texas. I'll also be documenting the renovation, the makers behind the project, and the creative decisions that go into building a handcrafted retail space from the ground up.
Whether you're interested in ethical fashion, handcrafted textiles, block printing, Round Top shopping, retail design, or simply following along as we build Sapana's next chapter, I'm glad you're here.