By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Business name: Tovah and Company, division of PNB Interior Design
Address: 10 Church St., Northborough
Owners: Tovah Raphaelson-Bleakney, Pam Bleakney
Contact information: 508-393-3866
What type of merchandise does Tovah and Company carry?
“One-of-a-kind pieces, art from local artists, goods from fair-trade companies. But we also offer decorating products such as drapery, rugs, reupholstering. We’re a concierge of home lifestyle,” said Tovah Raphaelson-Bleakney, who joined her mother-in-law’s firm, PNB Interior Design a year ago.
“We carry personal care products, candles, cards, scarves and jewelry, plus home accessories such as throws and blankets, pillows, pottery, lamps and small furniture pieces. And if you tell me you are looking for a lime green faux dog, I can get you a lime green faux dog, even if we don’t have it in the store,” she said.
“Our service is very tailored and personal. The customer works with Tovah to pull a gift together or find that special accent piece. It’s customized shopping with one-on-one support from experienced designers who can answer questions and make suggestions,” added Pam Bleakney.
How about gift ideas for the holidays?
“We just started offering personalized gift boxes,” said Raphaelson-Bleakney. “You tell me how much you want to spend, the occasion and the recipient’s tastes, and I’ll put together a one-of-a-kind gift box.
“As individual gifts, we have beautiful, hand-carved wooden watches coming in from an artist in Vermont. Everything but the face is wood, including the bracelet. We will have them for both men and women. In jewelry, I have beautiful magnetic pins so you don’t put a hole in a blouse or sweater.
“We carry a wonderful, fair-trade personal care line out of Fall River, right here in Massachusetts, called Simply Be Well, with lotions and bath products.”
And you have items for holiday decorating?
“We have holiday soaps, candles and candleholders. There are table linens, holiday pillows and rugs. Our fair-trade, handmade ornaments in both tin and paper from Africa are very popular, and a portion of the money goes back to the villages where the artists are from.”
On the decorating side of the business, when you are working with a client, how do you start?
“During the first conversation, I ask them to send me a picture and tell me what they like and don’t like about the room. Then I ask them what colors are the rest of the house so we can make it flow. I want to know how they use the room, and whether there are children or pets,” Raphaelson-Bleakney said.
How did Tovah and Company come about?
“I like having family working with me,” said Bleakney. “When we decided I needed to focus on the design services and those clients, I couldn’t really handle the retail portion of the business. Tovah was the perfect person, bringing a lot of energy and a new perspective. She had been in retail with Michael Kors and has always been involved with art, design and crafts. We keep the decorating and retailing under Tovah and Company as a separate identity from PNB’s architectural services.”
Tovah and Company is located at 10 Church St. in Northborough and is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 508-393-3866 or visit them on Facebook.
