Design Destinations: Spencers of Carmel is a stationery star

[Alyson Kuhn] Welcome to Spencers Stationery — and to the first in our Design Destinations series showcasing stationery stores of note. For decades, Spencers was a fixture on Ocean Avenue, the main downtown thoroughfare in Carmel, Calif. Some years ago, the store decamped to The Crossroads, a shopping complex at the mouth of Carmel Valley. On my two recent visits, I found that Spencers is still stellar — with a superb selection of paper goodies.

Spencers_4_frontI love to breathe in Spencers, I love to shop in Spencers, and, yes, I love to fantasize that my office could look like Spencers, if only their sense of organization were kuhntagious. The requisite supplies are eminently evident. Witness the extensive array of decidedly decorative organizational aids: file folders printed with pretty patterns (Cavallini keeps coming up with strong new designs); fab families of boxes that look like books, from Punch Studio, mining the ephemeral treasures of The Kirshner Decorative Arts Collection (my #10 envelopes are now housed in great style in the largest size of these boxes — its interior measures 12.75 x 9.625 x 2.625 in., perfectly accommodating three stacks of envelopes and note cards); and a Spencers exclusive, binders and photo albums covered in silk remnants from Robert Talbott ties and other tasteful fabrics.

Spencers_2_albumsMore: stationery sets galore, superior selection of greeting cards, including lovely ones by local artists. I bought a card of Big Sur’s Bixby Creek Bridge, from a painting by Ethel Wood. Wood thoughtfully includes contact info on the back of her cards, so I was able to call her and ask about her process. She paints in oils, then photographs her paintings and prints them out on her HP color copier. Her paper of choice: Strathmore Pastelle, with deckle on both the card and the A-7 envelope flap.

Spencers_3_labelsBack at Spencers, the back room is office-supply heaven. The staff not only knows exactly where everything is, but will actually go get it for you.  There’s an element of general store about Spencers. During my last visit, a nicely dressed man in a cowboy hat came in. I overheard him say he needed a rental agreement form, and about 60 seconds later he and his rental agreement were already headed out the door.

(Speaking of gentlemen, Tom Ingalls, a great friend of Felt & Wire, took these photos of Spencers for us on a recent weekend. Ingalls sent me the very first photo from his iPhone, with this message:  ”good stuff coming. what a shop!” I couldn’t have said it better myself!)

Spencers_3_sharpenersSpencers’ ambiance is as lovely as the merchandise, all of which is beautifully displayed by the store’s “masters of multiples,” who neatly and discreetly stack and restack, stock and restock. Notable: Classical music, effortless parking, no cell phones allowed. No website, either, but you’ll find hours and directions here.

Leave a comment

Felt & Wire Finds: Put some spring in your step with Pie Bird Press’ 2012 calendar

We’ve had a pretty mild winter here in the northeast, but we’re already wishing for spring. That’s why we’re loving what the Felt & Wire Shop curators are featuring: the 2012 Seasonal Bulbs Calendar from Pie Bird Press. Read on to learn more about the special offer.

Furthermore >
Malcolm Gladwell: Collected

Renowned author and thinker, Malcolm Gladwell has turned his best-selling books The Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers into a visual story collection, Maclolm Gladwell: Collected.

Furthermore >
The Wedding Collection at Felt & Wire Shop

We were so enamored with Michele Ronsen and Tony Marcell’s DIY wedding that the curators at Felt & Wire Shop put together a wedding collection. Drop by to check out the beautiful cards, wrapping paper, invitations and so much more. [SJ]