As seen in Orange Coast Magzine: Step into Merideth Fleener's MerMade Designs and you can practically feel the sand between your toes. This petite boutique, which opened in The Cove shopping center in August 2010, is packed with natural coral pieces, shell encrusted picture frames, sea- inspired paintings, and driftwood wreaths.
While many are this mother of three's own creations, she also carries lines by local artists. “I absolutely love the ocean” says the Newport Heights resident, above, who grew up in Laguna Beach, Hawaii, and Florida “If I can get my feet in the sand for 10 minutes or a whole day, I’m there. It's my way to meditate.”
Merideth's beachy casual personal style is obvious in the airy, relaxed aesthetic of the store, and in the accessible prices of her goods, which range from $5 to $1,500. Merideth has been a fan of crafts and sewing since child hood, and clothing tags her grandmother gave her as a kid inspired me score's name. They read “Made by Mer,” and later simply “MerMade.” Fleener's decorating advice? “Even if you live in a really modern home, you can have that one piece that reminds you of a great vacation.”
