Southport Magazine

BY KRIS BEASLEY

Q. Tell us about Talefeathers.  What type of store is it?

A. Talefeathers is a furniture boutique offering home decor, accessories and gifts.  However, our specialty is hand painted, custom upholstered, vintage furniture.

Q. You have two locations, Raleigh and Southport.  How did you choose these two towns?  Are there differences between the two locations?

A. The two are night and day.  Raleigh demands mostly Palm Beach and Hollywood Regency, Blue and White and a lot of Asian influenced pieces.  Southport is a little more laid back.  Cottage and coastal looks are our best sellers here.  I chose these two towns because I live primarily in Raleigh but have a summer home here.  Raleigh is where my home is, Southport is where my heart lives.

Q. What inspired you to start Talefeathers?

A. I started off renting a small space and painting a few pieces a month.  When I realized it wasn’t a passing phase and I wasn’t tiring of it, I decided to rent my own space and offer more than just painted furniture.

Q. What is your favorite thing about Talefeathers?

A. My absolute favorite thing about Talefeathers is our vintage furniture.  I only select quality pieces (no prefabricated foreign stuff) and even try to take it a step further and make them “local” pieces…..meaning NC/VA but definitely American made.  Dixie, Thomasville, American of Martinsville, Bassett, Drexel…..just to name a few.

I love taking these dated pieces and turning them into works of art.  Each one ends up being a one of a kind, custom piece.  When you buy a vintage piece from us, you know you are getting quality and originality.  But even better, you are the ONLY one with it!

Q. What is something that might surprise people to know about  Talefeathers?

A. Our name is a play on words.  Normally, it is spelled Tailfeathers.  However, our furniture has a history. We like to think each piece has its own Tale to tell.

Q. Your first name, Dondi is quite unique.  Is it a family name?

A. Ahhh….my name.  It’s a combination of my parents’ names….Donald and Diana.  I like to say I’m a “child of the 60s”.  I should probably just leave it at that.

FUN QUESTIONS:

FAVORITE FOOD: Ice Cream

FAVORITE BOOK: To Kill A Mockingbird

FAVORITE MUSICIAN/BAND: Lyle Lovett (hands down….probably gonna be my 3rd husband….HA!)

FAVORITE PLACE TO TRAVEL: Caribbean

FAVORITE THING ABOUT SOUTHPORT: Too many to mention!!  Quaint, beautiful, friendly.

TALEFEATHERS

414 N HOWE ST., SOUTHPORT, NC 28461

910-457-0011