When faced with the task of naming her collection of items she simply considers beautiful, Joanne Wunderly didn’t have to think twice. The Things I Love, located in the heart of Old Town Manassas, is a wonderland for both the curio furniture fanatic and those seeking ravishing decor for some personal charm. “Everything in here is something I truly do love,” says Wunderly, owner of the shop that is going on its 22nd year in business. “I just try to stick to what I am, and that’s what people are after.”
Complete with a retro red stove, outdoor courtyard and vintage bathtub, The Things I Love is cleverly organized as rooms in a home. “We try to make people feel very at home in a home-like setting,” Wunderly says. Each product is carefully presented with handwritten descriptions then tastefully wrapped upon purchase—an oasis for the last-minute gift buyer.
The shop’s niche for repurposing furniture through painting, upholstering and stenciling renders every piece one-of-a-kind. “I find things that are kind of like an ugly duckling and needs some life brought back to it,” Wunderly says. With furniture from mixed origins, the shop isn’t limited to one traditional style, yet shoppers can expect a consistent refined elegance. And the conscious detail extends beyond furniture: the bedroom section is adorned with women’s accessories, the baby nook with nursery decor and the dining room table is festive for the season, with all convenient for inspiration or purchase.
But the hidden delight of The Things I Love is perhaps how it manifests its appreciation for refinement.
“Everything is so impersonal these days. Rarely do we have the chance to slow down and enjoy each other’s company. We try to fix that with tea,” says Wunderly.
On Thursdays, Fridays and some weekends, an elegant iron gate invites guests for traditional afternoon tea. The experience includes three-tier servers garnished with herbs and fresh flowers and custom blended seasonal tea all in a graceful storybook venue. “Some people get ready to go and sigh, ‘I just feel so much more relaxed now.’ They say that often enough that you think you have created a space that makes people feel happy and better off having been here,” she says. The same goes for Wunderly, who revels in welcoming others to share the finer things of her enchanting space. “When I’m here, I’m happy.” // 9084 Center St., Manassas; facebook.com/pages/category/Gift-Shop/The-Things-I-Love-132708974850/
