Tucked between How Brave is the Wren and The Vintage Stop, on Kings Heath’s York Road, is A Painted Room. This pretty little store specialising in chalk paint and home décor is a fairly recent addition to the area, having opened in 2021 after moving down the road from Moseley when their former premises flooded.
Owner Gabrielle founded the business in Moseley in 2014, from a passion for upcycling and the shop’s main product: Annie Sloan’s chalk paint. It might seem a little strange, but the paint, she tells me, is massively versatile, usable on all sorts of materials and with all sorts of finishes. Gabrielle offers furniture painting as a service, as well as classes and one-to-one workshops, where people can bring their own household items which they want to paint, in order to give people the confidence to do it DIY.
As well as this, A Painted Room offer other home décor items, craft kits, gifts, and picture-framing service. Among the things that Gabrielle is most proud of is the beautiful aesthetic of the shop, which feels homely and vibrant, with flowers, coloured candles and children’s wooden toys artfully arranged on the tables, and includes art from her daughter, local artist Emma Hardicker, hung on the walls.
Recently, she’s started branching out (no pun intended) with her commissions, using stencils to create leafy scenes on walls for clients, and in her own shop. Her love for her craft and attention to detail is evident in her shop, and this is well rewarded when she receives kind messages from customers about her products and services.
This lovely shop in the heart of Kings Heath is a real Hidden Gem and well worth a look, whenever you need to freshen up your home with new colours.
Gabrielle’s Favourite Shops: Gabrielle loves the local bookshops in the area, her neighbour How Brave is the Wren, and The Heath Bookshop in King’s Court.
Contact: You can find A Painted Room at number 6 York Rd, and they are open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm. You can call them on 0121 441 2021 and they are online at apaintedroom.co.uk.
