Sometimes it’s a single object that sparks a lifelong interest. A chair, a piece of jewelry, a textile, a color. The moment may feel small at the time, but it stays with you. It shapes what you’re drawn to and how you begin to see the world.
I was reminded of this recently while talking with my 95-year-old grandmother, a longtime member of the Rochester Society of Button Collectors. Her favorite piece is a large red button she found when she was nine years old, tucked under the clothesline after it fell from her brother’s flannel nightshirt. That one discovery sparked a fascination she still carries with her today.
It made me think about random happenings that brought about my own interest in design. I always enjoyed the most modern wallpaper books in the selection at my parents’ lumberyard. I also remember eagerly flipping through the Spiegel catalog and being allowed to help redecorate my bedroom as a teenager. I was drawn to clean lines and modern shapes, even as I tried to make them coexist with the more traditional style of the rest of the house. Later came IKEA, and then discovering the clarity and intention of Bauhaus and the work of Charles and Ray Eames. Looking back, those moments formed the foundation of the aesthetic I still respond to — geometry, simplicity, and thoughtful composition.
We see that same spark happen every day at Axom Home. We’re constantly discovering new designers and pieces that have the power to capture someone’s attention in that same quiet but lasting way. A beautifully crafted wood table, a distinct sofa, a striking piece of jewelry, or a thoughtfully designed object can become someone’s version of a “red button” — the thing that shifts the possibility they see their home, their style, or themselves.
That’s why everything we bring into the store shares a common thread. Whether it’s furniture, accessories, gifts, or textiles, each piece is chosen for its design-driven sensibility. You never know which object might be the one that stays with someone for a lifetime.
