Decor and More

Do you know where you can find scores of decorator shops in a 16-block stretch of street that also contains more than a dozen restaurants, a public park and a botanical garden?

This slice of home decor paradise is on East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar, between Begonia Avenue on the west and Hazel Drive on the east.

The 46 shops, galleries and designers cater to a range of tastes and budgets--postmodern light fixtures to Italian terra cottas and European antiques.

“Twenty years ago, we were a few rug shops, a couple of designers and some places like Newport Floor Coverings and the Hearthstone,” said Luvena Hayton, who’s lived and worked in Corona del Mar for more than four decades.

Hayton, a former president of the local Chamber of Commerce, says the current boom began more than two years ago with the diverse development of tract homes and custom ocean-view homes on million-dollar lots in Newport Coast, unincorporated land between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach. She believes it’s also being fed by the Irvine Co.’s nearby development of Bonita Canyon.

“The real advantage of shopping in Corona del Mar is that this is still a little town,” she said. “When people come here they have a nice experience.”

This concentration of designer and decor shops can’t be found elsewhere in Orange County. There are antique stores in Orange’s historical downtown plaza, and tile and flooring stores on State College Boulevard in Anaheim, but neither place offers the same wide variety.

In visiting Corona del Mar, it helps to know that the streets all have flower names and are laid out roughly alphabetically beginning on the Fashion Island side and moving toward Laguna Beach. Some letters aren’t represented; some are used more than once. And the last street is Hazel Drive, which follows Poppy Avenue.

For additional information, contact the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce at 2845 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-4050.

INLAND

The following sampling of city shops, galleries and studios are listed by their cross streets, beginning on the inland side of East Coast Highway, moving from west to east. Those with a * have off-street parking behind the store:

DAHLIA AVENUE

* Bastideaux Home Collection. Traditional furniture and accessories. 2600-C E. Coast Highway, (949) 640-1233. *

* The X Gallery. Contemporary furniture and accessories. 2612 E. Coast Highway, (949) 640-8666.

* J. Nicolas. Architectural hardware and tapestry. 2640 E. Coast Highway, (949) 644-5543. *

FERNLEAF AVENUE

* Jan Turner Hering, ISID. Interior design showroom. 2712 E. Coast Highway, (949) 640-6512. *

* David Riley Design. Ceramic and stone concepts. 2720 E. Coast Highway, (949) 760-6901. *

GOLDENROD AVENUE

* Pacific Coast Audio-Video. Television, video and sound systems. 2816 E. Coast Highway, (949) 640-5093.

* Campagna. Country-style furniture and accessories. 2846 E. Coast Highway, (949) 759-6655. *

* The Urban Gardener. Indoor and outdoor accessories. 2852 E. Coast Highway, (949) 640-6972.

* Just Graphics. Frames for fine art. 2854 E. Coast Highway, (949) 720-1850.

HELIOTROPE AVENUE

* Sofa Direct. Custom upholstery and reupholstery. 2900 E. Coast Highway, (949) 759-9268. *

* Acanthus Gallery. Traditional accessories and antique prints. 2908 E. Coast Highway, (949) 640-1470.

* Pine Trader. Country antiques. 2912 E. Coast Highway, (949) 759-3665.

JASMINE AVENUE

* Gene Zettle Interiors. Interior design showroom. 3030 E. Coast Highway, (949) 644-5322.

* Simply Heaven. Small accessories and gifts. 3032 E. Coast Highway, (949) 760-9087.

LARKSPUR AVENUE

* Zachariah. Eclectic indoor and outdoor cottage furnishings. 3222 E. Coast Highway, (949) 719-2911.

NARCISSUS AVENUE

* Newport Floor Coverings. Flooring, area rugs and wall coverings. 3500 E. Coast Highway, (949) 675-1636. *

POINSETTIA AVENUE

* Chuck Jones Showroom. Animation art. 3636 E. Coast Highway, (949) 723-1900. *

POPPY AVENUE

* Halloran & Sons Antiques Ltd. Antique furniture and accessories. 3800 E. Coast Highway, (949) 675-2583. *

COASTAL

On the ocean side of East Coast Highway there are more shops:

BEGONIA AVENUE

* H.M. McKissock. Consignments of fine furniture and accessories. 2411 E. Coast Highway, (949) 723-4222. *

* Orient Handel. New and used rugs; repairs and cleaning. 2421 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-2224. *

CARNATION AVENUE

* La Vie en Rose. Consignments of decorative arts and antiques. 2515 E. Coast Highway, No. 1, (949) 723-6088. *

* Knock It Off. Designer furniture knockoffs. 2515 E. Coast Highway, No. 5, (949) 675-9385. *

* D&G; Antiques & Restoration. Fine arts and accessories. 2515 E. Coast Highway, No. 7, (949) 675-9518. *

* Leyla’s Picture Framing. Frames for fine art. 2515 E. Coast Highway, No. 9, (949) 673-6576. *

DAHLIA AVENUE

* Sherman Library and Gardens Gift Shop. Indoor and outdoor accessories and gifts. 2647 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-2261. *

FERNLEAF AVENUE

* The Hearthstone. Brassware and fireplace accessories. 2711-A E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-7065. *

* Esterley-Scheetz. Design and furnishings. 2711-C E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-5595. *

* Millennium. Contemporary furniture and accessories. 2721 E. Coast Highway, (949) 675-3399.

GOLDENROD AVENUE

* Pacific Coast Gallery. Gifts and art. 2801-B E. Coast Highway, (949) 675-1995. *

* Fast Frame. Frames for fine art. 2867 E. Coast Highway, (949) 723-4710. *

JASMINE AVENUE

* Tassels Tea Room. Traditional and Oriental furniture and accessories, also open for lunch and tea. 3127 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-7714.

MARGUERITE AVENUE

* Persian Treasure Rugs. Oriental rugs and accessories. 3321 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-6981.

MARIGOLD AVENUE

* Andree Conte Ltd. Custom furniture and accessories. 3419 E. Coast Highway, (949) 723-0448.

* Shah ‘n Shah. Oriental rugs, repair and cleaning. 3425-27 E. Coast Highway, (949) 675-4300.

* Saddleback Interiors. Floor coverings and design. 3435 E. Coast Highway, (949) 675-1806.

NARCISSUS AVENUE

* Big Screen Express. Televisions, VCRs and satellites systems. 3535 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-6123. *

* Kitchens del Mar. Kitchen fittings and furnishings. 3551 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-9199.

* Amir Rug Gallery. New and used rugs; cleaning and repair. 3555 E. Coast Highway, (949) 723-0155.

* Passione. Design studio. 3563 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-5996. *

ORCHID AVENUE

* Kismet Rug Gallery. New and used rugs; buy, trade and repair. 3637 E. Coast Highway, (949) 723-4422.

* Glassman Kiefer Interiors. Traditional furniture and accessories. 3641 E. Coast Highway, (949) 723-9600.

* Veldhuis-McMahon. Traditional furniture and accessories. 3653 E. Coast Highway, (949) 675-9984. *

OFF HIGHWAY

Not all of Corona del Mar’s decorator businesses are facing East Coast Highway. Some can be found on the side streets:

INLAND SIDE

* Jack Baldwin Floor Coverings. Can be accessed from the parking lot that runs between Poppy and Hazel. 3810 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-4757.

* Taylor Furnishings. Interior Design. Can be accessed from the parking lot that runs between Poppy and Hazel. 3810 E. Coast Highway, (949) 673-9002.

COASTAL AVENUE

* Decorator’s Corner. Interior design. 700 Carnation Ave., (949) 675-5761.

* Margaret Bedell Studio and Gallery. Fine art. 700 1/2 Carnation Ave., (949) 760-9100.

* Angel Cove Studios. Angel art. 340-A Poinsettia Ave., (949) 723-6023.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

PARKING

Parking spaces aren’t hard to find in Corona del Mar, unless Caltrans is ripping up the highway, which is what will be happening until summer. However, there are plenty of off-highway parking spaces.

Besides the parking listed with specific stores, the following is a list of additional lots. Keep in mind that some are restricted to patrons of specific businesses, so be sure to watch for warning signs to avoid being towed.

On the inland side of East Coast Highway are two lots, one on Narcissus and one on Orchid.

On the coastal side of the highway are lots at Acacia, Goldenrod, Marigold and Narcissus. Two restaurants on that side of the highway--Five Crowns on Poppy and Bandera on Marguerite--have large parking lots used mostly at dinner time.

City lots, with meters that charge 10 cents per 24 minutes, can be found on the ocean side of the highway at Old School Park between Dahlia and Carnation, at Larkspur and at Marguerite.

Parking on East Coast Highway--and on some streets for a half-block off the highway--is restricted to one hour. The Police Department patrols regularly.

Parking is also available on the side streets, but be wary of restrictions for street sweeping.