Los Altos Furniture Consignment

Your home is the center of your life. Whether it is an apartment, a townhome, a rustic cottage in the woods or a suburban ranch house in a neighborhood where everybody knows each other, home is the place you go to at the end of your day and the place in which you wake come morning. Decorating your home should be taken with as much care as the meaning your home represents in your life.

 In February, Melissa Mansch teamed up with her mother, Joanne, to open Los Altos Furniture Consignment. It's right next to Alotta’s Deli, which was purchased by her family in 1985. "I have grown up in that business all of my life,” she said. “I was two years old at the time and ever since I was tall enough to reach the counter with a step stool I was cutting fruit and helping to prepare entrees with my parents.”

 Mansch, however, always had an interest in interior design. After graduating from Santa Clara University with a communications and Spanish degree, and finding the job market hard to infiltrate, she decided it was time to go into business for herself. “With the degrees I have, my background in retail, and my interest in interior design, I felt that this type of business was more fitting,” Mansch said.

That is where Los Altos Furniture Consignment comes in, which sells high quality furniture and home décor in a variety of styles, from modern to traditional, at affordable prices. All of its items are bought second-hand, unlike some consignment stores, which mix used items with new items. Another important feature is each piece has a story behind it. “People like looking at items that have character and stories behind them,” Mansch said.

When looking for items, Mansch will personally set up appointments with sellers to see the item. She also works with experts that offer professional advice and help determine appropriate pricing for items. “Generally speaking, good-quality used furniture usually will go for about one-fourth of what someone originally paid,” Mansch said.

She also is very selective when it comes to choosing pieces, making sure they are not damaged or scratched. "We only take items that we believe are useful and can become treasures in their new homes."

One unique item in the shop was a giant mirror that covered half a wall. Having such a large-scale piece adds a completely new dimension to a design scheme. If placed opposite a window, it reflects all of the natural light flooding a room, creating an incredibly light, magnetic atmosphere, a place that lures people and makes them want to stay.

 In addition to furniture, the shop also displays a variety of art pieces and small items, like a detailed, silver platter that was exquisite as well as affordable.

On April 23, will have a grand opening party from noon to 3 p.m., with deeply discounted prices to celebrate, along with food and refreshments. 

2249 Grant Road, Suite B, Los Altos, CA 94024

650-961-5199