Homescapes, Carmel: At home and here to stay

When brothers Thompson and Beau Lange left their original store in 2001 and came back home to reinvent and expand Homescapes, Carmel they had no idea the difficulty they would face in separating their image from the first store they built. But they shouldn't have been surprised.

"Even though we were raised in Carmel, we really didn't hit the radar of the locals until we built The Grove," says Thompson Lange. "The Grove" he refers to is the old Grove Laundry in Pacific Grove. "The poor old thing was condemned so it turned into this massive project that took the three longest years of our lives to complete."

During those years, it was a common sight to see the brothers digging, demolishing and rebuilding. "We called Thompson "Dumpster Boy"," says Beau with a laugh. "Everyone was used to seeing us down there slogging through the muck and sorting through the rubble."

The association of the brothers to the Grove building is what has led to confusion now that that property is for sale. "Once you're identified with something as strongly as we were with the Grove Laundry, it's hard to erase that image," says Thompson. "Now that the Grove building is for sale, the customers who don't know we haven't been in Pacific Grove for almost two years are afraid were leaving Carmel."

Homescapes, Carmel opened in 1999 and has been growing and refining ever since. "Our concept is a mix of plants, orchids and art with home furnishings," says Beau. "We added couches and upholstered furniture last year, and also expanded our store with a garden and an annexed building we call 'the bedroom'."

"But Homescapes, Carmel isn't going anywhere," adds Thompson. "We're here to stay and going strong."