French Courtyard offers area residents an array of carefully selected and elegantly displayed home furniture in an atmosphere that is carefully crafted by its owner. The store combines new and consigned furniture, weaving the furnishings together throughout the expansive 6,000- square-foot showroom. The store also sells home accessories and decor, such as lamps, throw pillows, candles and floral arrangements, which are all new items.

Owner Rebecca Weischwill designs the showroom and changes it often, refreshing it with her expertise.

"When you walk in the store, there's a 'wow' factor," said Melinda McFarland, who owns a women's clothing and accessories boutique, Vintage Chic, within the store. "It's hard to tell consignment from new merchandise. Rebecca is very talented."

Weischwill has been working in the home furnishings business for 15 years, and she purchased the store seven years ago when it was on FM 1960 and called Market Street Consignment. Weischwill decided to move to the Robinson Road location a year ago to be closer to home and closer to most of her customers in The Woodlands.

"[Business is] growing," Weischwill said. "Every day we see new people. They love our atmosphere."

French Courtyard has many regular, loyal customers. About 30 percent of the customers who previously shopped at the FM 1960 store are still customers at her new location.

"We count them as our friends," Weischwill said. "We care about them."

Weischwill has cookies for shoppers on Saturdays and always has snacks on hand in the store's kitchen for customers who like to take their time in her store.

The consigned furniture is carefully selected by Weischwill, who said she only chooses furniture in top condition. The wood pieces are all solid wood, for example, and French Courtyard does not accept dated, stained or torn furniture. Once selected, the furniture is cleaned and sometimes repainted before going on display in the showroom.

"We offer a great opportunity for very nice pieces at moderate prices," Weischwill said.

French Courtyard also offers an in-house floral designer, who can create a custom floral arrangement. There are also several pre-made pieces for sale throughout the store.

Weischwill will often give tips to customers about home design, including purchasing a solid color couch and adding accent pillows for a splash of color.

"A nice piece of furniture is a treasure," Weischwill said. "You'll have it forever."

Events:

French Courtyard will hold a fall open house Sept. 20-21 and a Christmas open house Oct. 24-25.

In addition, French Courtyard is holding a Sip & Shop Event Oct. 3. Ten percent of the day's receipts from both French Courtyard and Vintage Chic will be donated to The Breast Cancer Charities of America, The Woodlands.

Vintage Chic ladies boutique:

Located within French Courtyard, Vintage Chic boutique sells women's clothing, jewelry and accessories all with a vintage, distinctive look.

Owner Melinda McFarland started selling jewelry out of three boxes in the trunk of her car. Weischwill asked she open a boutique within her store and since opening last year, Vintage Chic has expanded three times.

The shop offers a large array of handmade, unique jewelry, purses and clothing.

French Courtyard , 27326 Robinson Road, Suite 101, Oak Ridge North, 281-363-1800 , www.frenchcourtyard.com