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R.E.N. Design Company stocks home good and decor. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

A décor and custom furniture shop has opened in the long vacant Wading River Garage space. R.E.N. Design Company offers one-of-a-kind home accents and made-to-order furnishings handcrafted by owners Jason and Samantha Nagorski.

The Wading River couple opened R.E.N. out of a passion for woodworking and design. Jason has been making furniture for more than decade while Samantha, who has a background in photography and graphic design, has been doing arts and crafts for as long as she can remember. 

The Nagorskis signed the lease on the 2,300-square-foot space in October and got to work transforming the former automotive garage into a hub for crafting and shopping in downtown Wading River. The addition marks the first time in nearly 20 years that all the storefronts in the downtown business district are occupied.

“We’re happy to come here as a young couple that is interested in investing in the area,” 31-year-old Jason said. “We tried to turn this building into a place where people can enjoy going.”

The Wading River Garage has essentially sat vacant since 2000, when longtime garage owner Bob Boenig retired. “The building is historic and it’s an important piece of downtown Wading River,” said Sid Bail, president of the Wading River Civic Association. “It is positive for the community and welcomed.”

The storefront now functions as both a workshop and retail space.

Jason heads up the building, making everything from dinning room tables to barn doors, using a mix of reclaimed and new wood. The pieces are then stained or distressed to fit the clients’ aesthetic.

Jason and Samantha Nagorski opened R.E.N. Design Co. earlier this year. (Credit: Cyndi Murray)

“I always wanted to have a store where I could sell my furniture — this is a dream,” he said. “Our clients find us and we work together to create custom pieces. People like custom. You can’t go to Ikea and get anything like it.”

Samantha’s work is on display throughout the retail space as customers pass through the original garage door. Her handpainted signs that read: “Welcome” and “Fresh Produce” sit beside rustic planters and mason jar candles.

And while some of the pieces may look antique, each is made from new materials and distressed in-house to achieve the sought-after farmhouse-chic look. It’s not all country barncentric. Modern and mid-century accents also have a home at R.E.N.

“Farmhouse is the most popular, but we have pieces that incorporate all styles,” Samantha said. “We want the business to grow and stay current, so we want to include things everyone enjoys.”

Samantha, 30, also hosts regular craft nights in the shop where you can make your own painted wood pallet signs or holiday décor.

R.E.N Design Company is located at 9 Sound Road, Wading River. The shop is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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