My first impression when I entered the Maple Moon Marketplace was that the owner of this store must be an expert in home decorating and interior design.

But Somerli McLain, owner of the boutique shop at 433 SW 6th St., was quick to point out that her decorating skills are self-taught, they simply come from her passion for interior design.

“As a girl with my mom I was always into home decorating, interior design,” Somerli said. “Creating an inviting atmosphere is what I like to do.”

Maple Moon Marketplace opened in June and offers a unique blend of home decor, artisan gifts, boutique women’s and baby clothing, kitchenware and gourmet foods.

McLain believes her merchandise will be attractive to anyone wanting to make their living space warm and inviting.

“From sophisticated farmhouse to cozy cottage, creating a home environment with beauty, peace and warmth is one of the inspirations for Maple Moon,” Somerli said. “And we will constantly add new and unique products to the store in order to keep a fresh feel.”

No stranger to the downtown retail scene, McLain owned and operated Sweet Oasis Sweet Shop & Gifts, 425 SW 6th St., for two years before recently selling the store.

But before opening Market Moon, McLain market-tested her ideas by displaying merchandise at local shows, bazaars and events.

After several years of events, she realized a new retail store was the way to go.

“After years of doing events, it became a discussion about how great it would be to have a permanent store,” Somerli said. “A store to share the home decor, gourmet foods and artisan gifts that we love.”

Maple Moon Marketplace is also featuring the work of local craft vendors. Right now, around 10 local vendors have their products in the store.

But the Maple Moon Marketplace does not display vendors items in typical “booth” fashion with each vendor in a designated space. Rather, vendors are spread throughout the store.

“We researched and found that the booth style is not only outdated but can hide and inhibit items, causing a loss in sales,” Somerli said. “It also pulls away from the store’s ambiance and atmosphere.”

One of the shop’s vendors, Cody Harrison of Redmond, displays her custom jewelry and works part-time at the store.

“I really like the way the store is arranged, it’s very inviting, truly a boutique gift store,” Harrison said.

Food, not just gourmet food items, is important to the total ambiance of the shop.

“I like to offer everyday foods for people, foods that aren’t available elsewhere,” Somerli said. “As we all know, in order to make a home truly warm, cozy and comfortable we need to have great food!”

Unique gift baskets have become a staple for Maple Moon.

“Realtors are increasingly ordering gift baskets for their clients,” McLain said. “I’m also seeing this growing with regular customers as well.”

And starting Monday, Maple Moon will offer a selection of wines for sale. Hood River’s Naked Winery will be featured, along with other wineries.

When you think about boutique gift stores, affordability is not the first thing that comes to mind. Somerli McLain wants to dispel that notion.

“I’m really proud of my prices,” she said. “This is a shop where people can afford a nice array of things for their home that are affordable.”

Business has steadily increased for Maple Moon. McLain attributes the increasing interest to the friendly, inviting atmosphere of downtown.

“I think Redmond is changing and looking a lot better,” Somerli said. “People from Bend are coming into the shop now because it’s easier to get around and it’s a low-key shopping experience.”

— Contact Bill Mintiens at billmintiens@gmail.com.