Opening Up

Exploring a New Space

unique home furnishing store relocates downtown

Hillary Bell, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

FEELING SPACEY. Spaced Out Furnishings owner Sue Derfus will reopen her vintage décor shop on July 8 at a brand-new location – in The Galleries at 200 Main in downtown Eau Claire.
FEELING SPACEY. Spaced Out Furnishings owner Sue Derfus will reopen her vintage décor shop on July 8 at a brand-new location – in The Galleries at 200 Main in downtown Eau Claire.

Whether you’re looking for that modern piece of furniture that fits right in with your already styled home or are searching to collect some vintage décor to bring a little more personality to a room, you’re going to want to take a trip to Spaced Out Furnishings. If you haven’t already heard the exciting news, the mid-century-focused Eau Claire store is moving to a brand-new location in The Galleries at 200 Main, where it will reopen July 8. Owner Sue Derfus, who’s in the process of moving from the former location on Hogeboom Avenue, says she’s looking forward to being close to the downtown energy.

“We live in a deeply artistic community! My associates and I want to make more connections between artists and the rest of the community.” – Sue Derfus, Space Out Furnishings

With less actual floor space, but with much higher ceilings, The Galleries will provide a fun vertical place that will have some sense of the extraordinary about it as Spaced Out fills the new area with its unique style. “Since my showroom space will be smaller, I’ll need to be more selective about what I have on display,” Sue said. “I’ll also need to change displays more frequently.” With all of these changes, Sue plans to use social media to keep followers aware of what’s coming in, going out, and going on. In other words, Spaced Out Furnishings will be smaller but a lot more active.

The Galleries at 200 Main are inviting people to “live artfully.” “We live in a deeply artistic community!” Sue said. “My associates and I want to make more connections between artists and the rest of the community.” By offering art and helping people choose art that suits them, Spaced Out can show others how to envision art in their own particular spaces. “My special area of interest is decorative art,” Sue said. “Basically, that means that the stuff of life (furniture and light fixtures, for instance) can be artistic as well as useful.”

Spaced Out Furnishings has always focused on mid-century modern (MCM) and vintage industrial home décor, and Sue intends to keep that focus. Although Spaced Out has offered merchandise across a variety of price points in the past, it is interested in offering more of what’s affordable and collectible. “I want to wow people who’ve been hunting for something unique; but I also want to provide special things for people who are just starting out,” Sue explained. “It’s not hard to do that with MCM and vintage industrial furnishings – there are great, affordable pieces out there waiting to be found. I find those pieces, fix them up, and make them available.”

If you find decorating a scary task and need a little encouragement and guidance, Spaced Out can help. It’s a thing place. It’s an idea place. And it could be your inspiration place.

Learn the latest about Spaced Out Furnishings’ relocation at facebook.com/spacedoutfurnishings1