Lavender Blue celebrates 20 years in business

by kAtE HAnzAlik

Two hundred years ago, 74 Albany St. was a bar and a trading post. Twenty years ago this past July, the building became home to the much loved, world-class boutique filled with all things French, Lavender Blue.

Over the years, co-owners Judith Warburton and Eileen Lowe have learned a lot about embracing risks, seeing opportunities, and appreciating serendipity. In fact, the two grew up 40 miles away from each other in Cheshire, England unbeknownst to them. Their children were born in the same small cottage hospital eight years apart. Their husbands were recruited to work in Syracuse around the same time.

It wasn’t until Warburton and Lowe met at a dinner party in Cazenovia that they realized their shared history, a history that blossomed into a future that has changed the landscape of our town - and the interior of many homes around the world - for the better.

The inspiration for Lavender Blue began with Warburton’s fascination with the art form of coated French tablecloths, and her wish to solve an age-old problem for Americans.

“We had all traveled extensively in France and seen the unique table linens with their cotton base and acrylic coating that allowed everyone at the table to relax as every spill could be wiped up leaving no traceso different from the traditional white damask that stained at the first drop of wine,” she said.

The idea of selling these tablecloths didn’t really materialize until Warburton slipped and fell one day.

“It was just serendipity. On a bad day, I saw the shop; the barber had a sign in the window, ‘For Sale By Owner,’” Warburton said. She took a look around, “And that day, all those ideas came. I thought immediately of Eileen because