Kelly Simon

MÉLANGE BY KP

At mélange by KP, Kelly Simon offers home décor, furniture and unique gifts, as well as local artwork, cutting boards, candles, notecards, jewelry and much more. Kelly has been in the retail industry for over a decade. Through the years, mélange by KP has transitioned from being a furniture store that was heavily known for carrying the popular Annie Sloan chalk paint to now a more diverse store that focuses on special gifts for any event and stylish furniture pieces that will help you complete a particular space in your home.

Growing up, Kelly’s mother and grandmother inspired her to paint and follow in their footsteps by letting her creative juices flow. Nowadays, Kelly prides herself on making customers happy. She says, “I am always so touched when a customer says I helped them find just the right gift for that person who has everything. COVID was really hard on my business, but creating an online ordering system and hand-delivering gifts really added a personal touch during tough times that brought me such joy.”

Mélange by KP’s new location is right across from Fresh Market, just next door to Joe’s Shoes in the heart of Mandeville. It attracts more foot traffic and allows Kelly to focus her energy on helping customers find one-of-a-kind gifts. It’s easy to see why customers are drawn to her store, given the aesthetics. As soon as you walk in and hear the calming music, smell the divine, locally made candles, and see the beautiful sights, it’s hard to walk out of the store. Kelly prides herself on creating a relaxing experience for all of her customers. She even offers religious-inspired uplifting gifts that can suit anyone’s needs.

In Kelly’s free time, she enjoys staying active and participating in the yearly St. Jude marathon weekend in Memphis with her family. Whether her husband and two kids walk in the marathon or run with her the whole way, they always make sure to support the cause. Kelly even puts certain items on sale throughout the year, including a candle line, to donate a portion of the proceeds to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. When Kelly is not training, she likes to relax at home with family. Her two children are heavily involved in several different sports, so that takes up much of her time. However, when she does get some down time, she loves traveling to Colorado, North Carolina and Florida, to name just a few of her favorite places.

Kelly is never too busy for her customers. She invites you to stop in mélange by KP and enjoy the store. “As the business grows, I am so grateful for my two helpers, Karen and Mary who do more than their share to keep the store running smoothly. I have found happiness in helping repeat customers, who feel like family, as well as building relationships with new customers. I am thankful to serve such a great community and offer new and exciting items each year.”

mélange by KP is located in Northlake Shopping Center at 1814 N Causeway Blvd., Mandeville. 807-7652, mymelangebykp.com.