A new boutique offering elevated home decor for both living and real estate staging has opened its doors in downtown Blaine.
Owner Solveig Johnson said she opened Harbor House, 838 Peace Portal Drive, this winter as a way to draw on her creativity and background in the real estate industry, while attempting to revitalize Blaine.
“I really want this space to be like coming into my home, coming in and meeting me. I want to help someone improve, change or feel better in their current space,” Johnson said. “And also be a resource if they are selling.”
The boutique is full of classic staples and rotating items that include specialized jams, cookbooks, tableware and even dog perfume — currently a best-selling item.
While price points often reflect the heritage items Johnson is curating, she said she’s trying to offer something for anyone stopping in her store.
The boutique’s items follow Johnson’s personal style, which she describes as a timeless, coastal design focused on soft, muted colors. The inventory includes new and vintage items.
“These are items that can go with your home already. It’s not like you’re reinventing the wheel,” Johnson said. “You can find unique items here that may elevate something you can switch out in your home. Those small tweaks can bring you a little bit of joy in the world.”
Harbor House was a logical next step in Johnson’s career, she said.
In 2014, Johnson began working as a real estate agent in Whatcom County and a few years later started her own business, The Real Estate Stylist, which offered home staging services. She also opened Urban Collective, a similar boutique in Bellingham’s Barkley Village that offered home decor and staging services.
Johnson moved to Arizona during the pandemic, where she worked in real estate and furnished Airbnbs for a few years before returning to Whatcom County last year. Blaine was on Johnson’s radar for her next store. She called it a “hidden gem” that was reminiscent of her childhood in Alaska.
As the business develops, Johnson wants to turn the boutique into a one-stop shop that also houses real estate agents and an interior designer. But for now, she’s welcoming anyone who wanders into her shop, from those looking for a last-minute gift to those wanting to style an entire home.
“There’s so much potential and it’s such a cute town,” Johnson said. “There’s something special down here, and I’m excited to see what happens with it all.”
Harbor House is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends, though Johnson said those hours will likely change in the summer.
