Page 22 - August 2019

and staging. The mother-daughter pair had
a desire to sell more than Anita’s designs
and Kaitlynn’s selection of unique
merchandise. They saw an opportunity to
give an avenue of exposure for other local
designers and makers.
Every addition of a new product by a
local artist came about organically through
Anita and Kaitlynn finding a product they
loved and by chance meeting the artisan
and insisting that they allow their products to
be sold at Urban Nest. This is part of what
makes this store unique and special, the
desire for it to be about more than them.
The atmosphere in Urban Nest is more
than just the decor. It’s a feeling of belonging
that brings customers back time and time
again. Patrons were often spending hours creating a comfortable lounge area to has grown, Anita’s design and aesthetic has
on end inside just sharing life with the family. encourage those enjoying coffee to stay and become infamous throughout the area. From
It was then suggested that all that was sit. the head organizers of the Valentine’s Ball
missing was a good cup of coffee. It was clear from the beginning, that asking her to do the stage last year, to
although Anita was the creative mind, the staging homes for local realty groups, the
entire family played a role in making the particular perspective on design brought to
store what it is. Ken brings his handy-man the rooms and homes by the Urban Nest
skills to the table, making shelves for team continues to become highly sought
merchandise, while Kaitlynn mans the after.
business, marketing, and coffee shop side of Their most recent venture, a flip house off
things. Her husband, Michael, is a constant of Little Capers Road on Lady’s Island.
encourager and helps with some heavy Anita’s childhood dates with her father,
lifting behind the scenes. Anita and Ken’s dreaming up her future home, became a
daughter Abby recently joined the staff as a reality as she gets the opportunity to design
barista in the coffee bar and Kaitlynn’s homes and put her stamp on a house in a
two-year old daughter Luna has been tangible way. This is just the start as Anita
dubbed “the shop baby” since birth. This and Kaitlynn plan to team up with local
dynamic is what makes Urban Nest and all general contractor, David Summerall and
that they do so special. Their heart is not for Keller Williams Realty to continue to design
profit and gain, but for people and their flip homes and stage houses for show that
“A light bulb went off for me and my stories. will all be “Urban Nest” stamped.
dreamer mentality started working overtime “We think people like the family aspect. Despite all of these incredible outside
until I created our signature drinks for the Our heart is that people come in and feel opportunities, the family still has big plans
coffee shop and we launched the Urban loved and welcomed. They feel like they can and dreams for Urban Nest. These plans
Brew which has been more successful than I talk to us. And they do. We want people to include expanding out back of their current
ever thought it could,” Kaitlynn said. always come in and it not just be a store,” building by adding a greenhouse and
In February 2019, they extended their said Anita. garden center, hoping to also create another
operating space into Anita’s workroom, The storefront was just the beginning. As it sit-down, stay awhile set-up with bistro
tables by next spring. With their ability to
find a use for discarded things, and with
great business acumen, they have managed
to remain debt-free.
“Our number one most important goal is
to be a lighthouse. To help out how we can.
If we are going to have this business, we
want it to glorify God. When people come
in and see that we are genuine, I think
people appreciate that,” Anita and Kaitlynn
agreed.
Their faith is what drives them day in and
day out, no question. It is the backbone of
their business and what they hope exudes
out of all they do. Their testimony of God’s
grace in their lives mirrors their life’s work,
making broken things beautiful.