‘Vintage goth’ furniture rehab business moving to bigger space in Crystal Lake

McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes' rehabbed furniture store Edge Designs has moved on to a permanent location that’s due to open this week in Crystal Lake at the intersection of Routes 31 and 176.

Edge Designs, the fourth tiny shop tenant to relocate this season, is set to open at 5610 S. Route 31 in Crystal Lake. The owner, Crystal Edge, takes in unwanted and thrifted furniture pieces and personally refurnishes them.

The new storefront will have an expanded inventory of her designs, as Edge has more room than the “tiny shop” provided.

“It was a dream I wanted since the beginning,” she said.

The so-called tiny shops were designed as retail incubators, giving small business owners the chance to “try before they buy” or, in many cases, before they lease a retail store on their own. Other McHenry tiny shop tenants The Pieceful Project and Preserved Peculiarities plan on opening new store locations this month in McHenry.

Edge describes her work as “vintage Goth” with themes of skulls, ravens and compasses painted on the pieces with black paint. She refurbishes all sorts of items such as pianos, bars, dressers and tables.

It all started in 2018 with makeovers of pieces for Edge’s own home. She then started to sell custom signs, frames and coasters.

“I didn’t realize how many people would love my stuff,” she said.

Edge finds furniture that is left by homeowners on the side of the road and at thrift stores like the Sparrow’s Nest. In the beginning she worked out of her home, storing pieces in a shed and transporting the furniture with a trailer to her McHenry tiny shop and her booth at the Algonquin America’s Antique Mall.

“We went from a tiny booth to 1,300 square feet in one year,” she said.

Her store opening also is a love story, as she and business partner Josh Larson started dating after working together. They started collaborating after she signed a lease for the Crystal Lake store.

“She was needing some help, so I offered to help her one day and it turned into another day,” Larson said. “Then, it basically turned into every single day for the past four months.”

Larson brought extra experience as he used to have an antique store and works in home remodeling. The couple share the same ambitions and work ethic as they both juggle full-time jobs, all while raising Edge’s newborn baby.

With the larger space, Edge is taking furniture donations and will do pickups of wood furniture, picture frames and other non-fabric home decor items in McHenry and Winnebago counties. Edge said she is excited to be at a busy intersection and hopes to grow even more.

“You can’t miss me,” she said. “I’m excited to be in Crystal Lake.”