By MELODY PARKER, Courier Arts / Special Sections Editor

CEDAR FALLS --- Lori Larsen has shopped at Basket of Daisies for many years.

Now she owns the store.

After seeing the "For Sale" sign on the popular home furnishings and gift shop in late December, she decided to purchase the store and move it from Hudson Road to a new location at 208 Main St.

The business was established 30 years ago, originally in downtown Cedar Falls. With her choice of location --- a newly constructed building with old-fashioned character --- Larsen brought the store back downtown, intent on continuing the tradition of offering polished home furnishings, accessories and gifts, but in an upscale environment.

The new digs feature exposed brick walls, soaring ceilings and an inviting ambiance. Moveable walls allow for creative displays, which were built by Larsen's husband, Craig, who owns a construction company.

Larsen worked closely with Sara Wolff and Sandy Bouman, long-time Basket of Daisies employees, on the project.

"It was important to have them onboard. I couldn't have done it without them. We laid everything out on paper to make sure everything fit and was perfect," said Larsen, who holds an interior design degree from University of Northern Iowa. She worked with her husband for more than a decade, and they have three school-aged children.

Larsen said she enjoyed the experience of going to market for the first time with Wolff and Bouman.

"They told me to wear comfortable shoes, that I was going to be worn out and they were right. But it was fun and exciting to choose so many wonderful things for the store."

Sara said one customer described the new Basket of Daisies as "'exquisite.' I thought that was a good word. Everything shows off so much better in this setting."

Bouman agreed. "I'm excited that we can show our customers how things will look in their own homes."

There is plenty of space for the cozy and elegant vignettes of home furnishings such as sofas from CR Lane and a wide variety of fashionable home accessories and gift items the store has been known for, Larsen said.

Bouman still creates her signature floral arrangements, working in a studio in the lower level, which will also be used for seasonal displays.

The holiday season promises to be merry and bright at Basket of Daisies, with traditional Christmas colors of red, green, white, silver and gold mingling with other metallics, as well as lime and aqua for modern touches.

Basket of Daisies is located at 208 Main St., Cedar Falls. The phone number is (319) 277-3286. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Contact Melody Parker at 291-1429 or melody.parker@wcfcourier.com.

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