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Avino began her career as a fashion designer in New York City, which she said builds into her creativity and attention to detail. "And I love challenges, like big, crazy windows."
Her two decades of interior design work has included clients all over Bergen County, including Saddle River, Upper Saddle River and Franklin Lakes, and also in places as far afield as Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Florida and California.
But she's built giving back into her business. She periodically holds fundraisers right in her store for a variety of causes -- including Court Appointed Special Advocates, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and CLAWS, the Closter Animal Welfare Society -- where a portion of the proceeds of the retail items sold go to those organizations.
"We're always looking for good nonprofits to work with," Avino told Daily Voice.
She described her interior design business as full-service. "I really do houses from the ground up," she said. Her shop carries every major furniture line, home accessories, tapestries, "exquisite window treatments" and more.
Avino added that the details are terribly important to her, and can make all the difference. And she's brutally honest with clients, she said. "I'll tell them what I think would look terrible, and what would look good. We also work within people's budgets and give them the best value for their money."
Avino does a free initial consultation, to help clients determine the type and scope of the work they want done. Folks should call and make an appointment.
She also does seasonal decorating. Lately, she's been spending time taking down some of the holiday decorations she'd spent time putting up. "I do everything: make garlands, wreaths, floral arrangements."
Avino is also a holistic health practitioner, and she recently started selling her line of holistic health products -- SoulScents -- which include body scrubs, eczema creams, household products and more.
The store also hosts meet-and-greets several times a year, where people can try the design or health products Avino carries, or those of other local vendors. For the holiday season, this included "Mingle Jingle," an event to help younger folks shop for their loved ones.
One of these is coming up, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, a pop-up party for LuLaRoe, a clothing line specializing in comfortable fashion. The event, from noon to 6 p.m., will also feature the debut of the SoulScents spring line. No RSVP is needed.
The shop also hosts wellness parties and private events like birthday parties. On Sunday, Jan. 29, there will be a mother-daughter skin session, where ladies can make their own holistic face scrubs. The details for that are not yet on Facebook or Instagram, but folks can call the shop at 201-825-2232 to register.
Gina Avino Artistic Design is located at 103 E. Main St., in Ramsey. For more information, visit her website or Facebook page.Click here to follow Daily Voice Mahwah-Ramsey and receive free news updates.
