What does JUX•TA•POSH even mean?

Jux ta what?!
What does that mean? How do you say it? Am I saying it right?

I get these questions all the time, and I totally get it! It doesn’t roll off the tongue at first… but once you know it and get it, you LOVE it. Over the years, I’ve heard just about every creative pronunciation imaginable. With a name as common as Kimberly, I never understood what it was like to have a name that wasn’t said correctly on the first try. So, to all the Kiannes and Leilanis of the world, I get it now!

Some people try to make it sound French, which cracks me up because we are not that fancy. Others add an “NKS,” turning it into something that sounds like JUNKS-TA-POSH. My own husband was guilty of that one! For years he pronounced it that way until he finally decided to just call it JTP to avoid any further butchering. Ha!

So let’s break it down. The correct way to say it is JUX, which rhymes with luxe. TA, like ta-da! And POSH, like the Spice Girl. JUX-TA-POSH. JUX that simple! (See what I did there?)

The name comes from the word juxtaposition, the unexpected combination of two opposites placed together to create something interesting. In the shop, it means the unexpected pairing of salvage and style. It’s old and new coexisting in a way that feels beautiful and meaningful. A rusty metal can holding vibrant flowers on your entry table. Your grandmother’s passed-down bedroom suite dressed in fresh new linens. A beat-up workbench reimagined as a modern desk or kitchen island. It’s about repurposing, reimagining, and reliving pieces from the past in a fresh, modern way, so they can be loved all over again!

I get so excited thinking about the creativity, ingenuity, and truly outside-the-big-box-store thinking that Juxtaposh inspires. When you walk through the original old doors and into the exposed brick backdrop, you’re encouraged to be anything but “big box catalog, page nine.” This is about creating a home that reflects you and your family, mixing what’s meaningful to you with something new that makes your heart happy every time you see it! It’s the perfectly curated mixed with the perfectly imperfect. Character paired with poise. These elements work beautifully together in any style you claim as your own. That’s what I love most about Juxtaposh: it can be every style and one style all at once! Farmhouse, industrial, chic, traditional, modern, urban… all blended together. Don’t feel boxed into a single label. Instead, define your style by what makes you smile!

Over the years, Juxtaposh has grown and evolved. I started with only salvaged items; treasures pulled from barns, fields, and flea markets, because that’s what I knew, what I could afford, and what I loved to save. Some people save animals; I save junk. I see something abandoned, abused, or neglected and think, I’ll save you. I’ll clean you up and find you a home that will love you. Not quite as noble as saving animals, but it's my passion.

In 2016, I decided to start adding new items to the mix. I placed small orders that stretched my budget and pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it changed everything, and I LOVED it! Pairing new pieces with older, forgotten ones made them come alive again and gave them purpose. Gorgeous linens transformed old European beds. New dishes made beautifully carved tables feel ready for family gatherings once more. Just like a home, the shop has evolved while staying true to its roots. Today, you’ll still find old mixed with new. You’ll still see pieces that have been loved for decades, paired with gorgeous brand-new decor!

So back to the name: JUX-TA-POSH. What does it mean? It’s a feeling. An experience. A mixture. It’s hard to explain and wonderfully unique, just like you and me! And like anything you grow fond of, we've given it a nickname: JUX.

So if you feel funny saying it, just call it JUX… or better yet, your new happy place.