Whether you’re furnishing an empty place or just looking for a few new pieces to update a room, shopping for furniture and décor can be overwhelming. Big-box stores offer endless selections and inventory at the expense of soul and quality. Meanwhile, secondhand stores tend to be disorganized, requiring patience and dedication to find hidden gems.
For those who want the environmental benefits and affordability of a thrift store and the curated shopping experience of a boutique, enter Curio Consignment Furnishings.
Jane O’Herron opened Curio in May 2025. Her goal? To provide a place where Boulderites could consign their gently used pieces and accessories instead of throwing them away, while simultaneously offering a stylish showroom where shoppers can discover high-quality furnishings at a reasonable price.
“I describe the mission as local, soulful and sustainable,” O’Herron says. “These items have a story but also value and use. It’s a more sustainable way of living, and these pieces are more accessible because they are gently used.”
A real estate agent with PorchLight Real Estate Group who has called Boulder home for decades, O’Herron has always loved homes and interiors. In the early 2000s, she operated a showroom at the Denver Merchandise Mart. Her inspiration for Curio came from Clutter, a furniture consignment store operated by Patty Ross in Boulder that closed in 2021.
“I missed having a place to look for fun treasures I didn’t know I needed,” O’Herron says.
She knew Boulder could use another furniture consignment store—and she had the blessing and mentorship of Ross. All she needed was the right location.
That turned out to be a historic brick building on 15th Street between Arapahoe and Canyon Boulevard. Close to Pearl Street but with ample parking, the historic building is all beautifully weathered brick, with wood beams framing the vaulted ceiling and a warm wood floor. The setting, which is flooded with natural light and spans three spacious rooms, provides the perfect backdrop for O’Herron’s vision to come to life.
“When I saw that space, that’s what catapulted Curio,” she says.
For O’Herron, curating the ambience of her shop is her favorite part of the business. “I want it to be a fun, welcoming space to spend time and hang out. I want people to actually sit on the furniture,” she says.
Since the inventory rotates almost every day, customers can return frequently and always find something new—whether it’s a designer couch, an accent lamp, a mirror or glassware.
New pieces are constantly coming and going, so you never know what you’ll find at Curio—but you can rest assured that each piece has been hand-picked by O’Herron for style, functionality and quality. Expect everything from chairs and tables to desks and shelving to dressers and benches, as well as serving pieces and glassware, lamps, rugs, art, décor and more.
Recently sold pieces include beautiful and sought-after Arhaus sofas, a Natuzzi red leather sectional that didn’t even last 24 hours in the shop, Serena & Lily benches and counter stools and a gorgeous eight-foot-long French country dining table.
O’Herron makes consigning easy. While folks are welcome to bring small pieces to the store, those with heavy pieces can email over photos for her review; she can do home visit walk-throughs to say yes or no to things. She partners with a list of trusted movers who can then assist with getting the piece to Curio. Items have 60 days to sell; commission is then split 50-50. And if the piece doesn’t sell, customers can either retrieve it or O’Herron will donate it to charity.
“It goes back to our mission statement, to keep it local and sustainable,” she says. “Recycling the furniture instead of disposing of it is important to keep it out of landfills.”
And for shoppers who do find a large piece to take home, those same trusted movers can assist with delivery—another sustainability win considering that the majority of furniture is manufactured and shipped from overseas.
So far, business has been great. “Everyone has been so supportive and enthusiastic, bringing stuff in and stopping by,” O’Herron says.
Boulder, of course, is the ideal setting for a shop like Curio. Not only is the community very environmentally conscious, but there are also lots of folks with great taste and beautiful, functional pieces. While O’Herron envisions hosting community events and gatherings at Curio in the future, for now, the shop is open Tuesday through Sunday. curioconsignment.com
No Plain Jane – 3 Decorating Tips from O’Herron
Mix and Match
We all may need to visit a big-box store occasionally. But, beyond the basics, O’Herron recommends looking for quality vintage pieces to add soul to a room. No need to stick to one designer or era—have fun and mix old and new pieces to give your space timeless character and charm.
Add Color Without Commitment
Vibrantly colored sofas may be trendy, but for color without the long-term commitment, O’Herron looks to throw pillows, blankets and rugs. If your anchor pieces are neutral, swapping out accents can change the entire color palette of a room while adding a sense of coziness and comfort.
Light the Way
Harsh overhead lights can kill the vibe in any room. O’Herron recommends adding light sources at multiple heights—table lamps, floor lamps, pendants and more—for extra dimension. Bonus: Beyond illumination, remember that lamps can also double as décor and can easily be swapped out to change the feel of your space.
This story originally appeared in Travel Boulder’s winter/spring 2025-26 print issue. Read the full magazine online.
