Anne Dittmeir is no stranger to the world of interior design, antiques and home fashion. This former advertising executive at Microsoft has been collecting and consigning for years now — but she’s conducted all of her business online at http://kitschandcouture.com and http://AMDInteriors.com.
But this summer, she’s trying the good old-fashioned way of retail sales, renting a space in the back of on Main Street in Greenport to show off several of her mid-century and vintage furniture pieces, decorative objects, jewelry and clothing.
“I love walking through Greenport,” said Dittmeir, who splits her time between New York City and the village. “It’s very social, and having the retail space is just a different opportunity for me outside of media.”
Working with Gallery 429 owner, Barbara Bartoloni, Dittmeir is now immersed in what seems to be a blossoming local scene for vintage and antique retailers in the village. Both Main Street and Front Streets are home to several of these retailers — Patch recently covered the relocations of the and to Front Street. Like the owners of those establishments, Dittmeir is also trained in interior design and estate sales and offers those services to North Fork clients.
“Being in advertising all these years has come in handy,” she said. “I have a good idea of the value of things, what will and won’t sell.”
Dittmeir, 43, is a native of Babylon and began work in digital ad space for Microsoft in 1999. She incorporated her design skills for the company, designing houses in the Hamptons and Shelter Island specifically to entertain Microsoft clients. In 2003 she went to school at the New York School of Design to enrich that side of her career path.
And she’s hoping the jump from digital to brick-and-mortar will also give her retail gig in collectables a boost.
“Each individual sale is different, and it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “You never know what you’ll get each day.”
Gallery 429 is located at 429 Main Street in Greenport.
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