Ford + Elm proprietor, Porsche Poltl, is all about the community in her chosen city of Temecula. “I love it here. My why is community,” says the former teacher who opened her popular home goods and décor shop last year. “I wanted to create a place where people can come together, discover local artists and where friendships can be made. I care about the Earth and I am motivated by keeping things out of landfills and finding them another purpose,” Poltl says. “And I always try to source local first - I think that’s really important,” she says.
Poltl’s popular store, located in Temecula’s up and coming Uptown Arts District off Jefferson Avenue, carries a variety of home goods that are “California Casual in style and elevated yet approachable,” including furniture, lighting, textiles, home décor, candles, glass and barware, clean beauty products, a flower bar and one of a kind vintage pieces from around the world.
“I love and am inspired by European art and antiques, anything mid century or vintage – Danish, French, Belgian. My grandmother got me into antiques – she still had things from her grandmother. I’m a very sentimental person – I love the stories behind everything. I remember the very first piece I ever purchased – a chest of drawers. And I still have my great grandmother’s wedding dress.”
Poltl searches high and low for the carefully curated items in her shop. “I spend at least 10 days every year at the international antiques fair in Round Top, Texas. Every time I go, I’m so overwhelmed by the amount and variety of items they have there. Then I’ll see something that inspires me and I’ll start buying,” she laughs.
Poltl credits her husband, a loan officer, for his staunch support of her thriving business. “I fly out to Austin in mid January and spend my time looking for beautiful, unusual pieces, shopping, making deals and then my husband flies out to meet me. He picks up all my purchases, packs them up and then drives them back home in a trailer while I fly home,” she chuckles. “He’s a wonderful supporter of my business. It works really well.”
In addition to showcasing the work of more than 15 local artists in her shop, Potl says, “I’m also very excited about our partnership with Lee Industries. “We are one of only a handful of locations that can offer clients made to order sofas, chairs, ottomans and dining chairs from this renowned and well respected company – and all their products are made right here in the USA.”
After originally planning to name her shop after her two sons, Poltl had to regroup. “When I told my boys I wanted to name my shop after them, they said ‘No way, mom!’” Poltl laughs. “So I really thought about it and instead I chose two streets that I lived on during important times in my life - Elm Court in Mission Viejo where I grew up and Medford Road in Temecula where I raised my kids.” And Ford + Elm was born. And others are taking note. “I’ve received some interest from a few big names in the TV design world about a possible collab,” Poltl says. “But I can’t talk about it just yet.”
“Many of my very design-forward clients have been driving to LA and San Diego to shop for elevated design pieces. We’ve got some really great interior designers, crafts and tradespeople and artists right here in Temecula,” Poltl says. We have it all in Temecula. I want to tell the world, ‘We’re here! No need to go anywhere else!’”
"I always try to source local first. I think that's really important."