For mother-daughter duo, Carolyn Kalil and Katie Polenzani, the journey to creating their business was born out of a love for a place that’s always felt like home. “Belle Maison really started out of Katie and my love for France,” Carolyn says. “Since Katie was a baby, we traveled all around, but our favorite place was always France. It felt like home, so once she was older, starting a French shop was not a hard decision.” For them, France wasn’t just about the sights or culture; it was about a sense of belonging that they wanted to recreate in their everyday lives.
Katie’s perspective on their connection to France offers even more insight into why it became such an important part of their story. “My mom was a single mom when I was two. She packed up all our bags and moved us to France for a month, which is not an easy thing to do with a two-year-old,” she says. “Since then, we’ve been back many times, and I’ve fallen more and more in love with the country. We’ve always felt a deep connection between the South of France and the American South. Both places share this idyllic, gracious lifestyle with kind people, beautiful meals, and a love of spaces that blend the rustic with the refined. Opening Belle Maison was our way of weaving those shared sensibilities into one place.”
At the heart of Belle Maison is not just this inspiration, but also the deep mother-daughter bond between Carolyn and Katie. “When Katie was little, she was around adults a lot and sort of acted like one from a young age," Carolyn says. "I got to just talk to her like a friend, and I never wanted to instruct her. I wanted to explain the reasons behind the instruction. It never felt like I had to get onto her because our friendship was so close.”
Despite the challenges that often come with working with a loved one, Carolyn and Katie find that their bond only makes their business stronger and more exciting. “We do try and keep our work in the workplace, but we have never had an issue with feeling like coworkers," Carolyn says. "We love getting to spend time together every day and spend most of it laughing. Since we get to do it together, it doesn't feel like work to us. In fact, working together really hasn’t created any challenges. It has just made it even more fun!”
For Katie, the time spent with her mom inside and outside of the store is something she deeply cherishes—a daily reminder of how special their bond truly is. “My advice to any mother-daughter relationship is to not take a second for granted. Every second is a blessing," she says. "And we know how lucky we are to have such a special mother-daughter relationship. But even if it’s your dad, sibling, a grandparent, or anyone else, appreciate every little moment as special.”
For Carolyn, Mother’s Day is a reminder of the special moments she’s shared with her mom and daughter. “When Katie was younger, my parents helped out a lot. Those Mother’s Days spent with my mom and Katie were so special. Just getting to be with them was the best way to spend Mother’s Day.”
Along with a day to enjoy, Carolyn shares the importance of gift-giving for Mother’s Day. “Give yourself enough time to plan something meaningful for your mom," she says. "Don’t wait until the last minute to find something she may not like, and could be given to any mom you know. Think in advance and pick out something she’s been wanting, will use, or really will mean a lot to her.” This philosophy is reflected in their store’s carefully curated products. “One thing that is special about our store is that, since we are a small business, we can be intentional and love engaging with our customers," says Katie. "Hearing about what their moms are like and helping them find the perfect gift is one of our favorite things to do. We filled a lot of the store with things that either reminded me of my mom or reminded my mom of me. So it’s a great place to talk to us, look around, and find something meaningful and specific to each mom.”
This personal touch is what sets Belle Maison apart, making it a place where customers can find truly thoughtful gifts for their loved ones. BelleMaisonStore.com