You may not literally find paradise at Paradise Found in Santa Barbara, California, but you will find a close replica. Imagine small alcoves, each furnished with a wooden garden chair and overstuffed cushions. On the wall beside the chair is a tape player. Thank you very much. Each alcove is painted in a soothing shade of blue, purple, or green.
Customers select a demo tape, put on a headset, and escape from the world.
Although the alcoves look as though they began life as dressing rooms from a previous clothing store, they didn't. Owner Paula Vigneault built them into Paradise Found as an important design element of the floorplan for the store. Uniqueness is achieved in the merchandise selection as well. Silk, hand-painted scarves with beautiful ethnic designs are an example. Available from Zazou, the scarves add color to displays, and the designs are both interesting and unusual.