"We wanted to find a name that would evoke the mood of the store",she said. "And I wanted it to be vague enough to reflect and ability to adapt and change so the business could grow and the name could reflect that."

And so it was Grasmere, the geographical and cultural center of England's Lake District - a gathering place for poets, once described by Thomas Gray as an "unexpected little paradise".

Grasmere - the store in Barrington that is - is a custom design floral business in the European tradition, according to Beth Siqueland-Gresch. Meaning, it is largely influenced by gardens and sculptures.

Beth originally opened the business a few doors down on Maple Avenue. Two years ago, she and Peter married. He is a native of Germany - a Jazz enthusiast who for 12 years has taught at the Music School, Inc. Peter performs in a band called QAZ. He is also enamored with 20th Century pottery and ceramics. It has been the marriage of antique and vintage accessories with custom floral design that has fueled the success of Grasmere. " It has allowed us to be a business that is one of a kind," Beth said. It's the kind of business Peter always dreamt of frequenting. " I always thought it would be wonderful to have a florist who could accentuate antiques," he said. Walk into Grasmere and you are flooded with opportunities. Whether you are looking to accessorize a home or are planning a wedding - Grasmere provides flowers for a limited numbers of weddings each year - everything is arranged meticulously, and according to Peter, every piece or arrangement has a story all its own. And the new digs provide plenty of room. For example, there are at least 150 pieces of pottery on display.

Beth is quick to acknowledge that Grasmere is an upscale operation. There're no bargain basement sales here. But the atmosphere - with soft music in the background - is welcoming. You are encouraged to browse.

" Although this is an upscale store, we cater to anyone who walks through the door", she said. " Whether you are looking for a $ 3 ivy or a $ 3000 piece of furniture..."

Looking around the new surroundings is especially rewarding for the couple. Beth and Peter spent much of this past winter painstakingly transforming the former service station into what it is, in a sense, a work of art.

The work has been worth it. The reviews have been good. People visit - and tend to come again. A healthy economy and a return to traditional values has helped place Grasmere on solid footing. Beth is acutely aware that the items she carries are a luxury for most consumers. But consumers are also more interested in value and quality than ever before. " We are seeing a sense of wanting to cherish the past, people are getting back to a sense of quality," she said.

Adds Peter:"People are tired of mass-produced items that you can pick up everywhere." Another secret to the store's success has been an intensely loyal following. When the couple was busy refurbishing the building this winter, customers often stopped to see how things were coming along. One even brought cookies. "We have an incredibly loyal clientele here in town," said Beth. "And in the summer people stop in between trips from New York to Cape Cod."

With success have comes temptations. Beth has had opportunities to market products in national magazines. She has declined. "Grasmere," she said "is not about churning out dozens of the same thing. It's not about lining up workers in an assembly line. It's about personal service. It's about personal service. It's about being available",Beth said "when a customer walks in with a curtain in one hand."

That's why she will only book one event a week-end. It's a detail business, and she's all about details. It's what the customer expects, and deserves. "Either Peter or I almost always have to be there", Beth said.