Hydrangea Home – A Mother’s Dream Comes True
By Nancy Vallarella
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Mohrmann family
Dawn Mohrmann’s desire to be a stay-at-home mom turned into reality with an “aha” moment 24 years ago. While admiring the rich bounty of hydrangeas blooming throughout the property of her Smithtown home, she said good-bye to a career in insurance and hello to her home-based business aptly named, Hydrangea Home.;)
Long before Joanna Gaines (DIY media goddess and the queen of the Magnolia dynasty), Dawn began creating and curating home décor and lifestyle goods in 1995. Husband Fred’s woodworking and carpentry talents led to Hydrangea Home’s first workshop/showroom. “Our garage had big barn doors. Fred converted the space giving me an area to create and showcase floral arrangements, painted furniture, artwork, and his wood creations. Through word of mouth, customers would stop by and enjoy browsing while their children played on our playground surrounded by the blue, pink, and purple hydrangeas. It was wonderful.” recalls Mohrmann.
Those fairytale moments were accompanied by road travel weekends. From the tines of Long Island’s twin forks to western Nassau County the Mohrmann’s participated in craft events toting babies and toddlers along. By 2006, Hydrangea Home had an online presence with its website www.HydrangeaHome.com and Etsy. Soon packages had to be shipped throughout the U.S.
The family grew along with the business. A second, larger home in Smithtown was purchased. With four children to attend to Dawn had Hydrangea Home’s handcrafted items selling in lifestyle stores in Cape Cod, Mass., Port Jefferson and Greenport, NY. In 2010, Fred Mohrmann’s wood planting boxes and trays became Hydrangea Home’s best sellers.
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Inspiration StationHydrangea Home and the Mohrmann family thrive on nurtured creativity. March 11, 2017, Hydrangea Home became its own brick and mortar actuality complete with its most important feature – the creativity corner. This corner of the store is a vibing “Inspiration Station.” Six days a week you can find owner Dawn Mohrmann painting, arranging, creating among various seasonal flora, paint pallets, and inspirational books. Often joining her are her children Sophia (illustrator), Jake (jewelry designer - Mohr Beads), Max (photography artist), Taylor (macramé designs). The families’ creations are for sale along with 32 other small business lifestyle product providers from the United States. Monthly macramé classes are offered and instructed by Smithtown High School East graduate Meagan Dowling.
Hydrangea Home’s door (side entrance, 146 Main Street, Suite 3,;)
Northport, NY) is open on Sunday & Monday 11am – 5pm. Tuesdays – Closed, Wednesday through Saturday 10am – 5pm. Browse the carefully curated gift items, have a cup coffee and celebrate the store’s 2nd Anniversary!