Marlene Drummond loves everything about beds, especially being in them.
"I'm not sure where this bedroom thing came from, but I love being in bed and all the things that go with that!"
Her idea of heaven is about to open in Arrowtown's newest shopping area on the site of the old Shamrock Hotel on Buckingham Green.
The hotel, built in 1871, has had a major refurbishment and will soon be quite unrecognisable as the old burger bar.
Mrs Drummond is opening what she calls a "pretty Parisian store" selling French-themed furniture, beautiful bed linen and giftware.
She is also planning an interior design consultancy in-store, as well as the sale of fresh flowers.
"I just love French style; I don't do minimalism and I love things that are soft and tactile. I like all the senses to be involved."
A hairdresser in Auckland for 30 years, Mrs Drummond moved to Arrowtown with her husband six years ago.
Her husband used to travel often, and her frustration at his absence led her to a great business discovery.
She wanted to put a valance on her bed, but without his assistance, she could not lift the mattress off on her own, so she designed a clever tuck-in one.
At the same time, she discovered she loved the soft and sensual world of beautiful bed linen and all the pampering bits that went with it.
