From a fragrant candle to a whimsical accent piece to some expert design advice, Busted 2 Bangin’ is here to inspire.

HISTORY:  Like so many of life’s best decisions, Eric Jimenez and Garret Loomis’s idea to open a home goods boutique came about by a bit of happenstance. The two, who have been life partners for more than a decade, both had lengthy careers as hair and makeup stylists, so they knew how to make people beautiful. 

When they decided to buy a house together, remodel and sell it, they found just as much enjoyment in giving homes a makeover. “For the past nine years, we’ve been flipping houses,” Jimenez says. 

The Instagram account they launched to document their work went viral, and people began asking for their design advice, leading the pair to start their own design business. Because people so often complimented the home accessories they chose, Jimenez and Loomis began offering some of their favorite objects for sale to their clients. “We bought $2,000 worth of candles and sold out in the first 20 hours,” Loomis relates. “We reinvested in more candles, then some coffee table books, then did a pre-holiday pop-up shop that went really well. Then Eric got the crazy idea to have a real store.” Chimes in Eric: “I pretty much opened the store without even telling him.”

THE NAME:  ”We were hanging out with friends by the pool, during COVID, and the husband had a hat on that said ‘Trash to Cash,’ ” Loomis recalls. “I said if I get you a hat that says Busted to Bangin’ would you wear it? Eric said, ‘That’s funny—write that down.’ ” When they started their Instagram account, they went with Busted 2 Bangin’. “It’s on the younger side and a little cheeky,” Loomis adds. “And it’s what we do. We take busted houses and make them bangin’ again.” When they opened their shop, it made sense to use the familiar name.

THE GOODS: The 1,200-square-foot boutique carries home accessories, from the candles and coffee table books that started it all to lighting, faux botanicals and such fun miscellany as a bunch of alabaster grapes, an acrylic hand sculpture and a quartet of mini candy jars. The shop also carries smaller furniture pieces, such as chairs and occasional tables, and Jimenez and Loomis have a warehouse just two doors away that holds larger furniture pieces. 

“Things come and go quickly, so there’s always something new,” Loomis says. In choosing what to offer, the two rely on their own tastes. “We say, ‘Would we put this in our house?’” Jimenez says. “We’re the most biased. We love everything in our store, and we buy with the intent that if it doesn’t sell, we can use it in our own house.”  

A large part of their success lies in the mix-and-match nature of their products. Pretty much everything in the store is black, white, cream, gold or silver. “You can’t go wrong with that,” Jimenez says. “You can put those colors in any home, from modern to Tuscan
to traditional.” 

THE AMBIENCE: It’s important to Loomis and Jimenez that people feel welcome in their shop. “We sell expensive things, but we also sell things that just make you smile,” Jimenez says. “People feel special even if they only spend $20. We try to remember faces and welcome people back. It’s an upscale place, but it’s also the neighborhood spot to grab a gift. The shop also always smells wonderful, thanks to the wide variety of candles.”

DESIGN ADVICE:  “It’s all about layering. To make your house feel like a home, the textures, the art, the colors should all vibe together and tell a story,” Jimenez advises. Mixing vintage and new pieces gives a home a warm look, too, the designers suggest. Every home needs good art, Loomis adds. “It can be subtle or dramatic, but it can stand as a statement moment,” he says.

WHAT’S NEXT: Loomis and Jimenez are looking forward to opening a second store soon. Plans are still in the dream phase, but Jimenez says he’s looking into options in Paradise Valley or Arcadia. 

LAST WORD:  “The moral of our store is we want you to feel like you’re home,” Jimenez says. “There are so many places to shop around the Valley, so we want to make you feel like this is an experience that makes you feel happy.”

Fast Facts

Owners Eric Jimenez and Garrett Loomis

Opened March, 2021

Location
20831 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 115, Scottsdale

Hours Tues–Sat.
10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Phone (480) 617-1633

Website  busted2bangin.com

Instagram
@busted2bangin