Celebrating 10 Eventful Years - Our Founders Story

2026 marks ten years of The French Eclectic—which honestly feels both wild and deeply earned. What started as a creative outlet (and a solution to our very real sofa addiction) has grown into a business that’s taken us on the adventure of a lifetime.

Over the years, we’ve stretched, stumbled, evolved, and followed inspiration wherever it led. Some seasons felt electric. Others were just plain hard. Every one of them shaped the business we run today.

So before we share what’s next, it feels right to go back to the beginning—to the people, the ideas, and the friendship that set everything in motion.

Co-founders, Theresa Dulken and Katie Roberts in 2016

The 'Meet Cute'

They met the old-fashioned way—at a bar. A serendipitous encounter that turned into a decade-long friendship and work-wifey partner. 

Theresa had just moved to Charleston and was on a mission to find her 'people'. She was quick to make friends. Her uninhibited and magnetic nature had a way of bypassing the small talk and getting right to the good stuff.

Katie, a spirited New Englander, had moved to Charleston a few years earlier. A passionate creative thinker, she was energized by big ideas and the kind of conversations that happen once you get past the surface.

The initial pickup line is unclear, but Theresa struck up a conversation with Katie and after a string of good belly laughs and bonding over their love for thrifting and ‘old crap’, they made it official - ‘I guess we have to be friends now!’

For the next year, they conspired. Big ideas. Entrepreneurial dreams. A lot of scheming over long walks and thrifting road trips. Somewhere along the way, the idea of building a business together started to feel real.

At the time, Theresa was working as a sales manager for a vintage transportation company, and was uniquely tapped into Charleston’s wedding and events scene. Katie had been an event planner in Boston for many years and had spent nearly a decade sourcing vintage finds for her online retail boutique, Frenchie Vintage. Between them, they saw an opportunity. The Charleston events industry was booming - but the rental options felt…safe. Predictable. Beige.

They didn’t want beige.

In the fall of 2015, they bought their first sofa. Then another. Then a few more pieces—using every spare dollar they had until they felt like they had just enough to call it a collection.

With roughly 15 rental items, a freshly launched website, and furniture stored in their apartments, The French Eclectic officially opened for business. Their first booking? A pair of vintage parlor chairs for a Valentine’s Day wedding. This was truly thrilling - they had just booked their first client! 

The early days were scrappy in the truest sense. Their growing collection lived in a borrowed office space in front of a friend’s mechanic shop—think overstuffed antique store, minus the charming merchandising.

Katie and Theresa wore every hat. Sales. Sourcing. Marketing. Delivery. They did all the heavy lifting—literally. They got comfortable behind the wheel of a box truck and learned, firsthand, how to navigate busy loading zones, tight timelines, and the logistical puzzles that comes with event day.

In 2017 they landed what still feels like their first big break. A call came in from the producers of a brand-new festival debuting in Charleston—High Water Music Festival. They wanted The French Eclectic to be the decorators for the backstage artist areas.

Up until then, their work had lived mostly in the wedding world. Stepping into a large scale project like this one felt like an exciting challenge. They were tasked with designing and fully furnishing the backstage artist lounges, creating spaces that felt comfortable and inviting for musicians to unwind.

That single vote of confidence opened the door to design work across the East Coast—outfitting premium VIP and backstage areas for events like Bonnaroo, Forecastle, Railbird, South Star and local favorites Riverfront Revival and High Water.

Backstage at High Water Music Fest (2017)

Bonnaroo FE Team (2025)

With weddings and music festivals now forming the backbone of their work, the collection continued to grow. The warehouse expanded, the opportunities opened up, and what began as a creative side venture slowly became something more intentional—rooted in experience and a deeper understanding for how to bring a client's vision to life.

Today, The French Eclectic is powered by an incredible team of bad-ass humans who care deeply about the work and the clients we serve. What started as a two-woman show has grown into a tight-knit Frenchie crew who bring the same hustle, grit, and commitment to making every detail count.

Ten years later, we’re still a quirky bunch of color addicts—obsessed with old crap and chasing the thrill of the hunt! Thank you for trusting us over the years, we're so grateful for the support. Cheers to ten more years friends!