Sacramento is full of vibrant neighborhoods, and every single one has at least a few spots you should explore before buying anything online. For our second Field Trip Friday, the community voted on where to go next — and Fair Oaks won by a landslide.

I love visiting the Night Market at Shangri-La and now I have 4 more reasons to visit the area.

And listen… I swear I didn’t rig the vote just because I live here.

But it has been two years since I left Sacramento for the hills, and I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve never actually visited any of the stores in the town I call home.

Mostly because my space is nearly done.

I don’t need knick-knacks or fillers or another piece of furniture — what I need is a fireplace remodel.

(But that’s a story for another day.)

Still, I made myself a promise this year:

visit every single home and decor shop in the Sacramento area and bring a few adventurous souls with me.

Together, we’re learning, exploring, and building something Sacramento has never had before —

the first and only Sacramento Home & Decor Directory.

A real one.

Built from in-person visits, real conversations, and a whole lot of curiosity.

A guide to the shops and people who make this city special — their stories, their styles, and exactly how they can help you create a home you love.

So what’s inside the directory?

Pretty much everything you need:

– where to source local decor

– what styles each store leans toward

– their general price points

– and the humans behind the counter fighting back against big-box sameness

Here’s where we’ve been so far — and a link to the directory if you want to start exploring too. Link to the directory.

Anyway — we kicked things off at the Fair Oaks Coffee House, the kind of cozy little café that feels like a warm hug and smells like someone there actually cares about their beans.

Fair Oaks is known for three things: bike paths, river access, and roosters that run this town like they pay rent.

Cock is king around here — and if you’ve been, you know exactly what I mean.

We gathered around a big table, coffees in hand, and within minutes the vibe shifted from “strangers cautiously saying hi” to “small but mighty girl gang ready to explore.”

I even spotted a familiar face from our first trip — and a couple of friends-of-friends who are now officially just… friends.

Every time I do this, I’m reminded that design isn’t about the pretty things we put in our homes —

it’s about the people we share those spaces with.

It’s about the memories we make, the inspiration we find, and the creativity that comes from slowing down long enough to pay attention.

These little adventures give us permission to be curious, to look closer, and to build homes that feel like us, not like whatever’s trending online.

And honestly?

My favorite part might just be the shop owners.

They’re always the quirkiest, funniest, most unexpectedly inspiring people — the kind of humans who make you want to go home and rearrange your entire living room.

Here’s where we went — and where you should absolutely go the next time you’re in Fair Oaks hunting for local home and decor at reasonable prices.

Stop #1 — Bungalow

Our first official stop was Bungalow, and let me tell you… you MUST visit every time you’re in Fair Oaks from now on.

Thoughtful curation, high-quality pieces, timeless vintage moments — the kind of shop that makes you whisper “oh my god, look at this” every ten seconds.

If you love a vintage aesthetic, this place is a gold mine.

Clothing, candles, decor, antiques, little treasures everywhere… I could’ve camped out all day.

And the woman working there? Incredible. I’m pretty sure there was wine in her cup — and I sincerely hope I’m right. 😆

Stop #2 — Feathered Nest

This stop wasn’t even planned.

We were literally walking by when we saw the door open and felt the universe tug us inside.

Feathered Nest is part art studio, part antique treasure chest — like stepping inside someone’s creative brain.

Paint-splattered, soulful, nostalgic in the best way.

The next time you’re in Fair Oaks, go say hello.

The energy is warm, the people are friendly, and it genuinely feels like discovering a hidden chapter of the town.

Stop #3 — Fair Oaks Village Decor

Then we headed over to Fair Oaks Village Decor, where we met the owner — Colby, a man with more personality than the entire HomeGoods decor aisle combined.

The space is a former house turned antique + secondhand shop.

Inside: vintage decor, art, furniture from every decade.

Outside: even more furniture and surprises.

My favorite part?

Colby himself.

Warm, hilarious, animated, and deeply proud of what he’s created.

At one point he offered to sell me a $600 Facebook Marketplace-worthy table for $50. I still might go back for it.

Inside, Charity and Mckaylee were trying on authentic Japanese kimonos with Colby while Tanna, Miriam, Courtni, Amelia, and I talked about our homes, our styles, and how crafty this group of women really is.

And speaking of crafty — one attendee is an art therapist, and once you notice her handmade sweater, you can spot it instantly.

If you’re curious, check out Miriam and the work she does at Clay Collaborative (1508 F St, Sacramento). No, it’s not pottery — it’s therapy, and it’s beautiful.

We said goodbye to Colby and our new shop friends and continued toward our last stop when it happened — one of those moments that feels placed in your path.

The Serendipity Stop — Sam’s House

We were walking down the street when we heard Disney’s Jungle Cruise music blasting… from a Japanese-style home with ornate details everywhere.

As we approached, the owner stepped outside holding a plate of fresh mandarins like he’d been expecting us.

“What’s with all the cameras?” he laughed.

His name is Sam Du Bose — a voice actor with the warmest presence and the most eclectic, magical property I’ve ever stumbled onto by accident.

He talked to us for a solid 15 minutes — storytelling, joking, sharing the vision behind his home — and reminding us that field trips aren’t really about stores.

They’re about surprises, people, and the stories you don’t get when you shop online.

And guess what?

We’re not the only ones who noticed Sam’s house. Comstock’s Magazine just published an article about his 1938 bungalow.

After reading it, I’m convinced I need a four-hour conversation with him.

If you’re curious, his home sits on the corner of Winding Way & Fair Oaks Blvd.

Go experience the magic.

Our Final Stop, #4 — French in the Village

Our final stop was French in the Village, tucked across from the famous Sunflower Cafe (the one that always has a line wrapped around the building).

It’s easy to miss — it’s literally a house turned shop — but inside you’ll find:

✨ French-inspired decor

✨ Soft palettes and relaxed elegance

✨ Curated corners

✨ A surprisingly fun and colorful upstairs clothing section

It was quiet, peaceful, and the perfect way to close out the day.

The Feelings Part (aka the part where I get sentimental)

As the field trip wrapped up, I felt that familiar tug — the “I don’t want this to be over” feeling.

Real-life connection hits different when you’re someone who works from home with three cats while the kids are at school and Rico’s at work.

But it had to end, so it did.

And I’ll be honest… I struggled with this weird feeling afterward that maybe we didn’t see enough.

Maybe I didn’t give the group enough to learn or take home.

But then it hit me:

We scratched Fair Oaks off the list.

We explored new places.

We met incredible people.

We built community.

And that’s the whole point.

It doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to happen.

A Love Letter to the Crew

To Amelia, Charity, Courtni, Mckaylee, Miriam, and Tanna —

thank you for showing up, being fun, sharing stories, and reminding me why community matters.

Design is cool.

But this — the people, the conversations, the energy — this is the magic.

Want to Join the Next Field Trip Friday?

We explore a different Sacramento community every month.

(But not in December — the weather is unhinged and also I’m getting hitched. Yippeee!)

If you want to learn, laugh, design better, and meet genuinely incredible humans — come with us.

This is your invitation.

👉 Join the next one or get on the email list for updates.

The Fair Oaks Home & Decor Crawl You Didn’t Know You Needed