A love of the decorative arts and a heart for small town retail businesses turned Cheryl Gavitt away from her career at JPMorgan Chase and toward Middleburg, Virginia where she recently opened her refreshingly beautiful shop, WhiteBench. Nestled into a leafy corner location, behind a pristine white porch at 100 East Washington Street, is a seductive mix of crisply cosmopolitan, rustic and romantic pieces that gracefully compliment the classic hunt country scene in this corner of Northern Virginia.

Every room in Cheryl's shop welcomes customers to a wonderland of charming, well-made furnishings and unusual accent pieces that are selected and priced to tempt shoppers of every age and stylish persuasion.

Listening to the attractive, willowy, pale blond enthuse about new lines that are just arriving, it's easy to understand the impact her father, Donald Johnson, had on her current profession. "He owned a men's clothing store in Pontiac, Illinois," she explained. "I worked in the store in the summer and on weekends, and went on many buying trips with him. It was long before Malls killed small downtowns, and I absolutely loved working with him, knowing all our customers and really being part of a small community."

When she moved to the D.C. area twenty years ago, Cheryl was fully engaged in the corporate world where she most recently was a software analyst. Ever since she and her husband, Dave, moved out here three years ago, she's been re-evaluating her career trajectory and realized that she very much wanted to have a shop of her own.

"I've been a passionate decorator for years, and have always deeply submersed myself in books, magazines, samples and styles and I absolutely love it. When I decided this is what I wanted to do, I described it to my husband and he immediately said, '…this sounds like a great idea, why don't you do it?' That was all the encouragement she needed to make a plan. Soon she had a complete vision for her shop including a signature style, a name {inspired by the simple white bench that is one of the first things she bought when she decorated her first home}, a color palette, and a portfolio of the fresh, comfortable mix of furniture and decorative pieces she wanted to offer.

"Everything about the idea appealed to me. I had become passionate about the decorative arts and I really wanted to take a step back from the corporate race. A slower pace of life and an opportunity to work in a truly beautiful small village was deeply appealing to me. I think I've always had a heart for the small retailer. It's what our country was founded on, and there are many people who appreciate and are looking for the personal service that comes with it."

A walk in WhiteBench is a calming stroll through rooms full of comfortable, sophisticated style. Each is decorated in natural colors and textures that positively compel you to sit down on a sofa and reflect on how a perfectly shaped cupboard or an unusual pair of lamps would look in your own sitting room. Cheryl's buying prowess is amply evident in even the smallest items she offers. Sleek glassware, woven wall pieces, amusing and unusual small gifts and a wide range of beautiful candles provide shoppers with many choices in well-priced ranges that fall neatly into the, "….I have to have that!" category.

Service is a WhiteBench hallmark. There is a 100% satisfaction guaranty, and customers may bring anything back that doesn't please them. "Sometimes, you just don't know how a piece will work in your home until you try it. That's why I encourage customers to try it, and, if it doesn't work, they can bring it back at any time. I don't believe in rules and regulations when it comes to shopping. We don't have any!"

"I'll do whatever it takes to make my customers happy," Cheryl says. "We want to provide the very best customer service available anywhere!"

WhiteBench offers C.R. Laine upholstered furniture that Cheryl describes as truly outstanding quality for the investment. Each eight-way, hand-tied, piece is available in over 800 beautiful fabrics. She's having a special promotion to introduce the line and is offering a 15% discount for customers who order before February 29th. "These pieces are truly exceptional," she says. "I know my customers will love them."

Four Seasons furniture with washable slipcovers, another new line that will soon be in available the shop, is an ideal option for young, busy families according to Cheryl. "I believe in comfortable, livable style where you can invite the dogs up to curl up on the couch with you."

This spring, WhiteBench will offer a wide selection of outdoor items with lots of beautiful pots, furniture and decorative pieces. Customers from Leesburg, Washington, D.C., Haymarket, Ashburn, Purcellville, Warrenton and, of course, Middleburg have already discovered WhiteBench. "I'm so happy to have pleased so many people so soon," Cheryl said. "I'm delighted to be part of such a charming and discriminating retail community."

To learn more about WhiteBench Style, visit www.whitebench.com.