Every store should have a mantra. A short, concise thought that speaks to the store’s essence.

“We hate kittens.”

At IF+D, that mantra takes on a comically sadistic tone. To get offended is to misunderstand Kristen Boling, as she walks you past authentic Enron legal pads and sushi erasers, explaining that “to hate kittens is to be a badass.”

IF+D, a furniture, flooring and design store in Austin’s burgeoning 2nd Street warehouse district, was hatched three years ago on a piece of large-square graph paper by Kristen’s 5 1/2 year old daughter. “She drew up the original floor plan. It was all her vision too, although we‘ve yet to offer free guinea pigs and mermaid costumes”, says Kristin.

We’ve yet to offer free guinea pigs and mermaid costumes.

It’s exactly that sense of genuine irreverence that allows IF+D to tread the fine lines between design and comfort; exclusivity and accessibility. Place these same one-of-a-kind furniture pieces in different hands and the result might not be so inviting. Might not be so warm.