POULSBO — Julie Ayres and the Hood Canal share quite a bit of history, a lifetime actually, so it was only natural that she returned to her childhood for profitable inspiration.

“My grandparents had a business on the Hood Canal in Hoodsport and I kind of grew up in that atmosphere,” Ayres said.

As a child, she spent her summers surrounded by tourists in the seaside resort town, soaking in the sights and sounds, never knowing that she would bring a part of her youth back to life in Little Norway.

While living in Belfair on the south end of the canal, Ayres said she would often come to Poulsbo just to walk around downtown.

“I would walk down to the docks and the water and I felt right at home here,” she said.

When she opened her business, Cedarwilde, next door to Hot Shots Java on Front Street in July, Ayres purchased all of the existing inventory from the former tenant, who specialized in antique furniture.

“I’ve been trying to transition to more of garden furniture with a lot of animal, nature type things,” she said.

In addition to making the inventory transition, Ayres said one of her first tasks was to improve the openness of the store and give it a more natural, earthy feel.

“I wanted to create a relaxed atmosphere and have people feel good when they come in here,” she said.

Her goal is “creating a sense of what matters,” and that has included incorporating lattice work on some of the walls, opening up the indoor gazebo and adding other unique personal touches throughout the store.

“I like people to come in here and find something that speaks to them,” she said.

With a myriad of paintings from local artists, stuffed animals, ceramic pots, lawn furnishings and greeting cards, it’s hard not to find something that catches the eye.

“If they find something that they can be interested in, that makes me feel good,” she said.

Whenever she sees a pair of friends sharing a laugh while reading one of her greeting cards, Ayres said she has achieved her goal.

“I love to talk to people and that’s the best part of it for me,” she said.

From the lone cash register that deftly blends into its surroundings, Ayres greets every visitor with a cheerful “Hello,” ready to give a piece of candy to all boys and girls who arrive with their parents where an old “Cedarwilde” sign hangs overhead.

That old beat-up sign has quite a bit of history to it as well, Ayres notes.

“I found it on top of a burn pile and when I opened this business, it was a natural,” she said.