Business Profile Unique Interpretations, Mahopac
DAVID PROPPER PHOTO
When Chip Rahe does carpentry work, he doesn’t want to be limited to a certain mold or design.
After 20 years as a carpenter in which he would mostly board up homes and other cut and dry tasks, Rahe decided to open his own store that would lead to a more innovative side to him. For the past month, Unique Interpretations in Mahopac has been offering furniture, lighting, and other home décor with a twist.
“It’s a more creative outlet,” Rahe said. “So I’ve always been kind of artsy and taken some art classes in the past so this is more geared toward that.”
Rahe had an artistic side to him dating back to his teenage years, taking commercial art in high school and stating he’s a better drawer “than the average Joe.” For years, he worked for himself or others doing typical housing work, waiting for an opportunity to change gears.
During those years, he would put together creative furnishing pieces when he had the time for his own enjoyment and friends would always encourage him to sell them. Once he stocked up enough invitatory, he finally decided to find a small storefront.
Rahe has an extensive set of wall creations, including a wide variety of road signs and license plates. Customers and friends will ask if the signs he acquired were done so legally, but Rahe pointed out house tag sales, flea markets, auction, and craigslist have anything he could ever need.
“It’s amazing how many people have signs at their house,” he said, noting when he goes to a tag sale and asks for a road sign, the homeowner is quick to pull one out.
Besides signs, vintage comic books, and multiple beer and soda caps can be framed, and lamps with different interesting bases attached to them are also a trademark of his. Run of the mill antiques are also available.
Right now, Unique Interpretations has a tiny storefront, perhaps one of the smallest in town, but it works well for Rahe because much of his work is custom that isn’t created yet. Many of the items on display spur on other ideas for people visiting the store.
Customers can bring Rahe an idea and from there, the creation comes to life. He’s willing to install certain furnishing at a person’s home or deliver an item if the customer can’t fit it in their vehicle.
Customers can pick what they’d like the picture frame to be and how wide, the stain color and base color and type of base. It’s completely up to them, with Rahe as the ultimate creator.
“Instead of settling for a piece that you want, you actually get the piece you want because you’re getting your input on it,” Rahe said. “You’re limited by nothing but your imagination and wallet as far as I’m concerned.”
