Meet your neighbor

Name: Sandy Bechthold

Hometown: Chicago. Sandy and her husband, Mark, have been in Coeur d’Alene since 1995.

Occupation: Owner of the Shabby to Chic Shoppe on Fourth Avenue. The shop has been at this location for five years, but Sandy will be moving it to midtown around July 1.

One of her favorite shops in Chicago was called “Material Possessions,” and that served as her inspiration for the Shabby to Chic Shoppe. She loves beautiful things, but doesn’t feel that people should be afraid to “live” in their homes.

Childhood: Sandy grew up living over her mother’s beauty salon. Her father was a Chicago police officer.

Hobbies: Shabby Chic. “For me it’s therapy,” she said. Sandy also enjoys adult contemporary music and reading, particularly history. She is currently reading “The Great White Way,” which is about the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.

Favorite foods: Sandy is a vegetarian, not vegan, as she will have salmon or chicken on occasion. She particularly enjoys Chinese, Mongolian and Thai food.

Why North Idaho: She and Mark came through on a road trip and they liked it.

What she likes best about North Idaho: “Absolutely the people,” she said.