BOGARI European Contemporary Furniture opened its doors in 2004, a realized dream of Ivet Ivanova and husband Lyudmil. Arriving from Bulgaria in 1997 with master’s degree in finance and years of interior design experience honed in Europe, Ivet soon realized there was a marked absence of high-end Euro-style contemporary furniture in the Upstate. “We felt our store would fill a unique niche in the community.” Ivet was not sure how area residents would respond to this style, but BOGARI has experienced steady growth, especially as trends move toward contemporary design.
Celebrating its 15th Anniversary in a new 15,000-square-foot showroom off of Woodruff Road, BOGARI boasts a selection of both residential and commercial decor options. With over 40 different eco-friendly vendors represented in the store from more than five European countries: Italy, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Norway, BOGARI offers a plethora of furniture choices. In addition, Ivanova offers a few respected Canadian and American-based companies. A strong emphasis is placed on sharing with the customers the importance European manufacturers place on making products free of harmful materials such as fire retardants or chemical-laden foam. “Our European companies have to meet very high safety and environmental standards.”
A recipient of Best of the Upstate Furniture Store/Interior Design and voted 25 Most Beautiful Women in the Upstate in 2016, Ivet prides herself on premier customer service.
“The best thing a customer has ever said to me is that they feel a personal connection with my team and me,” she said.
She and the BOGARI design staff are dedicated to meeting the multi-faceted needs of homeowners, builders and local businesses. The design team works closely with their clients focusing on understanding their vision and providing quality service to create a unique and pleasing environment.
Outside of work, Ivet and her husband, a software engineer, love to listen to music, attend performances at the Peace Center, travel to the North Carolina mountains and spend time with their two grown children. “With one in medical school and the other living in New York, we cherish our family time together,” she said. She occasionally gets back to Bulgaria and other European destinations, but she always returns to Greenville as quickly as she can. “I am pretty busy,” she says with a laugh. “I can’t be away for too long.”
66 Carolina Point Parkway, Greenville | 864.254.0770
bogarifurniture.com
