Fraîche on The Avenues

About Us

Vickie Blanchard

Vickie Wimberley Blanchard is a North Carolina transplant to Richmond, Virginia who has enjoyed combining family, community and design. As owner of Vickie Blanchard Designs, Ltd for over 16 years, Vickie developed a casual, yet sophisticated style that has been reinterpreted "On the Avenues" at Fraîche where she is co-owner with friend, Lou Gambill.

Vickie is a graduate of Meredith College in Raleigh, NC and holds a Masters degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Her Richmond interests have been focused on the Junior League of Richmond, having served as President; Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Hospital Board, Junior Board and Women's Council; Board Chair of Goodwill of Central Virginia and a number of other community endeavors.

Husband, Dr. Lawrence Blanchard III, and children Whitney and David Blanchard and Berkeley and Adam Martin have all contributed to our "Fraîche" ideas!

Lou Gambill

Lou received her undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry from Longwood University and her post- graduate degree from Roanoke Memorial Hospital School of Medical Technology. She left the field to be able to travel with her husband in his career responsibilities.

Originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia she maintains her ties there through the Ladies Memorial Association and as Regent of the George Washington Foundation. Lou has been an active volunteer in the Richmond community through the years with St. Christopher's School, the Science Museum of Virginia, the Junior Board of the Children's Hospital, the Junior League, the Sacred Heart Center Board, and as a buyer for the May Fair House gift shop at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church for 7 years.

Lou has always been interested in Interior Design but it was at the May Fair Hose that she realized how much she enjoyed finding unique and different items for the shop. She has carried this over into Fraiche and loves to find that perfect item for a customer. "I love the thrill of the hunt"

She and her husband Mark have one son, Mac, who is a Senior at Wofford College.