The cavernous structure on McEvoy Street was once a granary, and its corrugated steel walls and roof with cracked glass skylights are untouched. Remnants of its original use remain, including the massive Pacific Poultry feed mixer in the back and a working 1870 scale just inside the entrance.

Equally striking are the silent sentinels inside: stone sculptures of the Four Seasons, Winged Victory and mermen, all made in France of reconstituted stone.

Some are made from original 19th-century molds. Others are made from newer molds of older pieces, including a pair of Louis XIV-period lions. All are hand-finished, and it takes an expert eye to differentiate them from true antiquities.

Asiel, the floral and art design business, is the creation of two talented people—Jonathan and Linnae Gomez.

Now Willow Glen residents, Jonathan, 25, grew up in the Almaden area and Linnae, 24, in the Santa Cruz mountains above Los Gatos. The two met at San Jose Christian College. After both graduated with degrees in Bible theology, they started working together and became engaged in 2001.

They took their company name from Linnae's middle name, Asiel, which means "creation of God" in Hebrew.

Jonathan's father, Jonathan Gomez Sr., a flower broker in San Francisco, deals exclusively in roses from Ecuador. So these are the only roses used by Asiel Design.

Initially, the couple worked out of a studio in San Francisco and still do some work there.

Jonathan's talents include wrought-iron design work. The kneeler that he conceived for their June 2002 wedding now sits in the shop. The kneeler is designed so couples face one another while exchanging vows.

The kneeler and some of his other wrought-iron designs, including a backdrop and elbow-high candleholders used to create an aisle, are often rented out for weddings, as is the Asial location itself.

Linnae creates the stunning floral creations. For parties and weddings, she pairs the expected with the unexpected. A wedding bouquet may include red chili peppers mixed in with the flowers. A tall, glass vase is turned into floral fireworks, with colorful stems of yellow and orange calla lilies, hot pink Gerber daisies, pink tulips, green and yellow orchids, red and orange roses, and whole lemons and green seed pods shooting up from a clear base while translucent lemon slices float in water. Another one of Linnae's unique designs is a large seashell that becomes the base for an unusual arrangement of both fresh and dried flowers and leaves.

The decision to expand beyond flowers came about when the warehouse on McEvoy Street became available.

"This drew us to stay here, as opposed to going to Los Angeles or San Francisco," Jonathan says.

With business increasing, the two had been looking for a place to expand both the floral and art sides of their enterprise.

"We came in October, and we've been doing some renovation and bringing in the statuary since," Jonathan says.

They formally opened their doors on June 19 with a party that showed off the beauty of the building and their work. Seeing the space transform from late afternoon light to candlelight makes its appeal as a rental space for weddings and parties obvious.

While Jonathan has been working toward creating the look he wants for Asiel, Linnae has continued the floral design part of the business, with a workroom to one side of the warehouse.

"We're different from anyone in San Jose," Linnae says.

"It's really an eclectic use of colors and out-of-the-box designs, while it's still beautiful and unique," says Jonathan, obviously proud of his wife's talents.

Linnae says her favorite compliment of late was when one client said, "Your flowers laugh. They don't look like a funeral arrangement; they're happy flowers."

Most of Asiel Design's business has been for weddings and private parties in the South Bay and in San Francisco. Many times, they freelance for other designers, so they don't always get name credit.

However, Asiel isn't a secret within the wedding industry. The resource directories of both Modern Bride and Elegant Bride magazines describe it as "the floral apex of California."

When weekends bring multiple weddings, Linnae's aunt, Ruth Haniger of Los Gatos, pitches in to help her. Linnae grew up on Bear Creek Road, and her grandparents still live there.

Jonathan, who works with an agent in France to locate antiques and statuary for Asiel, says he hopes when people visit they will feel "like they're walking into Paris in the 19th century. It's another world, a mixture of modern and old."

He strives to have a wide price range, recognizing that not everyone has the budget or the space to accommodate a pair of urns on pedestals for $6,500 or a grand fountain with two lions and two mermen spouting water for $17,500.

Less pricey are soap dishes that double as business-card holders for $10, miniature urns for $24 and larger cast-iron urns for $50.

Asiel's location is already familiar to anyone with an interest in architectural elements. It was the home of Artefact Design & Salvage from 2000 to 2003, before owner David Allen relocated to Sonoma. The Artefact Garden Outlet remains, at 697 W. San Carlos, just over the bridge from McEvoy.

Jonathan is among the fans of Artefact and initially discussed collaborating with Allen, offering floral design services.

When Allen decided to relocate, he suggested Jonathan contact the owner of the warehouse about leasing it.

It took time, Jonathan says, both for Allen to finish moving inventory out and to reach a lease agreement with the building's owner.

Now visitors are drawn to the bounty of architectural finds inside a warehouse that is itself an architectural treasure, whether they are shopping or not.

"Everybody appreciates it, no matter how old or how young they are," Linnae says.

For most, it's a Zen-like experience that invites quiet contemplation with spurts of pleasure to the eye.

Asiel Design is at 245 McEvoy St., between Park Avenue and W. San Carlos Street, San Jose. It's open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday­Saturday. For information, visit www.asieldesign.com or call 408.280.7079.