What, When, Where: Shopping Concord

By Lynda Simonton 

Since this is my first blog post as New England Home’s new online and market editor, I thought I’d take a personal approach and share some of my favorite shopping spots in Concord, Massachusetts, which is in my backyard. Concord Center boasts classic New England charm, with a variety of independent shops from a hardware store that miraculously seems to have everything you need to chic fashion boutiques. It makes a great destination, particularly if you feel like visiting some historic sites along with your shopping.

The interior design scene has been gaining steam over the past couple of years and there are some great gift and design shops that are well worth a visit.

Head up the steps to Nesting on Main and you are in for a charming surprise. This shop has a well-curated collection of vintage finds, including hotel silver, prints, and other treasures. There are also of plenty of new items that have a vintage feel and reflect the store’s neutral and silver palette.

Nesting has a variety of nooks and rooms that delight at every turn. I love heading to the back room to check out their collection of natural objects—turtle shells, heart-shaped rocks, antlers, and other items that evoke the feel of a cabinet of curiosities.

Photos by Elsa Simonton

Comina has five shops located throughout New England. They carry many items created by local companies such as Dash & Albert and Mariposa. The store is also a great source for custom upholstered pieces, rustic furnishings, and a variety of hostess gift items.

On a recent trip, I spotted some floor mats made of recycled bits leftover from a flip-flop manufacturer. These colorful mats would be perfect for the spring thaw ahead. Soft, brightly colored bamboo throws from Pür Cashmere were a welcome sight on a dreary winter day.

Hatch, on Walden Street, is a refreshingly modern shop amidst the more traditional stores in Concord. It has everything from whimsical baby clothes to beautiful tableware, all with a lively mix of bright colors and clean lines, and often a dash of wit. Well-known brands like Marimekko and iittala sit alongside lesser-known classics-in-the-making.

There are several nice vintage and antique shops in town, including Thoreauly Antiques, Upstairs Antiques, and North Bridge Antiques. All three locations have a broad selection of classic New England antiques. While there are some furnishings, the majority of items tend to be prints, tableware, and other decorative pieces. All of them have friendly staff, and you’ll undoubtedly be rewarded with an interesting find if you take the time to do a bit of poking around.

I visited North Bridge Antiques this past weekend and spotted some quirky pieces I loved, including a pair of black owl andirons, super-sized wooden chess pieces, and a beautiful Chinese antique brass-and-jade box. The chess pieces have been on my mind ever since—I may just have to snag those for my mantel!

As New England Home’s new online and market editor, I’ll be doing a lot of work on this blog. I look forward to meeting many of you out and about in New England. If you have comments or ideas about shops, people, or topics you’d like to see us cover, please email me at lsimonton@nehomemag.com or follow me on Twitter (@LyndaSimonton) to connect!