Eleish Van Breems Opens a New Shop

The new Westport location of Eleish Van Breems Home showcases Thayer Coggin furniture including these Bubble Swivel chairs

Tommaso Barbi Rhubarb Leaf sconces from the 1970s make a bold statement, while a Gustavian tall case clock strikes a quieter note.

A French Brutalist-style table flanked by vintage chairs upholstered in Josef Frank fabric demonstrates the art of the mix evident throughout the store.

After years of searching, Rhonda Eleish found Josef Frank’s Eldblomman wallpaper during a late-night online search.

The store’s first floor is anchored by a floating staircase designed by Brooklyn-based architect Robert Marino and fabricated by Astec Bronze in Treviso, Italy.

Eleish Van Breems Home, well-known by design aficionados for its Scandinavian-inspired decor, recently opened its doors on Westport’s Main Street. Founded by lifelong friends and business partners Rhonda Eleish and Edie van Breems, the boutique offers a selection of furniture, antiques, and accessories that reflect the duo’s passion for craftsmanship and European style.

Van Breems and Eleish’s partnership began with a single antique shop in Woodbury three decades ago; over the years, it has evolved into a full-fledged lifestyle brand with locations in New Preston and on Nantucket, Massachusetts. (There are also three trade showrooms in Westport.) The new flagship builds on that tradition, showcasing a mix of vintage and contemporary pieces that appeal to a broad range of clients—regardless of age.

“We want a child to be able to come in, see something they love—something beautiful, made someplace special, well designed—and ask their mother to buy it for them,” says Eleish. “The smaller pieces are a gateway to visit us again and again.”

Housed in an eighteenth-century building at 177 Main Street meticulously restored by van Breems and Eleish, the shop pays homage to past occupants—most notably the beloved Remarkable Book Shop—while reflecting a fresh design viewpoint. Original chestnut beams from the 1760s lend warmth and character, and contemporary statements like bronze doors and a floating staircase demonstrate the duo’s ability to blend old and new.

“It is so energizing for us to be on Main Street, and we’ve always wanted to restore The Remarkable,” notes van Breems. “I have a long history and many happy memories there.”

Aside from being a design destination, van Breems and Eleish want the location to foster a sense of community. Downstairs, a reading area, wrapped in cardamom-hued bookshelves, encourages lingering, while a fika bar provides shoppers with Scandinavian-inspired refreshments. Outside, a large courtyard will host events and design conversations in warmer weather. Eleish Van Breems Home, Westport, evbantiques.com