Notes from the Field: Chez Bohème, Shelburne, VT

By Karin Lidbeck Brent

On a recent trip to Shelburne, Vermont, my eye was pulled toward a window ablaze in color with painted antiques. This unexpected surprise, Chez Bohème, is an exciting home design shop tucked into the center of this quintessential New England village.

Upon walking in, I discovered the colorful world and artfully uninhibited style of designer Jennifer Blanchard. 

Photos by Karin Lidbeck Brent

While traveling the world for twenty years, Jennifer developed a love affair with color and started collecting ethnic textiles from Africa and the Far East. Three years ago, she took a bold step and opened a home decor boutique which showcases her joyful style inspired by foreign and mysterious cultures. 

I love her use of vibrantly patterned textiles, like this antique Sari covering a classic wingback armchair.

African Dutch wax-print fabrics are reinvented brazenly over many forms of furniture with very exciting results. 

Her shop is filled with her own fantasy creations, salvaged furniture painted and distressed in hot colors, chairs upholstered in exotic fabrics, mixed with rugs from Turkey.  There are no rules. Her passion is designing “joyful moments” using a liberal dose of saturated colors, and an unorthodox blend of style and genre.

Handmade Uzbek silk Ikat shades by Chez Bohème filter through the store. As Jennifer says, ”Let the gypsy within you splurge!”

This beautiful and gloriously embroidered Suzani from Uzbekistan is made into an intense folding screen. It will provide a fabulous visual punch in any space.

To visit or find out more, visit chezboheme.com.

Jennifers’s designs are also available in her Etsy store.