Shop Visit: The Flat in East Norwalk, Connecticut

The Flat’s expansive new showroom features soaring ceilings and copious amounts of exposed brick. The restored wooden-backed sofa by Milo Baughman has been reupholstered in Belgian linen.

A large collection of Georg Jensen accessories stands in front of a Madame de Pompadour signed lithograph by Helen Frankenthaler.

A gilt rococo mirror reflects a vintage artichoke-style pendant.

The shop’s brick façade in its new East Norwalk neighborhood welcomes shoppers.

A 1970s sofa receives an update with Robert Kime’s Warwick fabric; it’s paired with iBR3 Wicker Chairs by Tito Agnoli.

The Flat’s ever-changing gallery wall features a mix of contemporary and vintage pieces. Shop owner Becky Goss gave the sofa a makeover by reupholstering it in Robert Kime’s Tazuna fabric. That’s a French cherrywood buffet on the left.

You know your stylish friend who always gifts the perfect present for every occasion? The Flat is her boutique equivalent. The hidden gem has been a go-to destination for interior designers

and those in the know since it opened in 2016, so a move last fall to a larger space was met with much fanfare. The Flat’s new East Norwalk digs, near the train station and in a building that housed a shovel factory in the nineteenth century, are a quick jaunt down Metro North from the shop’s original Westport locale.

While the first boutique brought to mind a chic pied-à-terre, the new space exudes a hip downtown-loft vibe, with its exposed brick walls and rustic wood ceiling. The 3,000-plus-square-foot space houses an extensive collection of vintage furnishings, original art, lighting, and accessories, all curated by The Flat’s owner, Becky Goss. Known for her creative displays featuring sophisticated vignettes, Goss encourages shoppers to envision how each piece would look in their own home.

The expanded store is the latest evolution in Goss’s retail career. “I started my business by selling at a large antique mart, but my dream was always to have a shop of my own,” she says. Her secret weapon is her intuitive design sense. Goss effortlessly achieves the elusive “mix”—much talked about in design circles but often hard to achieve. In one setting, a contemporary Taccia by Flos lamp and ornate rococo mirror top an antique French buffet in an example of classic Goss.

Every item in the shop has a story, and Goss delights in sharing those with customers. She happily chats about why she chose a specific upholstery for a chair, the history behind vintage barware, or where she discovered a piece of art.

While furniture is the focus at The Flat, there are also plenty of accessories at various price points. “I am thrilled when people can take home something they love, the unique piece that makes their home special,” Goss says.

The Flat, East Norwalk, theflatwestport.com