Shop Visit: The Flat in East Norwalk, Connecticut

January 27, 2021

A favorite home emporium makes a move to East Norwalk.

Text by Lynda Simonton    Photography by Jane Beiles

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

 

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