Homefront: Snapshot: Kennet Square
It may be better known for mushrooms than living rooms, but Kennett Square is shining the spotlight on home decor with a crop of stores full of imaginative furnishings and accents. Although many of the buildings in the borough are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, downtown shopping yields plenty of state-of-the-art design.
At Equinox Jewelry & Gifts (610-444-8275), owners (and siblings) Carol and Donald Hope favor artisanal objects, such as hand-painted stemware, and jewelry. Californian Andra DuRee’ Martin gives gourmet fused-glass dishes a sweet touch by embellishing them with images of cannoli, chocolate-dipped strawberries and other treats.
Full of pieces like wood-and-wrought-iron tables topped with rice paper, Cenzia Arts & Gifts (610-444-9255) is a haven for original, handmade ceramics, lamps, furniture and design. And shopping here is a tranquil experience, thanks to the selection of glass “witch balls,” traditionally used to ward off evil spirits and bring peace to a home.
Chansonette Flowers & Art (610-925-3656) bursts with a mix of oriental silks, vintage vases and flower arrangements made in the full-service floral shop. An aviary of colorful finches—the store pets—adds to the playful atmosphere, first announced by a welcome flag outside the eggplant-colored door that states: “Never Ever Boring.”
For anyone with a thirst for antiques, or for fresh-brewed coffee, Nesting Feathers (610-444-7181) serves up both. Its 10 or so stalls hold everything from an 1800s Chinese apothecary chest to sparkling chandeliers. Take a shopping break at Harrington’s Coffee Co. (610-444-4120) inside the shop and sample a pastry or a homemade dessert.
Two miles away from downtown, but still close to its heart, is Home & Garden Culture (610-388-6300). Housed in the onetime home of Longwood Garden’s former director, Everit Miller, this shop has landscape expertise running through its veins. Wander among Sculpture Alley or Enchanted Garden to get your fill of funky ornaments, such as seven-foot-tall giraffes made of recycled steel, Haitian metal wall art fashioned from recycled oil drums from Zimbabwe, and freestanding water fountains for walls and tabletops
