NEST: A Passion for Vintage, Antiques & Curating Joy
How It Started
I was eight years old, growing up on Cape Cod, when my father took me to my first “junk shop” on a rainy Saturday afternoon. As we stepped inside, I was immediately enchanted by the dimly lit, cluttered space, where shelves overflowed with bits of history, hidden treasures, and forgotten stories. It felt like a breadcrumb trail leading me somewhere magical. It was the start of an adventure. I was instantly hooked.
On the edge of a table, tucked behind some curled magazines, I spotted a tiny book. Soft in my hands, its worn leather cover had been touched again and again over time. The yellowed pages held a story called The Bear Hunt. Baby bears! I ran excitedly to my dad, who smiled and asked, “Tolstoy, huh? Do you know who Tolstoy is?” I didn’t. All I knew was that I had found a treasure—one that smelled like molasses, one that I still have today.
At the counter, the shop owner told me I had a “good eye.” I stood a little taller, my love for the hunt officially ignited.
Looking back, I realize that day shaped everything that followed. I didn’t know then that throughout my life I would go in many creative directions. Over the years I was employed as an actress, a teacher and a writer. I enjoyed them all. What I didn’t realize then was that I didn’t stand a chance of doing anything that meant more to me than curating special finds and creating beautiful spaces.
A Lifelong Love of Design
As a child, I was always reimagining spaces, constantly rearranging my bedroom and saving my allowance for the ultimate glamour of young me- buying brass and glass tables from The Christmas Tree Shop. I would visit friends’ houses and spend playdates shifting furniture, creating new layouts, and convincing my “collector” parents to declutter and embrace a more thoughtful design. My aesthetic was always about comfort, personality, and creating charming spaces.
When my mother would drag me to a Dennisport holiday home tour full of 1980s pastels and fabric valances, I was eyeing the dark, moody, and eclectic Edward Gorey house across the street. His bohemian, European-inspired interior fascinated me—it was unconventional, timeless, and full of old-world glamour.
The Birth of NEST
In August 2017, my father passed away. I felt an urgency to finally bring my dream of owning a shop to reality. For years, I believed my struggle with severe Dyscalculia meant I couldn’t run a business. Confidence came with age and as I raised my family, restored two antique homes, refurbished furniture, started a small decluttering business, I kept hearing a voice whisper, “If not now, when?”
In February 2018, NEST was born. My first space was just 225 square feet, inside the former police station in Kittery Maine. I taught all week and raced to open the shop after school Friday afternoons and Saturdays. It took off faster than I could have imagined, and I had never felt so brilliantly happy. By the end of the first year, I left one of my teaching jobs to focus on NEST full-time. The following year, COVID hit. Undeterred, I pivoted, posting inventory on Instagram and Facebook offering no-contact porch pickups. I knew as the world reopened, it was time to grow.
NEST Today: A Destination for Vintage Lovers
In the summer of 2020, I expanded NEST, tripling its space and relocating to Portsmouth’s charming West End. I have adored every moment of being here, and the shop has flourished.
Today, I travel year-round throughout New England, Canada, France and Italy to source one-of-a-kind treasures. NEST offers an eclectic mix of vintage and antique home decor, furniture, European finds, lighting, art, local artisan and vintage jewelry, resale fashion, mid-century modern pieces and garden whimsy. Every item I curate has a story, a history, and an energy that is magical. A desk is much more than a desk when it comes from a beloved fifth-generation seaside cottage don’t you think?I’m beyond thrilled that you’ve found NEST. Whether you’re searching for that perfect statement piece, a nostalgic treasure, or something that makes your heart skip a beat, I can’t wait to help you find it. Welcome to NEST—where history meets home, and every piece has a story to tell.
