Chic and Cool in the Country, Upscale Finds Down-Home

Chic and Cool in the Country: UPSCALE FINDS DOWN-HOME

BY MARCIA HEATH

Waldo County—with its small farms and busy harbor— evokes a raw natural beauty that’s matched by the rugged individualism of the people who live and work here.

Sure, we appreciate the finer things in life, but not necessarily in ways that follow current trends in conspicuous consumption. Around these parts, a sturdy canvas tote carries as much status—if not more—than a Gucci bag, and in our shops and homes, well-priced luxury items sit on shelves next to everyday essentials.

Given the Belfast area’s current hip caché, it may or may not be surprising how many premium goods and services are packed into this region. For this round-up, we looked for exceptional service, exclusive wares—and a differentiating “cool factor.” It’s so nice when you don’t have to trek to a big city for bohemian glam, artist-made treasures or a dose of spa pampering.

Dress Yourself

Worried your old-faithful wardrobe isn’t cutting it? Make Belfast your port of call for a rejuvenating update, and start with the fundamentals. At City Drawers, undergarments play the star role, and they’re available in an accommodating range of sizes, styles and prices. This pretty boutique on Main Street in Belfast gets raves for its bra fittings, no appointment necessary. The fittings are free, fun and oh so uplifting.

PHOTO: CARLY ROBERTS

For a walk on the dapper side, City Drawers’ companion store, Man on Main, is right next door. You can choose from the shop’s selection of casual menswear or design your own shirt or tux from the collar down to the cuffs. Made-to-measure orders are guaranteed to fit, at the same prices you’d find for off-the-rack fashion from the mall.

Just across Main Street is Katwalk, an au courant boutique that caters to hip, young (and not-so-young) fashionistas. Style tip: Check out Judy P’s made-inthe-USA designer dresses and tops. They layer well, never need ironing and flatter the figure. If you can’t find what you want on a hanger, Katwalk’s stylish staff will guide you in choosing from the 18 styles, 30+ colors and extended sizes available from Judy P by special order.

If you love scoring a one-of-a-kind statement, check out Justine Consignment Boutique, also on Main Street. The shop’s owner, Haley Merchant, took over the store last year, and stocks an ever-changing selection of carefully selected shoes and boots, gently-used garb, scarves, jewelry and special-occasion wear. Says Haley, a metalsmith and jewelry designer, “I’m drawn to natural fibers—silk, wool, linen, leather, cashmere—and ethically-made clothing that tells a personal story.” Her coterie of consignors range in age from 15 to 80 years old, and the racks often contain stunning vintage pieces and designer labels one rarely finds in Maine.

Just steps away, Sonya’s Skin Care & Nails blends an uptown ambiance with a welcoming vibe that starts with Sonya herself. The spa’s owner loves roughing it outdoors with her family, but her abiding passion is “making people feel special and pampered.” She says, “there’s no reason a facial treatment can’t be affordable.” Check out Sonya’s full menu of spa services (waxing is a specialty) and her top-notch brands of skincare and makeup. The spa carries natural cosmetics from Jane Iredale and OSEA, a seaweed-infused line of natural skincare that’s organic, non-toxic and never tested on animals. Hint: The spa is generous with samples.

New glasses can transform your “look”—for better or for worse depending on the frames you select. “Fitting eyewear is an art,” says Dr. Amy Marnecheck, optometrist-owner of Seebreeze Family Eyewear, Belfast’s

only full-time optical shop. “Your personal style, vision and comfort all come into play.” Her experienced staff can help you fine-tune your choices for a perfect fit. Seebreeze offers a nice selection of frames, from value lines to designer brands with a conscience. If you buy an Eco frame, for example, the California-based parent company will plant a tree. (So far, that’s 1.5 million trees and counting.)

Dress Your Home

In defiance of the trend toward mass-produced lookalikes, our region offers a bounty of artisan-crafted decor and rare goods for the home. At Belfast Bay Shade Co., on the top floor of the Belfast post office, Dina Petrillo is attracting international attention for her hand-printed kobo and linen lampshades. A printmaker and sculptor, Dina celebrates the area’s beauty by incorporating natural motifs—growth rings of a tree, tiny ridges on a leaf, coastal and autumnal hues—into the block prints that enliven her lampshades, linens, pillows and floor cloths. Belfast Bay Shade welcomes at-home consults and custom projects of all types.

In his wooded Montville workshop, Stuart Loten of Loten Art Lighting uses an intricate silk-painting technique to create his free-flowing, botanically inspired silk shades; the lamp bases he welds from steel. To keep up with demand, Stuart recently expanded his signature collection of multi-tiered chandeliers and introduced a new line of hand-painted silk scarves. Visit his new on-site retail gallery space for an illuminating (!) tour of his latest creations.

Located south of Belfast on Route 1, the traditional American furniture maker Windsor Chairmakers draws visitors from around the world to its historic five-acre homestead. The original old barn now serves as a workshop where you can watch the crew handcraft custom chairs, dining tables, beds, buffets, desks and benches. Explore—or buy—furnishings based on authentic Shaker styles in the circa 1800 farmhouse, now a showcase. Tip: The ever-accommodating staff will loan you sample boards so that you can try out different woods and finishes in your own home before purchase.

Perry’s Home Furnishings & Design, on Belmont Avenue/Route 3 just outside downtown Belfast, is another mecca for furniture seekers. Inside the Perry family’s handsomely converted timber-frame barn, you’ll discover three floors worth of name-brand furnishings. “Buying furniture can be intimidating,” says Kimberly Perry who manages the family’s 40-year-old business. “Our goal is to make it easy, and we work with anyone’s budget.” Kimberly recently introduced a 3D-rendering service that helps you visualize how different furniture choices will look in your own home. This personalized service is free—and a first in the state of Maine.

If you’re someone who might swoon over a late-Victorian Purple Martin birdhouse or a Tiger Maple highboy, Pumpkin Patch Antiques on Route 1 in Searsport is your kind of place. Proprietor Phyllis Sommer brings a fine curatorial eye to her collection of period pieces from the 18th- through the early 20th-century. In 2018, Pumpkin Patch opened a new combined gallery and shop specializing in American folk art, trade signs, decoys and weather vanes. Look for the American Antiques and Folk Art sign out front. Back by the turn off Route 1 to Belfast, Kendrick’s Antiques is a friendly, well-priced shop that specializes in solid but beautiful pieces that will give any room a sense of authentic New England history and charm.

Try this sampling of upscale destinations and let us know what other fabulous finds you discover. It’s wonderful to know that you can spend your time in Waldo County and still feel sophisticated and indulged—without spending a fortune.

Belfast Bay Shade Co. belfastbayshadecompany.com

City Drawers citydrawers.com

Justine facebook.com/JustineConsignment

Katwalk facebook.com/ Katwalk-221116501237744

Kendrick’s Antiques maineantiques.org/directory. html?maDeC=101

Loten Art Lighting lotenartlighting.com

Man on Main manonmain.com

Perry’s Home Furnishings & Design phfd.co

Pumpkin Patch Antiques pumpkinpatchantiquesmaine.com

Seebreeze Family Eyewear seebreezefamilyeyecare.com

Sonya’s Skin Care & Nails sonyasskincare.com

Windsor Chairmakers windsorchair.com