For over two years now, I have been on a journey to bring a fine furniture and lighting showroom to Chestertown. Of course, like all good journeys, the line from A to B has most definitely not been a clear or straight path. But we are getting close and, now that I can finally see the light with the renovations, it feels right to share what is coming and update everyone as to what is happening at Common Thread Interiors.
Why the move?
As so many of you know, my Mom, Elaine Bowman, has been in the furniture and interior design business for OVER 40 years with her store, The Village House. She and I have been working together and going to furniture and gift markets together since 2018. While I have absolutely loved meeting so many of you at the Village House, I always knew that its downtown location was not conducive to selling larger furniture. Half of the iconic Village House’s square footage is on the second floor and, while beautiful and full of character and charm, getting sofas and other large pieces of furniture upstairs is not ideal. I knew that I needed to find a space where we could easily move large pieces of furniture in and out. Having our own parking would be an added benefit of moving out of the downtown area. The showroom’s location would also need to be accessible to the large tractor trailers that bring our handpicked casegoods and furniture items. This took a lot of time, but in the Fall of 2023 we found a home for Common Thread Interiors- 301 Morgnec Road, Chestertown.
Timeline
We are in the throws of an extensive renovation of our new spot. Many of you who are local to Chestertown will recognize the location as the old Chesapeake Bank branch. We have already made a lot of progress to “de bank” the space (you can follow along with us on our social media channels to see what has been done and what is being done). We are hopeful that we will be open and ready to serve our community by September of this year.
The Vision
Good, Better, Best is the driving force behind the Showroom. We want to showcase as much furniture as we can tastefully fit into our space and inspire you. In the showroom, you’ll be able to see and feel the difference between the three different price points we offer. We will walk you through what is different on the INSIDE of the furniture and how it is made. The pieces displayed on the showroom floor will be priced higher than the pieces that customers design and select for their own homes. We do this to encourage customers to select their own fabrics and finishes that speak to their individual styles while maintaining the integrity of the Showroom’s design aesthetic.
We will display six different vignettes of furniture, which will include sofas, coffee tables, recliners, swivel chairs and occasional chairs, as well as cased goods (consoles, credenzas, servers, end tables). We will also offer both one-of-a-kind and production hand-knotted rugs, as well as a couple of dining tables and chairs. The array of finishes on display will allow you to envision the pieces in your home and confidently decide what will look best. Additionally, we will offer OUTDOOR furniture, which I am thrilled to be able to bring to Chestertown. We have scoured many markets in order to bring you the most beautiful, comfortable, and durable outdoor furniture available. And finally, LIGHTING. Lighting has been a passion of mine since the very beginning, so I am thrilled to be able to showcase a wide range of fixtures that will prompt you to adorn your home with your very own.
In addition to all of this, we will be offering interior design services, which will include drapery and blind design and installations.
Retail Hours?
So what does Showroom mean at this point? Right now, “Showroom” means that I have not yet decided on how much I will be open to the public without an appointment. I have learned many, many things from my Mom, but one of the biggest lessons is that 99% the time, it is not profitable to be sitting in the store and waiting for my clients to come to me. My own experience has taught me that I am on the road quite a bit and it is important to have flexibility to meet clients at their homes. That said, I know walk-in traffic is important, so being open for consistent hours will be incorporated into our Showroom model.
Giftables? In September, when we launch, the focus will be on larger samples that customers can sit and touch. The focus of the showroom, for now, will solely be on the larger, key elements in home decor, with the smallest items being lamps and some decorative accessories. We will not be providing giftables at this point.
I can’t wait to update you as things progress. And, as always, thank you for all of your support!
-Erin
