Kim Case

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Along the Governor Wentworth Highway, between Mirror Lake and Melvin Village, N.H., I found three shops that are well worth exploring even on a rainy day.

Starting from the south, you’ll find Apple Hill, a red barn with a commanding view from atop a knoll.  Take your time as you enter to enjoy fun flower arrangements outside (hold on to your boots) and peek into the owner’s stone-walled garden. When I shook off the rain and planted my dripping umbrella by the front door, it was immediately clear I’d discovered a folk-art lover’s paradise. Inside, shop owner Suzanne Bogannan is usually on hand to answer questions about the crafts and furniture lines she carries. Highlights include an amazing tart-candle that smells exactly like oatmeal-raisin cookies and looks like a glob of cookie dough. I didn't immediately see as many antiques as I was hoping to find, but Suzanne has a designer’s touch, and the barn is filled with an eye-catching mix of fine reproduction furniture and unusual accents that are far above average in quality.

The next stop as you meander northward is The Center for Lampshades. Also in a cheerful red barn, this place has a true down-to-earth appeal. Owners Richard and Joann Burrows specialize in lamp repair and custom lampshades. When I wandered in, Richard was busy in his workshop but affable enough to share a laugh with me as I explored. Lamps and shades in every shape and style lined the walls and shelves, along with a surprisingly wide assortment of home and gift items. What did I buy? Oddly enough, I stopped in to see shades, but walked out with a dog bed! When I saw it, I knew it was destined to come home with me.  Dog-pampering aside, before you leave the shop, don’t forget to look up into the loft overhead for a peek at hundreds of wire forms for lamps stored there. The Burrows can take your fabric and create a unique lamp in just about any size or shape. It is clear that this is a shop where the sky is the limit, as far as lamps are concerned.

My last recommendation for shopping along this length of country road is J. Covington. As you enter this original interior design shop, don’t be deterred if the front door sticks a bit in the humidity. Give the handle an extra jiggle and find yourself wondering as if you’ve been transported to a signature Paris atelier. Whimsical zebra upholstered chairs and rugs blend seamlessly with designer furniture, antique French accents, and surprisingly affordable designer-quality silk flowers in delicious colors. Take the time to wander  among the mix of blue and white dishes. Shop owner and interior designer Jane “Cubby” Derby let me browse without pressure as I lingered over her collection of gilt-framed bird prints and French bamboo mirrors. Rich tapestry pillows adorned a smart collection of traditional furniture in an assortment of beiges, reds, and blues. And from the large collection of designer fabrics I spotted in her back room, I left the shop sure I could get the plush furniture in just about any fabric I could dream of. Yum.