If you love discovering unique and one-of-a kind furniture and home accessories,
Eclectic Finds at The Bismarck in Westfield is a must visit.
Eclectic Finds began when Laura Kelleher was a vendor in The Bismarck, which is
owned by next door neighbor Pilgrim Candle. When Covid hit and changed retail, Laura
decided to open The Bismarck as a co-op, where she and other vendors sold
repurposed vintage and antique pieces as well as offered home décor and color
consulting.
Fast forward to today and Laura, along with Cindy Wheeler and Gail Kelly are the
creative forces behind this marketplace filled with treasures they have found and
lovingly restored, transforming them into pieces that look like they could be from Pottery
Barn or Restoration Hardware.
The trio, who are passionate about the work they do, have decades of design and
decorating experience in traditional, country, farmhouse, and rustic styles, as well as
current trends. Cindy owned a floral business in Northampton and later opened Vintage
Treasures, also in Northampton and later, Florence for many years until she closed the
shop during Covid. It was then that Laura contacted her to join her as a vendor at The
Bismarck. Laura had her own vintage shop, Highland House for many years, and for a time,
worked at Osgood Textiles. Gail, until last year, owned Flowers by Webster in Westfield.
After she sold the business, she began to put some pieces she’d refurbished on
Facebook Marketplace and started putting furniture on consignment at the Bismarck,
joined the team last September.
“We have fun,” Gail says of her work with Laura and Cindy. Cindy added that it has
been a dream job.
The women say that although what they do is a lot of work and takes a lot of prep,
painting and refinishing the pieces they acquire is soothing. On the days when the shop
is closed, the women do a lot of picking, as they call it. Their finds come from friends,
neighbors, and estate sales. How do they know when a piece is a good find? “You have to have an eye and visualize what it will look, like,” says Laura. Adds Cindy, “Even if you don’t like something, you get it because someone will like it.” “It’s amazing what you can do with paint and glaze,” Cindy says, adding that old pieces never go out of style – and they are made of wood, which makes them durable and lasting.
Each piece at Eclectic Finds is unique, and as Cindy points out, if you want it, don’t
hesitate, because chances are it won’t be there when you go back.
The women also offer custom painting and finishes as well as in-home color and
decorating consultation, including decorating homes for the holidays.
Customers come to Eclectic Finds from as far as New York, Boston, Vermont and the
Berkshires for cabinets, tables, trunks, mirrors, paintings, serving dishes, and more. The
selection of items changes daily as new pieces are whitewashed, painted, or sanded
down to raw wood in the space behind the sales floor that serves as a workshop.
What do customers look for at Eclectic Finds? The Pottery Barn look, especially the
credenza, is in style and the women can repurpose a piece of furniture and give it that
look for far less than a new piece. Younger customers tend to like barnwood and the
Industrial style. Shabby Chic is in again, but traditional furniture is not popular. Pops of
color – especially greens and blues are in while black and white pieces sell well.
What is exciting for Laura, Gail, and Cindy is when they create vignettes in the shop, a
customer visualizes what it will look like in their home and buys it.
Eclectic Finds at the Bismarck is open Wednesday- Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Find them on Facebook or email, eclecticfindsbismarck@gmail.com
Eclectic Finds at The Bismarck
16 Union Ave.
Westfield
“It’s amazing what you can do with paint and glaze. Old pieces never go out of style – and they are made of wood, which makes them durable and lasting.”