Waiting on Martha pop-up shop returns for the summer

Find stylish gifts for everyone on your list, or maybe just something fun for your own home
1372

The Waiting on Martha pop-up shop is back for the summer at Shops Around Lenox. We stopped in for the opening on Saturday to visit with owner Mandy Kellogg Rye, author of the popular WOM blog and online store. Ok, maybe we also wanted to check out the free gourmet donuts and mimosas. “It’s fun to meet everyone in person and put faces with handles and hashtags,” says Rye, who says she learned a lot through her trial run with the storefront during the winter holidays. (By way of background, Rye launched her brand with the blog in 2011 and named it as a tribute to Martha Stewart. The online store followed soon after, earning Rye press from national media such as House Beautiful and Harper’s Bazaar.)

The new store is packed with clever gifts from both local makers such as E. Lawrence, Ltd. (decorative books) and Gunner & Lux (jewelry) as well as hip national brands like Jonathan AdlerKate Spade, and Dwell Studio. Most of the merchandise appears on Rye’s website, but the brick-and-mortar space allows her to showcase larger furniture such as upholstered headboards, chairs, and tables. Her kicky fabric selections bump up the wow factor, such as spindle chairs covered in a lush tropical print or gold x benches (with paw feet!) upholstered in a bright, hot-off-the-press cheetah pattern by Emily McCarthy for Cotton & Quill. Kids items are another specialty, with unique selections like pint-sized Bertoia-style chairs and wall-mounted felt animal heads. “I don’t have any elephants because University of Alabama fans bought them all,” notes Rye. Happily, prices are affordable. Where else are you going to find a cobalt blue faux ostrich-skin parsons table for $750?

Advertisement