STORE AROUND THE CORNER: Coquillage

Gone are the days when Melanie Ann Denicourt was forced to stock up on unsightly lamps to accompany unattractive sofas, just to fulfill someone else’s dream décor.

Once an accent furniture and home accessories buyer for a model home company, Denicourt selected the look for every style, from traditional to contemporary.

“I always told myself, ‘One day, when I have my place…’ Denicourt said. “When I stumbled upon this space, I sort of saw the rays coming down in the middle of the room, almost like a conservatory. I knew it would make a great destination for a costal European look.”

She calls it Couqillage — French for “seashell.”

“I like texture and architectural elements,” Denicourt said. “Things that are simple, but pop from a wall. Organic, yet interesting.”

When shopping, she searches subtle, durable items that can transition into different styles and times. She’s most inspired by any piece that appears well traveled, like it’s endured 100 years of history.

“One of my favorites is quatrefoil,” Denicourt said. “I have a passion for neo gothic architecture, iron gates and such, that are really old Europe but not heavy.”

The shabby-chic look is also noticeable throughout the store, right down to the black-and-white dresser that holds the computer.

“We have Black Bird Home Gallery, Parker Robinson and Living Walls, and I’m really hoping with Eileen Fisher opening, that we will spruce up Main Street,” Denicourt said. “People will see it’s almost like a home décor destination.”

BASICS
Coquillage
Address: 1515 Main St.
Phone: 487-7160
Opened: July 2010
Employees: One
What makes the business unique: Melanie Ann Denicourt's throw pillows stand out from almost anywhere in the shop — they are embroidered by a line called Ankasa, a luxury home goods design firm that also designs for Oscar de la Renta.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday