Susie Smith Coughlin never intended to get into retail. “Had you told me five years ago that I would have a store, I’d have said, ‘Ah, you’re crazy. You’re out of your mind!’” the interior designer says with a laugh. Yet, as she nestles into a comfy display couch in her new Falmouth shop, Le Marchande, it’s hard to imagine anyone more, well, at home. Growing more serious, she explains, “I do both commercial and residential interior design, but I also really want to make design accessible, as corny as that sounds. The store is a way for people to translate all those beautiful images they see on Instagram and Pinterest—to put together those dreamy rooms they see without having to hire an interior designer to make it happen. So, while the design studio is here for my client work, the shop is also open to anybody who wants to come in and put together their own story.”

Easy collaboration was part of why Coughlin set up her shop in the first place. “I truly believe in-store shopping and boutique shopping is back,” she says. “I think coming into a store, you’re feeling and touching everything, and it makes you excited to change things in your home. I think people want that. You don’t get that feeling just putting something in a cart online.” Also, in-person conversations can lead to unexpected design choices that really make a space pop. “I encourage people to bring pictures,” she says. “Pictures are always the best. Bring a picture of your living room, and let’s take a look at it. We’ll provide you with suggestions. Is there an odd, whimsical piece that we can add to give the space personality? That’s what I really want to be here for.”

“Here” is in a new building on Route 1 in Falmouth, set back a bit from the road so that it feels a little private. “The Shops at Falmouth Square is the official name of this complex. The owners, Steve Baumann and Jonathan Cohen, have been very selective about curating what they see for the future of Falmouth, because they both live in town,” says Coughlin. “I am very impressed at how much they’ve thought it through and waited to make sure each space is filled correctly.” She continues, “When I took this space, I was originally going to take space in the middle of the building, but I looked at this spot and thought, ‘Oh my god, the windows.’ And now I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”

Seen through the enormous windows, the green of the surrounding trees echoes and enhances the dark green of the interior of the shop. “Green is my favorite color. It’s grounding. Green makes me feel at peace,” says Coughlin. “They’re planting more trees outside, which is great. I want the outdoors to come in here.” The indoor–outdoor line is further blurred by the large area on one wall of the shop, which Coughlin calls the “Parisian flower market,” where faux flowers by London-based designer Abigail Ahern spill out of antique vases and pots. “She does these unbelievable, really moody flowers,” enthuses Coughlin. “They’re just gorgeous. I never thought of myself as a faux flower person, but I just ordered more.”

The Parisian flower market bridges the area from the front of the shop, where smaller gift items fan out across display tables, to the back, where larger pieces take pride of place. “The back half of the store is more of a traditional furniture store,” notes Coughlin, “but we have a mix of old and new, and the harmony between them is very important to me. Antiques are my first love. I feel very strongly about them. From a sustainability standpoint, they are the best thing that we can do for our planet. But I also have some reproductions. I work with someone who finds antique French pieces and then copies them, and they’re stunning.” Le Marchande also offers custom upholstery on a variety of soft furnishings, and because their upholstery partner is based in Los Angeles, Coughlin explains, “We can offer about 100 different silhouettes and 700 fabrics with a four- to six-week turnaround.”

And, by the time a client comes back to pick up their newly upholstered chair, there will be new items to tempt them at Le Marchande. “We are constantly growing and changing and bringing in new products all the time,” says Coughlin. “We have a pretty high turnover rate because we do a lot of antiques, and once something goes, its spot needs to be filled.” She continues, “I want people to feel welcome. I want it to be a place for the community to come in and feel inspired. We want to keep it fun.” As if on cue, the cuckoo clock strikes the hour, in the shop Coughlin never expected to have. She concludes, “I do feel I ended up exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I’m very happy about it.”

So Gifted

A wide selection of gift items awaits visitors to Le Marchande, whether displayed on tables near the entrance or scattered throughout the space. Coughlin admits that gifts were initially “a small part of my business plan, but I quickly realized that they are a pretty big missing piece here in Falmouth.” There are so many beautiful stores in Portland, but I’ve got kids—to get them in the car, drive down there, and park, you know, it’s not that accessible for me. I feel like here there’s parking, and even if you do have your kid in the car, you can still run in, grab something that’s unique and beautiful, and go to your party that night.” Here are some of our choices for the perfect gift from Le Marchande to delight any hosts.

Fresh cloth napkins always come in handy. Choose from large linen dinner napkins or jaunty cotton cocktail napkins, depending on the type of event you’ve been invited to, in a rainbow of colors and prints.

Scented candles feel like an indulgent gift: something that your host loves but might not buy for themself. Scents range from woodsy to floral, and all come in unique containers that will serve as reminders of the gift long after the wick has burned down.

Is the party a baby shower? Toward the back of the shop Coughlin has created a baby and child section with the softest and sweetest stuffed animals and heirloom blankets. 

The aforementioned faux flowers from Abigail Ahern can provide favorite blooms for your host, no matter what the season. Bonus: they won’t wilt after a few days. 

Finally, for the truly generous gift giver, high-quality Slim Aarons photographic prints (produced by the Getty Images Gallery) can bring a touch of midcentury glamour to any room. (Imagine Truman Capote gracing the walls of your hosts’ home office!) All come mounted and framed.