A Cottage Full of Treasures
Pear Tree Cottage, a new boutique in historic Vienna, VA, invites its customers to “be inspired by the beautiful collection of European antiques, cottage vintage furniture and fresh, new modern elements” housed in the store.
The moment I walked into the boutique for an opening reception last night, I was greeted with the calming scent of summer flowers, a burst of color, and a menagerie of one-of-a-kind decorative items: A pearl pendant chandelier, a rustic spindle table with a matching mirror, a small nickel lamp, framed artwork depicting Parisian streets, and a set of wicker trunks were all artfully presented to the customers who walked in.
The boutique is in a converted home, so different surprises lurk in each room. The main area holds larger pieces – a vintage robin’s egg blue dresser, a rich mahogany wardrobe, and a few smaller ones as well – antique garden shears and eclectic wire votives. I had a hard time not picturing how every item I saw might look in my own home, and it was clear that others felt the same way. I heard one woman exclaim, “I need to find my husband so he can buy something for me!”
The store’s warm and welcoming owner is Frances Brayshaw. I asked her what her favorite piece in the store was, and she pointed to a set of metal lockers. The lockers (more like cubby holes) were used by schoolchildren in Europe and if you look closely enough, you can see where their initials used to be.
The store gets its name from the picturesque Pear Tree Cottage in Cotswolds, England. From the shop’s crisp white exterior and forest green shutters, to the striped awnings, explosion of flowers, and inside walls doused in pastels, the boutique truly feels like an English cottage.
To celebrate the store’s opening, all items will be on sale during the month of July, with larger discounts changing weekly. The shop is open Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pear Tree Cottage is closed on Monday and Tuesday, but as Brayshaw playfully notes, “when I’m here, it’s open!”
Pear Tree Cottage
130 Maple Avenue East
Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 938-1331
theptcottage@aol.com
Reading about pear tree cottage makes me want to make a trip to the store! Thanks for the great descriptions and photos. I never would have known about the place.
An inviting, intriguing feature that left this Atlanta journalist wanting to know more about Bradshaw’s business and designing talent, as well as what that unamed client had her husband buy for her. Don’t really care what Ms. Leake thinks –she’s got potential super star skills – but introduce me to what,where,when and why of this delicious story. The writer is not the story, but she her prose is as enjoyable as the boutique. Can’t wait for Leake’s upcoming and better written/edited stories. This kid is good; gonna be great like her video journalist father! ME
Again, Frances, Congratulations!!! Well Done!!! The article/pictures are great. Looks as though you’ve managed to utilize every inch of the little shop. I’ve noted in doding my shows, etc., that customers really like to have lots to look at/choose from, and you certainly seem to have accomplished that!! Best of luck for your continued success!! See you mid-September. My LONG journey here was not without incident. Many unusual/stressful experiences…thank god I’ve been around the block a time or two, as I certainly would not have been able to handle many of the obstacles as a rookie. Things have finally settled down, and aside from long laboreous days, I have managed to run through one museum and spent about 30 minutes perusing artifacts/antiques/souveniers at a large emporium. Other than a few gifts, I’ll leave most collectables in country, as my house runneth over from so many previous soujourns. Take care, and let me know how the next month goes for you. Since its summertime, the best is probably yet to come….Fall shoppers, don’t you know!! Cheers, Mary
Dear Francis, Congratulations on the opening of your store. The photos “show” a a dream like atmosphere and seems cosy and inviting. Next time I’m visiting Eva, I will stop by. Much, much success !!!
Congratulations on your successful opening. We are sorry that we are not coming up to Washington as often as Carter has moved to Austin. Will definately call when we get back up in your area. Best wishes on your continued success.
Carter & Diana
We loved the article and loved the pictures. I am so proud of your great new mission to open this shop. How beautiful and tastefully its done. We’d love to come up and see it sometime.
Thanks for putting us on your list. love, Judy & Paul
Thank you Frances of Pear Tree Cottage! This was a shopping experience like no other. As your store offers such an electic array of furnishings and art, it was like visiting a cross between a museum and a friend’s house with superb taste and hospitality! I love my lavender chairs!
What a wonderful store! This looks like a great place for decorators and home makers! I cannot wait to shop there in person.