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A look inside The Little Shop in Chester.
Courtesy of Nora Murphy
It was a shortcut that led to the birth of The Little Shop, Nora Murphy’s new Main Street brick-and-mortar store.
“I was driving up Route 9 and cut through Chester, making my way to the ferry.” Catching her eye was a red “For Lease” sign. Stopping to peer in the window, her imagination went into high gear. She could see the store’s future. Her future. “I’ve always dreamed of having a shop,” she said. "In the past, whenever I’ve inquired about a space, I’d always been late to the party.” Not this time.
Fast forward to Sept. 1, when The Little Shop had its official opening. The two-room space has seen a constant bustle of activity ever since. “Having it set in this charming destination village is perfect for fans of my brand,” Murphy says. “Not only can they come to the shop, but experience Chester’s restaurants, galleries and stores. They’ll love it here.”
Interior designer Nora Murphy opened her store The Little Shop in Chester.
Courtesy of Nora MurphyThough diminutive in size, The Little Shop has style galore. Murphy brought in architectural elements such as a transom, corbels and wood salvaged from an 1888 Victorian house in Mystic. These choices are a tip of the hat to Chester architecture, as is a nautical mural.
“I wanted to capture the vibe of our location—the 19th-century buildings, sailboats on the Connecticut River and farmlands.” As with Murphy’s own home, The Little Shop pulls in antiques and vintage finds, along with seashells and bird nests. “Things from nature make spaces approachable, warm and welcoming,” she said. “That’s important to me.”
It wasn’t just a shortcut that landed Murphy in Chester. Rather, it was the journey of a lifetime that led her to the red For Lease sign in the window.
Interior designer Nora Murphy opened her store The Little Shop in Chester.
Courtesy of Nora MurphyA native of Fairfield, Murphy began dreaming about interior design as a child. “There was a New York socialite, Mrs. Gilman, who summered in Sasco Beach at her ‘country house,’” Murphy recalled. “My mama would help her throw parties at her 18th-century house.” Party planning occurred in the Cape Cod cottage that served as Mrs. Gilman’s artist studio. Accompanying her mother, Murphy was “a shy little girl who would sit there and take everything about Mrs. Gilman’s aesthetic in like osmosis.” She was drawn to the home’s mix of luxe that was both comfortable and relaxed. “It was something to strive for.”
And strive she did. Murphy attended New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Post-graduation saw her working in architectural renderings, illustrations and visual merchandising. There was a stint as design project manager for the Polo Ralph Lauren Home Collection. Then, Ethan Allen took notice, hiring Murphy as executive vice president of style and advertising. A turn in the economy saw Murphy leaving the position.
Efforts to regain her mojo had Murphy creating a vision board — a compass with aspirations including a website, blog, e-magazine, e-commerce, book and a brick-and-mortar shop. In 2011, Murphy created the website and her award-winning Nora Murphy Country House blog, inspired by her own Newtown country home and sprawling gardens.
Murphy’s personal brand took flight, with her blog drawing a global following. The e-commerce Hunt Club component of the compass came into play. Television station WFSB invited Murphy to become their on-air lifestyle contributor for the “Better Connecticut” series. In 2018, her book “Nora Murphy's Country House Style, Making Your Home A Country House” was published. She became part of an artists’ collective in Norwich. Still, something was missing.
In 2020, Murphy’s family downsized, selling their beloved Newtown country estate and moving into Hadlyme’s 1820 Samuel Brooks home on the Connecticut River. Suddenly, Murphy found herself skirting through Chester en route to the ferry. “There's something almost magical about the village,” she declared. Indeed, waiting for her was the realization of a dream 12 years in the making, The Little Shop.
Interior designer Nora Murphy opened her store The Little Shop in Chester.
Courtesy of Nora Murphy
Rather than rest on her laurels, Murphy has other projects brewing. This fall, she’s photographing eight country homes for a book set to publish in 2024. Then, “I also love the influence of European country houses - French, English, Spanish, Hungary. We’ll see how many books I have in me.”
For now, she’s embracing the community of Chester and welcoming visitors to The Little Shop. Recently, a customer walked up to Murphy and announced, “I could live in your shop.” The woman could just as easily have been complimenting the little girl who’d soaked in the ambiance of Mrs. Gilmore’s artist studio. Murphy responded with, “That’s the best thing you could ever say to me.”
The Little Shop is located at 11 Main Street in Chester.