Locations: 115 Main St. Unit 12 (Route 25), Monroe, CT + Etsy shop

This is a full-fledged shout out for The Marketplace on Main in Monroe, CT. No, they aren’t paying me to say this. Matter of fact, my money has repeatedly flowed in its direction since their launch eight years ago! This pop-up furniture and decor store has come to my rescue more than once while pursuing a Coastal French look. I love having an excuse to go back to its timeless well!

Roughly once a month, The Marketplace on Main opens to the public for a weekend of shopping for painted furniture, vintage items, antiques and everything in-between. The items fall into a range of styles including Farmhouse, French, Transitional, Coastal, Midcentury and Colonial. You really have to slow down to notice everything in each of the shop’s chock-full, yet carefully curated rooms. Every ‘market’ has a theme, and it’s fun to see what they’ve been up to in the time since the last one.

‘They’ are Kate Hinrichsen and Denise Houghton, a symbiotic pairing of an antiques dealer/ designer (Kate) and a custom painter/designer (Denise). Denise churns out pieces for the market, and takes custom paint jobs (specializing in kitchen cabinets). Kate sources one-of-a-kind antiques and does design projects. Together, it works … I’d say effortlessly, but it’s obvious just how much of themselves they pour into each showing.

Five reasons I’d recommend The Marketplace on Main:

• On Trend: The items are current, cool, and rival anything you’d see in catalogs.

• Unique: these aren’t items churned out en masse in China. Many are unique antiques sold as-is, or given a second life with paint.

• Quality: The furniture I’ve purchased here is the good stuff … brand names, dovetailing, etc.

• Environmentally-friendly: anytime I can decorate by keeping something out of a landfill — antiques or upcycling — it’s a win.

• Affordable: these ladies want to keep the merchandise moving. I scored a china hutch for a fraction of what it would cost retail. Same story for every one of the fun things I’ve purchased! (A china hutch and tin plates in the dining room, and a coffee table, urchin cast, antique library bookshelf, and newspaper vase in the family room).

The only trick is keeping up with Marketplace on Main because it’s a bit of a moving target. Your best bet is to follow them on Facebook or Instagram to stay informed of their next market. If you want to source a custom item or have your own items painted, message them on FB or at the email address on their FB page.

The final hurdle is locating the shop! It’s tucked away on the backside and second floor of the Crescent Village plaza on Route 25 in Monroe. Look for their sandwich board sign out front when they’re open!

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