A new idea is blooming at White Flower Farmhouse in Southwold.
Lori Guyer, who opened an antique home goods store on the corner of Main Road and Beckwith Avenue in 2011, announced plans this week to expand to a second location. In a post breaking the news on Instagram, Goyer teased plans for the new space, which will take over Ye Olde Party Shoppe across the street.
“When I saw the place, I had a feeling this is where I need to be,” she said in an interview on Thursday. “We will create a fully sensory experience.”
She partnered with floral designer Nathaniel Savage, who launched his own company, Navanel, last year and the studio space he was renting from Goyer quickly grew into her current store.
“He has a very similar aesthetic to me and is very easy to work with,” said Gayer.
The new space will focus on all things gardening and outdoor living.
“While hunting and gathering, I came across a lot of big and beautiful pieces of outdoor furniture,” Jayer explained. “Old bamboo sofas, wrought iron table and chair sets, birdbaths. And I don’t have a room here. “
The expansion will allow her to immerse herself in all those old finds in the garden and also shed light on Savage’s beautiful floral creations.
Savage, who has a background in design, design, and dining, creates stunning floral compositions you may have seen at North Fork Table & Inn and Macari Vineyards.
He has spent several years working in farm-to-table restaurants and works to apply the same ideology to his floral arrangements by highlighting what’s in season and sourcing from local farmers during the spring, summer and fall seasons.
“What’s beautiful about the North Fork is that we have such a wild, wild and unruly nature and this conversation about bringing the outdoors in, and it’s my soul,” he said.
Savage said he was inspired by the way Guyer’s brought together local artisans and artisans in the community, something he flocked to when he moved to the area nearly two years ago.
“You can find inspiration, community, and belonging at Lowry’s,” he said.
In the current space, Gayer sells dried flowers sourced from a Midwest flower farm and hopes to take that to the next level in her new space with more plants and preserves.
Fresh and dried flowers will be sold along with candles, flower pots, plant markets, seed packets, macrame plant hangers, tote bags and other items.
Savage also hopes the new store will serve as a springboard to continue work on floral and wedding compositions, and one day, offer interactive workshops.
Both expressed gratitude for their long-standing rental and toy store, a mainstay in Southwold that has been run by Michael Legge for 30 years.
“It was a huge staple in the community. I bought a lot of Christmas presents there — it’s like going to the right place,” said Goyer, noting that Liegey will now run his construction company, Peconic Building Solutions, full time.
The history of the building, which dates back to the early 19th century, is also of interest to Savage, who noted that the brick facade has a uniquely Northern character.
“We want to honor the history of the building,” he said. “Many of the locals we met in the community have deep family memories of this toy store.”
One way they plan to pay homage to its roots is with a small homage to the party store, which for decades has carried unique items, toys and exotic gifts.
Gayer imagines a display of mini candy and lollipops, paper balloons made in Japan, kites, mini craft kits and wooden toys.
White Flower Farmhouse customers may also recognize the work of artist Cutchogue Treva Elwood, who makes cuddly stuffed animals that are cherished as locally sourced gifts.
“We’ll do more of them, like sailboats and herd whales,” Gayer said.
They will formally take over the space on March 1st and after some light rebuilding, a spring opening is planned.