With the store, Shawn is able to highlight her interior design business (including home styling, curation, and consulting), while the retail showroom adds another dimension. Chestnut Hill provides the perfect synergy of historical and progressive, complementing Home Works’ aesthetic of mixing vintage and modern. As a generationally diverse business, Shawn’s team appreciates the balance of well-established and newer storefronts in the community.

Building a sense of community is one of the founding principles of Home Works: inviting people in, promoting shared knowledge, and celebrating local businesses. Feedback from clients on what items bring a sense of joy really drives the mission and direction of the business, confirming Home Works is on the right path. (Small, unique giftables are popular with shoppers, available at a variety of price points.) Products are intentionally selected, based on their sustainability and the story behind their creation. Sarah Camp, the Merchandising Director and Manager, enjoys discovering up-and-coming designers and artisans to represent in the shop, especially when they’re local.

Shawn and her staff also take pride in their imaginative window displays, capturing who they are in a fun presentation to visitors. They recently collaborated with The Stagecrafters Theater by supplying the furniture for the play God of Carnage and are eager to participate in the upcoming Wheels in the Window and Royal Rummage community events.

The overall mission of Home Works is to enhance home environments, ensuring that people are living and working well at home—that all aspects of the home work well.