Early October was a busy time for local interior designer Maggie Stephens, as a whirlwind three-day shopping trip to Round Top, Texas, offered both a preview of coming design trends and an excellent selection of hand-picked pieces for her new Bainbridge Island shop, Bower.
“These shopping trips are easily one of my favorite parts of the job,” Stephens says. “They’re incredibly immersive and exciting. Not only do they allow us to see and select unique vintage and antique pieces for our customers, but they’re also inspiring and offer insight into trends we’ll likely see emerge over the next year.”
Stephens’ recent trip to Round Top marked her third visit to one of the largest flea markets in the U.S., a gathering that attracts vintage and antique vendors from around the world. Though she finds these buying trips thrilling, Stephens admits they can also be tiring.
“Buying trips are always hectic,” she says. “We typically only have three days to cover a lot of ground. During this last trip, temperatures were well into the 90s, and many vendors set up in ‘The Fields’ – huge, open, dusty spaces with hundreds of booths. So while these trips are exciting and something we look forward to, they’re also pretty exhausting.”
Unique pieces Stephens is excited to display at Bower by late November include several pairs of vintage armchairs, a particularly exciting set of cozy sheepskin chairs, specialty case goods and “smalls” – small statement pieces like side tables and quirky decorative items.
Maggie Stephens’ Bainbridge Island shop, Bower, focuses on carefully curated, hand-picked antique and vintage items. Photo courtesy Maggie Stephens
“We found a vendor with 30 to 40 exquisite vintage glass floats – quintessential coastal decor that’s always in high demand. We ended up purchasing seven but could have easily brought home more!” Stephens says.
“At Bower, we focus on carefully curated, hand-picked antique and vintage items, so our inventory is constantly changing. Typically, we only have one or two of each item, which is both a blessing and a curse. Our clients know they’re getting truly unique pieces that they won’t find anywhere else, but it also means that when an item sells, that’s usually it – we likely won’t have that exact piece again.”
Maggie Stephens Interior Design Services
In addition to her new storefront, located at 10255 NE Valley Rd Ste 1 on Bainbridge Island, Stephens continues to operate her established interior design business, providing full-service residential design as well as two-hour design consultations.
“I’ve worked in interior design for over 11 years and have been part of some incredible projects during that time,” she says. “Opening Bower was an opportunity to give residents of Bainbridge Island and the surrounding area easier access to curated furniture and designer pieces while offering my clients a wider selection for their homes. My full-service clients get exclusive access to Bower’s inventory, along with hand-picked and custom items tailored to their spaces.”
For design inspiration, the latest updates on design services and curated pieces from Bower, follow Maggie Stephens on Pinterest and Instagram. Visit online at maggiestephensinteriors.com or shop the latest from Bower online at bowerbainbridge.com.
