It's All About the Hunt

Who doesn’t like an Easter egg hunt?! Maybe that is why we get so many people telling us that they love shopping at The Stock Exchange - because “It’s all about the hunt”! 

How many of you have thought you lost out on something only to find that it was just on a different shelf or in a different room?

If you drive down the street and that great chair you saw in the window when you drove by that morning is gone - don’t keep driving - find a parking spot and come look for it! It may have sold, but it also may have just moved. 

Or, if you walked out and forgot to grab that pillow you saw downstairs and came back for it that afternoon only to see that it was gone - make sure you ask us if we still have it because we could have just moved it. 

Be careful though because more often than not it will be gone. I can’t tell you how many times a week we hear “I knew I should have bought it when I saw it”. It’s fun to play the game and wait to see if it lasts long enough for a markdown - but make sure it’s something that you know that you can live without.  Our merchandise tends to fly out the door - sometimes even the same day that it comes in. Furniture has been know to sell right off the sidewalk before it makes it through the front door!

So as much as we like the hunt - always remember the old saying “a bird in the hand”. 

"A bird in the hand," is yours, and it's not going anywhere unless you let it go. But if you leave it and go for "two in the bush," there is no guarantee you'll catch them, you might end up with nothing in the end!

... We hope you enjoy the hunt as much as we enjoy moving things around for you!

Art Department at The Stock Exchange

You never know what hidden gem you will find here at The Stock Exchange.  We love our art department - it is eclectic and quirky and has something for everyone. 

Here are some tips for when you bring your artwork home.  It is important to take the time to measure and know how to properly hang it. Most people have a tendency to hang pictures too high. 

This is the Rule of Thumb - the center of the image should be at eye level. Hang your pictures so that its midpoint is between 57 and 60 inches from the floor. Go for the lower end of the range if most members of your household are on the short side; in rooms with ceilings higher than eight feet, artwork can be hung a little higher than 60 inches.

Above a sofa you typically want to keep the bottom of a single art piece or grouping about 8 to 10 inches above the back of a sofa. You can tweak the measurements a few inches to allow more room for placing your arm on the back of a sofa or to accommodate a very high wall.

When working with groupings, think of them as a single unit - a grouping should be no more than 6” apart at the most and 2-3” usually works best.

So now that you know how to hang your artwork properly, take a look around your house and see how you did with yours. And remember not every wall needs to be filled with an art piece.

Here is what we are featuring now:

Le Tilleul Dans La Cour Provencal Landscape

Serigraph by Elisabeth Estivalet

                                                                 Original Oil On Canvas

Look What I Found

I don’t know about you, but my entire house is furnished with Stock Exchange unique finds. Everywhere I turn it’s “I bought that at The Stock Exchange”, “...and that”, “oh, and that too”.  My kitchen is full of someone else’s passed along treasures. My living room is decorated with rugs, lamps, side tables, coffee tables ... for crying out loud - I even sleep in some else’s bed! (oh, that didn’t come out right).

If you compliment my outfit on any given day I can guarantee you that I purchased not just one item, but sometimes my entire outfit here from The Stock Exchange.  As the youngest of four girls I was always complaining that I was never able to buy anything new - EVERYTHING in my closet was a hand me down from my sisters. I hated that word! Who would have thought that as an adult I would be so thrilled that my entire closet is second hand-me-downs from someone else’s closet!

We hear this all the time from our customers and now we would like you to share your stories. Did you wear a dress to a wedding that everyone wanted to know where you got it? Was your husband SHOCKED that the kitchen table you brought home was only $150 dollars? Did you furnish your child’s first apartment from here? 

Do you recognize this blouse? I wore it to a Christmas party (everyone loved it!) and then I used it for the Christmas mannequin for our window this year. 

I wonder who wore it first?

Share the love - we want to hear your stories and see your pictures.

Decanters: Old School Charm

If you have the room, why not step up your entertaining game and add a beautiful bar to your kitchen or dining room. I can’t think of anything more beautiful than several cut glass decanters grouped together. Add a silver tray to enhance the light reflection for an elegant flare.

Not just for alcohol, I use glass carafes and decanters to beautifully store water, juice and other cold beverages.  You can change out your plastic mouthwash bottle for a decanter or fill one with bubble bath to spruce up your bathroom vanity.

... if you have not had a chance yet, check us out on The Stock Exchange's Pinterest for more ideas and pictures!

The Importance of Corners

People tend to forget about corners when decorating. Don’t underestimate the importance of them - a properly decorated corner will balance your room and take your space to the next level.

An Etagere is a nice way to fill the empty space of a corner. Be careful not to clutter it with too many items or you will confuse your eye and miss out on a clear visual of the whole room.

The simplest solution is plants. We use ferns all around the store to balance and soften the corners. You may not have noticed them - but they are in every window and most corners of our displays. Plants not only add color and texture, but are soothing to the eye as well. 

Pick up a nice floor plant or use a plant stand to make your corner bright and lively and see for yourself the difference it makes. If you can’t find a plant stand, think out of the box and use large glass vases to hold your plants like the ones we have here in this photo. 

For more creative corner ideas, check out https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/house-plants#fig-tree-on-wheels

Follow The Stock Exchange's Pinterest for more ideas on the home (and the plant board)!

LOLA™ Designs at The Stock Exchange

There is no better time than now to check out our LOLA™ collection.

LOLA™ designs and creates beautiful, high quality, handcrafted jewelry which mark important moments in people’s lives with meaningful symbols including angels, compasses, sand dollars, and more. The pendants also include inspirational words engraved into the back, further imbuing every individual piece with love.

LOLA pendants are often given as gifts, to bring courage, strength, hope, comfort and joy to family and friends who have overcome adversity or continue to be challenged. Pendants are also given simply to express friendship, gratitude and love, and are cherished by those who wear them as a means to carry with them a feeling of great honor.

People are moved to wear and share their LOLA pendants triggered by important and often unexpected events in life. Whether it’s an Angel given to a mother bravely fighting cancer, a Compass given to a student starting college, a St. Christopher given to a constant traveler, or simply a Sand Dollar that carries the memories of a beach vacation…when you wear LOLA you feel the love. Love one, love all.™

This month we recommend the Celtic Knot.  It is designed around two hearts intertwined. There is no beginning or end, the lines are continuous. This symbol represents the deep, eternal, enduring bond of love. Unbreakable.

If you have a chance, check out the LOLA™  website ~ we know you will love it!

www.lolacompany.com

Love is in the Air at The Stock Exchange

Tall black boots are a great look with this red Per Se dress - it’s one of our favorite brands. The fit and quality are amazing. Wrap the Hermès scarf around the red Alberta Di Canino Italian purse and you are good to go. Whether you are celebrating Valentine’s Day or heading to the office - this outfit will be a show stopper.

Our designer brands are easy to find - we have a separate section of our best selections in the front room at the back of the store. If you have a special event and you need help putting an outfit together just ask one of our friendly staff - we would love to help you with the search.

If it is a Valentine gift you are looking for for that special someone we have lots to choose from - a Tiffany necklace, Chanel bracelet, even a Valentino tie! We have your Valentine’s Day covered.

A Touch of Modern

How many times per week do you walk by The Stock Exchange here in Manchester-by-the-Sea?  You must notice our frequent window changes. Which is your favorite? 

Why not spruce up your space with a pair of green zebra chairs? A touch of modern works with any decor.  Paired with this Lynn Chase framed scarf and you have the beginnings to a great room for Spring!