Customers
may find more of the same comfort and charm at Fiona’s Porch,
where the inventory of furniture and home decorating accents
changes virtually every week. Swanson calls the store’s offerings
"an eclectic mix of old and new and somewhere in between" furnishings.
"We saw
a need in the town for a shop with the mix that we have,"
McGowan said.
The two
friends and landscape designers decided to become business
partners one day when they were dreaming about taking on a
career that was literally less back-breaking. McGowan and
Swanson both love color, texture, design and of course - shopping.
In the
summertime, the 1,000-square-foot shop is open from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m., seven days a week. The winters hours are Thursday
through Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., January through March.
The shop’s
downtime is when Swanson and McGowan hit the road in search
of untold treasures and bargains.
Many
items, such as the furniture reproductions and the selection
of Unity Pond Pottery, are made by artisans in the state.
"Our
vintage and antiques pieces, we get them everywhere - central
and northern Maine," McGowan said.
In the
spring and summer, as the shop’s name implies, Fiona’s Porch
sells a large selection of lawn furniture, trellises and garden
accents. If you’re looking for items that will immediately
become favorite keepsakes, you’ll likely find them here. Prices
on the items suit every pocketbook and even those who aren’t
shopping stop by for friendly conversation and a peek at the
latest offerings.
"A lot
of people come in here for inspiration, they tell us," McGowan
said.
And why
not? McGowan and Swanson often create unexpected new items
from what they buy, such as the ornate wall accents they made
by affixing mirrors to the backs of antique picture frames.
The partners
loan out their ideas and advice, as they have consulted on
the designs of homeowners’ porches and often buy select items
for customers on request.
Again
this year, the Old York Historical Society has asked McGowan
and Swanson to submit designs that will be considered for
this year’s Show House, an estate in York Harbor.
They
consider the invitation another feather in their cap and appreciate
the amount of support and business they have received from
York natives.
Often,
when they sell a favored piece, they are comforted by the
fact the item was bought by a local customer.
"It’s
nice to know it’s going to a good home," Swanson joked.
"The
people of York have been very supportive of the shop and we
have many, many repeat customers," McGowan said. "We are looking
forward to having another great summer."
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