Folly, Welcome to the Neighborhood!

Being a real estate agent means that I’m in the car driving a lot. While I’m touring broker open houses, navigating my way to listing appointments or driving to a house showing, I am on a continuous tour of sorts of our lovely town. And during the course of these tours I’ve come across some fantastic new interior shops. This blog post will be the first in a series where I highlight these area shops. What I think is great is that each one of these shops offers something completely different. Whether you just bought your first home in Darien or if you’re a lifetime resident, you’ll find something you need (well O.K. maybe more like something you want!) inside these delightful new treasure troves.

Welcome Folly! Strolling by this cute corner shop I was immediately drawn inside by the lovely eye candy in the windows. Various decorative items for your home and garden including gorgeous urns, planters, statuary, lighting and more entice your eye as you walk by. Once inside I find a mix of new and old, fun and functional, and most of all unique. There is a definite focus on garden elements but they are so beautiful, why limit them to your garden? They can easily grace your sunroom or home, mantle or tabletop. But not everything is for the garden. Also offered are lamps, small decorative items, furniture and gifts including jewelry. There are also fabulous mirrors, topiaries, artwork and more.

Owner Lynn Hamlen strives to bring in beautiful one-of-kind items into her shop, scouring New England and beyond to bring her customers something different. Lynn Hamlen, former director of the Darien Nature Center for 20 years, opened Folly in November 2013 after retiring from the DNC in May of the same year. When asked about the name “Folly”, Lynn explains “the concept of a folly is highly ambiguous – it has been suggested that a folly ‘lies in the eyes of the beholder’. This concept nicely complements what I’ve said to people who’ve asked what I’ll be carrying in my shop – I’ll know it when I see it!” Lynn goes on to say, “a folly is an architectural element that draws your eye, frames your vision or view”. Much of Lynn’s inventory serves just that purpose. In Lynn’s words, “to add a touch of whimsy or focus to you home, terrace or garden.”

Come visit Lynn at Folly located at 1082 Post Road. Tell her I sent you!

This post was contributed by Robin Argiriou, an agent in our Darien office. Robin can be reached on her cell at 917.748.1337 or via email at robina@afahomes.com.