CHESTER, Vt. – Friends Alison Cummings, Lisa McNealus, and Alice Christopher have known each other since they first met as classmates at Flood Brook Elementary in Londonderry. They remained close throughout their school years, graduating together from Vermont Academy in Saxtons River.
After successful careers in real estate, interior decorating, and fine arts, the women launched a new venture combining the ladies’ individual skills and shared passions for design, antiques, history, and collecting exceptional and one-of-a-kind items.
Now, Chester can finally welcome the fully formed iteration of the friends’ line of “useful and unique finds,” Collected, LTD. The new, larger location at 78 The Common first opened its doors in April, and just recently busted through a wall to expand into the rear building, creating a big, bright, beautiful space with high ceilings and lots of light. Each room is artfully designed and features carefully curated merchandise.
Cummings related that the philosophy of stocking the store was an effort to “bring in things that have a good feeling, history, or decorative sense, [an item] that means something to you.”
Collected, LTD. began as a pop-up at Cummings’ 1700s farmhouse in Windham, then moved to a corner of Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind shop and cafe on Route 11 in Chester.
Cummings had assisted her mother in her job as an antiques dealer since she was a child. After her mother died in 2019, Cummings realized how important it was for her to honor that work. Christopher volunteered to come on board and brought her interior design background with her, adding vibrance and purpose to the displays.
“Alice…has an incredible eye for color, scale, and how to bring objects together to make a space come alive,” Cummings remarked.
Once McNealus joined the company, the brand really started to gain momentum. “Lisa, as an art teacher,” said Cummings, “has a wonderful understanding of art and color, and knows how to make individual pieces shine.”
“We all have a natural instinct for putting things together,” relayed Cummings. “But our individual strengths complement one another. One of us may see the history in a piece, another the color or artistic value, and another how it can transform a room. Together, we’re able to create something none of us would create quite the same way on our own – truly unique, curated spaces.”
The shop’s hours are Thursday – Monday, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The inventory is ever evolving, and Cummings reported that they want to expand the jewelry section and continue to bring in a variety of artist collections. With the increased space, the ladies can now highlight more of their specialty pieces and create a gallery space. There is room now for workshops and wine tasting. Cummings has plans to host wreath-building and flower-arranging classes.
As always, it is important to celebrate and support local businesses, and the Chester Green just added another great option.