At Home with HESTIA [ the collection ] in Aldie
Written by Lia Hobel | Photos by Gracie Savage
A new gift and home goods boutique in historic Aldie opened its doors in October, where the Little Apple Pastry Shop used to sit. The modern farmhouse façade looks simple and chic, but a treasure trove of furnishings and décor waits inside.
The storefront is an extension of HESTIA, an architecture and design firm owned by business partners Valerie Boudreaux and Claire Dickey. The friends, who met in 2015 at a global architect firm, chose to venture out on their own in 2021. “We had always dreamed about having our own space and a storefront,” shares Boudreaux.
With one of them living in Middleburg and the other in Chantilly, the business partners would pass the recently vacant retail space on Route 50 frequently. One day over brunch and antique shopping, they considered the possibility of adding a retail outpost to their brand. After researching the ownership of the Aldie building, they were elated to discover that they could be the next tenant. Once acquiring the location, Boudreaux and Dickey got to work setting up their architectural and design office and showroom on the second floor, stocking the first floor with home décor and furnishings.
“One of the goals of moving in here was to be able to stretch ourselves and expand into a retail component, with the idea being that from the moment you start to conceptualize a project — at whatever scale that might be, from a small renovation all the way up [to] an entirely new house or even a commercial building — we can work with you,” Dickey explains. She adds, “And at the end of construction, [when] putting the finishing touches on, we can partner with you.”
In that spirit, the duo carefully selected each item available in their shop to enhance daily life. Joy and comfort are kept in mind as well as quality and price. Dickey jokes that though this isn’t Target, they want the shop to be seen as approachable rather than out of reach.
On the first floor, visitors will see everything from original art, including paintings by local artists, to meticulously made candles from Eastern Shore Candle Company. Sprinkled throughout the store shelves are entertaining essentials, such as charcuterie boards and serving platters, as well as screen-printed tea towels. The most popular seller is that of a fox, a fitting choice for Hunt Country. Retail partnerships are part of the inventory, too. “We named ourselves the design collective from the beginning, and we always knew we wanted to find other partnerships to work with and that hopefully we could all help each other,” Dickey shares.
Design elements feature in the shop, too, like a wall of cabinets in almost every color imaginable. Those curious about the cabinets or who ask, “Is there more upstairs?” learn that the HESTIA brand is more than a home goods shop. “Our core business is our architecture and interior design firm,” Dickey says.
When asked if they have a particular niche or embrace a certain style, Boudreaux and Dickey steer clear of labeling their services and product offerings. “From a project work perspective, we’re never trying to impose our own personal design style on our clients. It really is about being good and active listeners to what they’re looking for and what they like and being able to help them realize that vision,” Dickey says. For example, polo-themed throw pillows, which have great appeal in Hunt Country, are balanced out by practical items for all, like Boll & Branch bedding. The bed linens are heirloom-quality and come gracefully boxed, making it a perfect choice for holiday gift giving, as Boudreaux notes.
At HESTIA [ the collection ], there’s always a reason to stop by to see what’s new. And, Boudreaux and Dickey, who have architectural and design degrees and years of practical experience, are readily available to customers. “We truly have spent our whole lives thinking about ways to make more beautiful, more comfortable, and more efficient and effective spaces. Anybody that has questions about any of those things, we’re happy to talk to them, whether it’s just to help brainstorm ideas or talk about options. We have the background to be able to do that.” ML
HESTIA [ the collection ]
23217 Meetinghouse Lane, Suite 101
Aldie, VA 20105
Published in the December 2024 issue of Middleburg Life.