Deborah Eldridge’s delightful shop, Huntington & Hope, is filled with
one-of-a-kind antiques and collectibles from the English countryside.
In a historical building in the center of Washington Depot is Huntington & Hope, a charming shop that sells beautiful objects from the past. The store may not be big, but it packs a lot of punch within its space. Styled beautifully and tastefully, every inch of this charming store has been carefully considered and arranged to display many items, each with its own rich history. The shop’s owner, Deborah Eldridge, has put together an eclectic mix of old and new items for sale— from gardening items to rugs, from books and prints to linens and candles—all for the country home.
Founded in 2007, the store is named after Deborah’s two children. Originally from Chicago, Deborah moved to the Northwest Corner ten years ago. In addition to raising her family, Deborah worked at an executive search firm in Chicago, but she always loved collecting and the art of decoration. Not surprisingly, she has a degree in art history.
With her shop, Deborah is able to combine her passions and use her talents. She enjoys the art of finding something for someone. In conversations with antiques sellers, she discovers the lore behind the items she finds and passes it on to her customers.
Two or three times a year, Deborah Eldridge ventures out into the small country towns outside London, England looking for unusual objects to bring back to her shop. Along with other dealers, she gets up before the crack of dawn and scours through tag sales, estate or manor sales, church bazaars, school fairs, and flea markets searching for pieces that she knows will be appreciated by the folks back home, who live in the Northwest Corner of Connecticut, as well as the weekenders and visitors from New York. “I always buy what I love,” Deborah says, but with her impeccable instinct for finding the most beautiful (and practical) items, chances are that her clientele will also fall in love with them.
She rummages through dusty attics, holding her “torch” (the Brits’ term for flashlights) while digging up pitchers, old books, china, silverware, prints, and so much more. “If it was made in the world, you’ll find it in the fields of England. The British save everything. They love their treasures and finery. They take really good care of their possessions, and hold onto things for a long time, so I am able to acquire objects that are in really good shape—top quality items—some of which are hundreds of years old.”
She hand selects every item, carefully and lovingly cleans or polishes them, and hand packs them before shipping everything over to the States. By doing the packing herself, she is able to pass on the savings to her customers, keeping her prices reasonable once the pieces are back home and on the shelves in her shop.
One of the shop’s specialties is hotel silver, or fine silver. Made of copper or brass and dipped in silver plate, it has heft. Known as Sheffield Plate, these pieces were in great demand two hundred years ago. Nowadays, collectors find solace in the rarity and superior beauty of these earlier pieces of silver plate. There are implements for everything, some with wonderful monograms, or The King’s Pattern, and The Queen’s Pattern. There are tea sets with ivory handles and beautiful candlesticks. Fortunately for us, Deborah knows what to look for in identifying Sheffield Plate items and has an impressive collection of fine English silver to choose from.
If you like old prints, the shop carries many old copper etchings from England. Using her experienced eye, Deborah has the prints restored, and then displayed in archival mattes with UV glass and tasteful frames. Immensely popular are the dog etchings by well-known illustrators such as Marguerite Kirmse, Lucy Dawson, and Cecil Alden.
Used books can also be found at Huntington & Hope. On the tables and shelves is a wide range of genres — fiction (including a good selection of classics), gardening, decorating, travel, humor, biographies, children’s and art books — some out of print. There are many rare and first editions, and often signed copies. Hanging in the store is a sign that reads: Be green, buy a used book.
If you’re a gardener, you’ll appreciate the statuary, signage, and pots — antique Edwardian urns, and swans or geese made from sandstone in Normandy. For the kitchen or dining room, there are white ironstone pitchers and milk jugs from England, and beautiful pottery. Just by browsing, one can find fresh ideas and ways to display these one-of-a-kind pieces. A lot of love and passion has been put into the presentation.
Among these treasures from the past are some new products as well. Deborah now carries Laura Slatkin’s Nest line of fragrant candles, soaps, and diffusers, all made in the USA, with gorgeous packaging. The Dash & Albert rugs come in classic stripes made in cotton, wool, or polypropylene for indoor/outdoor uses or for high-traffic areas. The Libeco linens are made in Belgium. They are inherently ecological, extraordinarily comfortable, and beautiful. For original and unusual greeting cards, Deborah carries simple designs made by independent letterpress printers. Indeed, if you are looking for a special present, you can find the gift and the card, and leave the wrapping to be done right there at the shop. The giftwrap is complimentary and looks great. And did we mention that she ships worldwide?
The shop’s clientele is a mix of New Yorkers, local residents, and weekend visitors. Deborah says she is “grateful to our local shoppers and weekend guests.” She has regular customers and a preferred client list, who get notified with advance emails when shipments arrive from England or France. Deborah knows who collects what and is always thinking of her customers when she is on a buying trip. “That’s the fun of it. You have to be thinking on your feet,” she says. Lucky for us, she does the searching and the bartering, so we can enjoy the beauty of the objects in our homes. This shop is a real gem and not to be missed!
For newly arrived gardening antiques, check out Huntington & Hope’s stall at the Trade Secrets Plant and Garden Antiques Sale in Sharon on May 18 and 19. www.tradesecretsct.com
Huntington & Hope
2 Green Hill Road
(at the corner of Routes 47 and 109)
Washington Depot
860.868.2424
www.huntingtonandhope.com
