SHOP LOCAL Twin Elm Farm Peterborough NH

Louise York, proprietor of Twin Elm Farm, admires her store with a childish gleam in her eyes. &emsp;"I've always wanted to have a shop ever since I was a little girl," she says. &emsp;From the front parlor, the laugh of Delila Daisy, one of York's managers, echoes through the store. Outside, the sky threatens rain, but the grayness only serves to accentuate the store's charm. &emsp;Located on Route 101 just north of downtown Peterborough, Twin Elm Farm makes for an enviable New Hampshire setting. The building is a white,19th century clapboard farmhouse with an attached barn, wraparound front porch, granite steps, and stone walled flower beds. It's a welcoming exterior. &emsp;The day of my visit, York laments that the shop's inventory was a little empty, though it didn't seem that way to me. The main parlor is filled with attractive furnishings. Hutches, chairs, ceramic mugs, area rugs, and regional postcards are just a few of the eye-catching items on display. &emsp;The shop is divided into two sections: house and barn. The house is split up into five rooms, in which five separate vendors have their items on display. &emsp;"I wanted a place where I could have vendors," York says. "Not everything is to my taste, but why should it be? There is something for everyone here." &emsp;York, a New Hampshire native, spent the majority of her career in and out of retail. In 2011, she finally decided to pursue her childhood dream and open her shop. &emsp;"It's an amazing location," York says. &emsp;Twin Elm Farm has attracted 30 vendors, who each pay a monthly rental fee for their spaces. &emsp;With that many vendors, it'd be easy to think of the store as chaotic and mismatched. But nothing could be further from the truth. Although there is certainly an eclectic mix of furnishings — including one room dedicated almost entirely to crochet coasters and placemats — not a single item feels out of place. &emsp;One of the larger rooms is rented by Days Gone By Antiques. Their set up includes furniture, pottery, weathervanes and china. The next room has a kitchen theme, with displays of thick, French-style glassware, hand towels, European textiles, and boutique soaps. A shallow-pitched ramp leads down towards the barn and is flanked by a wall filled with beautiful watercolor paintings and handmade jewelry. &emsp;On our way to the barn, we bump into a couple from Connecticut who stopped in on a whim. It is their first time at the store, and they make their way slowly through each room. As we enter the barn, York leans over and says softly: "You can always tell who the newbies are. The regulars walk through much faster." &emsp;The barn is a commanding space. Large double doors allow light to stream into this painstakingly restored structure. The floorboards are wide and rough-hewn. Enormous rafters hold wooden signs affixed with the names of New England locations or humorous phrases. &emsp;Though far more spacious than the main house, the barn is packed tightly. Browsing through the vendor sections, I find vintage catalogs for a canoe company in Peterborough, Ontario, nautical themed tables filled with seashells, wooden potting benches loaded with antique gardening equipment, a rack of mineral paint, swinging doors, armoires, books, lamps, statues, vibrant green succulents, wooden towel hangers painted to look like tiles (which I bought), assorted chairs, and a section devoted entirely to boutique clothing. &emsp;I remark on the diversity of the products. York grins. &emsp;"There is something for everyone here," she reiterates. &emsp;Out through another set of glass double doors near the back of the barn is the gravel patio, where a collection of painted iron garden decor — chairs, trellises and flower baskets — sits artfully arranged. &emsp;The weather begins to betray itself and the rain starts to fall steadily as we return inside. York mentions that the store will soon be fit to bursting both with customers and products. &emsp;"Fall through Christmas are by far our busiest seasons," she says. &emsp;As I get ready to leave, I ask York why she loves her business so much. Without hesitation, she answers: "It's just fun. Buying and selling, for me, is a blast." &emsp;That sentiment is plainly evident in every nook and cranny of Twin Elm Farm. But don't just take my word for it. Head over to Peterborough and check things out yourself. BOX Twin Elm Farm LLC 133 Wilton Road (Route 101) Peterborough, NH 03458 603-784-5341 twinelmfarm.com HOURS: Mon-Sat, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.