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(Photo by Anna Nguyen)
Sure, even locals love perusing the coastal-chic selections in retail-heavy areas like Third Street South, Waterside Shops and Downtown Fort Myers. But those truly in the know gravitate toward tucked-away boutiques with a distinct point of view, shops that extend beyond being retail spaces into full lifestyle shops, where every tabletop has been considered, and displays are arranged into vignettes that allow you to envision yourself living among the vines in Napa or a cottage along the coast. The growing crop of concept shops in the region rely on fine-tuned curation to deliver an immersive experience, and they’re your best bet for finding a unique souvenir that can fit into your suitcase—or quickly be shipped back home. Along the way, you’ll likely stumble upon an impromptu workshop or meet some like-minded new friends.
Start in Downtown Naples at the husband-and-wife-run Kaleidoscope Home, the source of the beautifully styled arrangements that grace tabletops at galas and weddings around town. You’ll also find floral notes that won’t fade as fast in the form of small-batch perfumes and the shop’s own candles in scents like teakwood and tobacco. Shop plant-lover gifts aligning with the boutique’s bucolic-chic aesthetic (think copper watering cans, botanical puzzles and master-crafted brass-and-iron tailoring shears), and don’t miss the flower bar with exotic and heirloom varieties, and monthly gardening and orchid design and care classes. In the Naples Design District, interior designer Lissa Sabatino’s showroom, L Space & Co., is outfitted with a curated collection of terrazzo tables and woven teak chairs—with an emphasis on female makers—plus beaded chandeliers crafted from quartz chips and oyster. Showroom events take place regularly, highlighting local artists and global designers. Nearby, on 12th Street South, shop for Mediterranean-inspired ceramics, white onyx shot glasses and agate coasters at FEEL AT HOM, where the European-chic curation of housewares and linens will have you feeling like you’ve stepped into a cozy coastal cottage outfitted with sleek Scandinavian touches.
Drive north to Bonita Springs and stop in at artisanal home goods and food shop The Farm Stand at Naples Canning Co., chef David McCone’s year-old brick-and-mortar for the jarred and pick led food he creates in partnership with local farms. In addition to gourmet goods from Naples Canning Co. and local producers like Pine Island’s Pepper Nectar, David stocks everything from cast-iron skillets from Charleston, SC, to pinstripe picnic blankets, antique European breadboards, and farmhouse pottery from Vermont and Tennessee. You’ll also find a selection of small-batch American products, like bourbon barrel-aged Worcestershire sauce from Louisville, KY.
Continue heading north to the historic Downtown Fort Myers River District to Off-White Palette, a project that started during the pandemic as an online retailer with six products and has since morphed into a showroom for tiered chandeliers and wood mirrors, structural alabaster sconces, and spiral, three-legged tables. Founders and sisters Nioby Trivett and Niza Westphalen tailored the decor around their initial design scheme of natural materials in muted shades for a look that’s contemporary and timeless.
One last stop to add to your list is Fort Myers’ Nokomis Home Fragrance, your source for locally made sustainable can dles and room sprays in scents like blue kelp and salt. Envisioned by former pastry chef Lymarie Jimenez, each scent is based on a moment, like cruising a Vespa on the Italian coast, with notes of fresh basil and Calabrian lemon, or walking through a blooming orange grove at sunset in Valencia, Spain. All other home decor (from engraved coasters to embroidered pillows) is crafted by women, and Lymarie’s group classes draw in creative doyennes for private lessons that cap at 12 and make for excellent mingling.