West Elm welcomed their new concept shop with a grand opening celebration in April — a month also dedicated to decorating and home décor. West Elm Market takes a rustic and raw approach to retail. Think farmer’s market meets urban-chic boutique. The purveyor of all that is pure and pretty specializes in locally grown provisions, handcrafted kitchen accouterments and unique garden gadgets. Market also sells specialty goods ranging from sauces to scrubs.
Décor devotees mingled about the organic-infused space sipping cocktails and relishing the earth tones and clean lines that give West Elm and Market a serene and spend-worthy setting. I felt right at home surrounded by an abundance of furnishings accented with soft grays, baby blues and sunny yellows. I must confess, the rooms in my home aspire to mimic the beauty found in each display.
If you don’t know me by now, I’m a far cry from Martha Stewart and a bit of a hazard in the kitchen…just ask Mr. Chat. Seeing as Market was offering a demonstration with their Damascus Steel Knife, I decided to give it a go.
Sarah, a slicing superstar, spoke with me about the precision piece. “The knife is honed at a 16 degree edge so it’s very sharp and you can cut easily,” she said. Sarah was patient as I became familiar with the knife’s high carbon stainless steel blade. “The steel is one piece to the back of the handle. It has a full tang so that you get a nice even balance on the blade,” she added.
The sleek handle, carved from olive wood, did most of the work, so only minimal pressure was needed. After a tutorial, or two, or three, I had finally mastered the movement and cut my carrot into petite portions perfect for a salad. Voilà!
West Elm Market is located at 160 Brookline Avenue in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. No fingers were lost as a result of this story.