BY SHALEEN DESTEFANO
Becky Miller is the matriarch of Modern Nomad. A boutique brimming with kindred objects, she’s carefully curated with all of us in mind. Beautiful, yet functional everyday essentials, furniture and decor that embody the spirit of travel, adventure and self-exploration. Like many of us, she has weathered major life changes and as a result has come the birth of her new location. All we can say is that this space is special.
You recently closed your doors in RiNo and opened up your new brick and mortar in a brightly lit historical building at 1211 Delaware Street. Before you tell us why you moved, can you tell us about this magical new space?
The building was constructed in 1926 for a chemist. It is one of those rare, single-use retail buildings with the original casement windows. It is roughly 2300 SF up plus a basement. I have always loved the Golden Triangle due to its history and emphasis on the arts, not to mention its central location. We looked at a few retail spaces, but this was love at first sight. The 50-foot long skylight was everything. The space – with its original hardwood floors and open layout, lent itself to my “Paris apartment” vision.
Was there a driving force for your move?
After running a collective in Rino for the past 5 years, I felt that Modern Nomad Home needed a home of its own. I am so proud of what we accomplished, but the collective aspect was challenging. It was time to channel my energy and creativity into my own endeavors. Additionally, personal circumstances led to some major life changes. An evaluation of what serves me and what doesn’t. It’s been an awakening…a rebirth, and it has taught me resilience. It stemmed from a desire to manifest and create my world, versus letting circumstances control me. Underlying all this was the need to be authentic and ultimately free.
Your eye for design is genius, and you have a knack for creating an inviting space. Can you offer a glimpse of what’s inside for anyone who has yet to visit?
I am so fortunate that I love what I do for a living. The concept for the new space was to incorporate a modern general store with new and vintage furniture and accessories. A true home store. One of the commanding features of the space is the kitchen which was inspired by Japan with a Scandinavian simplicity. There are everyday essentials such as stoneware, glassware, kitchen & entertaining necessities, apothecary, textiles, and unique accessories. There is a mini bodega – with adaptogenic drinks, snacks, and hard to find edible items. We also have the cutest baby section, and carry select lines of jewelry, silk robes, and rugs. We source from France, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Turkey, India, the UK, etc. We are after all, modern nomads.
There is an overwhelming sense of community inside your walls. Whether it’s your own warm presence or the carefully curated pieces that are held inside. What does being a shop owner mean to you?
Community is so important to me. Especially after the pandemic. I feel like we are all still crawling out of our caves trying to find how and where we fit into this rapidly changing society. We have lost the village. The movie Chocolat comes to mind. Small shops were an integral part of daily life – even if just to socialize. It is so unfulfilling hitting a button to purchase everyday items. There is a simplicity and authenticity that comes with being a shop owner. It is a chance to create beauty, cultivate community and employ a sense of wonder. To intentionally create a world and provide a tactile experiencet inspires me as well.
You currently have multiple vendors inside your walls. Can you tell us about each? Do you plan on inviting other pop-ups in your shop?
I brought on my dear friend Tina Ulibarri of Two Kisses Jewelry. Tina is a 2nd generation metalsmith and Colorado native who makes beautiful jewelry that is inspired by nature, but has an edge. Her creativity knows no bounds and she incorporates elements like African beads, bone, coral, leather, and natural stone with brass and silver.
Emily Kaler of Relic Vintage also joined us. I loved the idea of having a vintage boutique in the store…tres Paris apartment! If you know Emily, she is a ray of sunshine and positivity, and she brings that energy to her vintage aesthetic. I love seeing what she brings in and how she incorporates it. She keeps us young at heart and we all love working together.
Our new space is more calm and intimate. The idea of working side-by-side with like-minded business owners is still a win-win for me. I have dreams of starting an outdoor vintage market – like the ones you see in NYC during the summer. It would include other vendors, but for the time being, we’re focusing on what we’ve built.
You’ve seen a lot of change over the last year. How do you envision this new space evolving?
These past 2 years have brought nothing but drastic change, so I am really looking forward to laying a solid foundation based on consistency and longevity at the new shop. The Golden Triangle neighborhood is changing rapidly, and is underserved in terms of restaurants and retail. My desire is for Modern Nomad Home to be an integral part of the neighborhood and provide an immersive creative and social space.
This new space lends easily to housing events. Is this something you would consider?
Absolutely. We’ve already received so much great feedback from the community, and plan to host markets, events and dinner parties. We are just at the beginning of week 3, but I’d say we’re off to an excellent start. I couldn’t be happier to have landed where we did. There is a lot of serendipity at work and I am just so grateful for change and new beginnings.
Becky, your vision has come to life once again, and we are so grateful to be a part of the story. If you’d like to learn more visit modernnomadhome.com or in person at 1211 Delaware St.