The treasures inside this Sandwich newcomer encourage gracious living and entertaining.
by Jennifer Sperry
Photographs by Sandra Costello Photography
She noticed it while out for a bracing walk one winter night, shortly after moving to the village. “I’ve always loved Sandwich Village, and the building caught my eye,” recalls interior designer Leslie-jon Vickory of the moment when she spotted the historic mercantile—her soon-to-be store.
A few years after this wintery encounter, the building sold, and Vickory and her fiancé, architect Kahlil Hamady, decided to make the space their own. “While the work of Hamady Architects spans from Boston to New York to Virginia and beyond, we envisioned Jarves & Main as a combination design studio and retail space,” explains Vickory, adding that Hamady splits his time between Sandwich and an office in Greenwich, Connecticut.
“We really wanted the look of the store to reflect Sandwich’s architectural history,” notes the designer. She maintained the façade’s dark green hue, punctuating it with hand-lettered words that preface what awaits inside: “Architecture, Interiors, Life Style.” New flower boxes lend extra charm to the shop’s presentation on the corner of its namesake streets.
“The historic district likes to keep signage to a minimum, and we wanted even less than that minimum, to let the handsomeness of the building speak for itself,” explains Vickory. Hanging over the front door, its diminutive sign—also hand-painted by artisan Jess Marsh from Western Massachusetts—sets the tone for the level of handcraft prioritized inside.
Jarves & Main’s thoughtfully curated merchandise includes custom furniture crafted in New England as well as home décor and personal accessories made in the US, the UK, Europe, and eastward. “I choose items based on a narrative of how a gracious home can feel,” says the owner. “I assemble a living area as well as a fully appointed dining room vignette with glassware and place settings. I’ve had customers walk in and say, ‘Wow, I want to live here,’ ” she describes with a smile.
In one section, a full canopy bed anchors a collection of luxe bedding and Vickory’s custom-designed decorative pillows. In another, an apothecary engages the senses with hand-milled soaps and fragrances from France and the American-made Casewell-Massey Heritage line. Shoes crafted from vintage Turkish carpets partner with clothing by French maker Saint James, which originated the classic Breton shirt. Fresh flowers commingle with art pieces and collectible books.
To Vickory, her store represents an opportunity to make home wares and fine gifts accessible. She delights in helping residents outfit their local home or shipping items for visitors flying home instead of driving.
In comparison to other home goods stores, Jarves & Main “comes from our interior design and architectural backgrounds,” contends Vickory. “Our product lines expand on the Cape’s traditional beachy style to celebrate gracious living, whether by the sea or someplace else.”
The couple’s worldliness informs the store’s tone as well: Hamady has worked in England and throughout Europe while, pre-pandemic, both Hamady and Vickory spent part of each year in Paris teaching a course in French classical architecture and craftsmanship, as well as a course Vickory developed for budding interior designers. Having lived in New York and Boston, among other locales, the design experts always kept Sandwich, their favorite summer destination, near to their hearts.
“We were charmed by Sandwich, and we live here now,” summarizes Vickory, who still provides interior design services on a limited basis. “We are proud to be a part of our town’s rich history and heritage.”
