A perfect place for sipping tea & nibbling on a scone.

One of the many charming flower arrangements that give Apotheca such great character.

This morning, I had the pleasure of meeting my girlfriend for tea at our favorite coffee spot. The light & ambience never fail, as Apotheca always blends the rustic with the rusty, in an ecclectic aesthetic that feels funky & fun. The velour tufted chairs complement the chippy paint surfaces & intriguing light fixtures. There are couches and booths, tables & outdoor seating in a garden area, so where you sit largely signals your mood nonverbally to the casual observer.

For me, I waited in the nook below, until my girlfriend arrived. Then, after ordering our tea & treats, we made our way to the velour chairs & couch. At one point, a nice man approached me with a guitar, handing the instrument to me, smiling. “Go ahead & play.” Stunned, I looked at my friend, & the man started laughing, saying he was trying to return it to the stand beside me (which I hadn’t noticed) without being rude. We laughed, & he said I was a good sport, quite affably.

My booth at Apotheca, with neat antique curio, fresh flowers, and plenty of cushions!

Cushions in the tea nook.

Most times, I secure the little nook with curio, especially if my introversion is trumping my dutiful nature in polite socializing. There are many kinds of potables & comestibles to consume, delectable & delightful. A Libra true to my nature, I can infuriate others with my indecision, when making selections. The extra time provided some relief in making such a monumental decision!

This morning, I opted for an Earl Grey tea prepared “London fog” style, since I adore lavender & bergamot. The aromas alone soothe an introvert like me, a perfect blend of floral notes.

A nearby jack-a-lope sits watch over the tea nook.

Another view of the curio nook booth.

At this oasis of sorts, when you nestle in, whether in chair, couch, or booth, you immediately smell the coffee, hear random guitar strumming from vagrant musicians loitering, all the while the whir of grinding coffee beans & high-pitched whoosh of the latte foamer add to the atmosphere. Light chatter can erupt, now & then, just as folks wander in at a leisurely pace. Things are slow here on this Saturday morning.

The little niche by the couches & guitars.

The mix of the organic with the distressed wood & fabric convey a rustic beauty.

And I must admit, this place is one that inspires me with dreams & flights of fancy. The design is ever-changing, like the gypsy heart of the creator, Alyssa Van Guilder. Alyssa has helped me find unique pieces & plants for the farm. She’s a fan of terrariums, handmade crafts, & indie art. She’s quite a lovely bohemian, a willowy natural beauty whose love for the place permeates every square inch.

(Clearly, Alyssa Van Guilder has created a place of love & beauty, & the residents of Goffstown, NH, certainly benefit from her vision. If you’re curious to know more about the shop & its creative team, please see: http://apothecaflowershoppe.com/about-us for additional information. Their floral arrangement work for weddings & magazine spreads are quite exquisite.)

Funny enough, I haven’t even unpacked the charm of the floral shop proper in this post. All of this magic pictured in this piece is from in the main tea room… There’s a whole other section, a flower & gift shop that adjoins the tea room, which I will cover in another blog entry to do it justice.

The darling lighting fixtures over the nook, in the main tea room.

Lovely signage abounds, which has inspired my own love of chippy old signs in my home design at the farmhouse.

As you can certainly see, a place like Apotheca is a perfect haven for introverts & creatives. Not only can you find the perfect caffeinated beverage with accompanying delectable treat, but you’ll find so many a great objet d’art to tantalize the eye. So much heart & creativity has been poured into this space. Alyssa is a more literary & worldly, vagabond heart version of a kind of Joanna Gaines with her stunning aesthetic of industrial farmhouse & tea, treats, & books. Every single item has been curated with care.

If you get a chance to come out the way of Goffstown, NH, then make a point of seeing Apotheca. You won’t regret it!

More flowers & rustic wood.

And a hint of more cool light fixtures to come in the next blog post about Apotheca.