Main Street Business

When Kaleigh Kelley opened The McKenzie Shoppe in Sharon, CT, she wanted to do something different. Given that there are quite a few home goods shops in the region, she wanted to make sure that she was providing something unique to the community. 

“I wanted to create a shop that had unique vendors with an emphasis on handmade artistry. There are many great shops within a 45-minute radius, so I wanted to make sure that I was doing something different,” Kaleigh explained. “I spent a lot of time sourcing from vendors that aren’t in other local shops. I want to ensure that I’m carrying things that you want to bring home because you don’t see them very often.” 

Making the jump from media to design

Originally from Simsbury, CT, Kaleigh relocated to Millbrook, NY, in early 2024. Prior to interior design, Kaleigh started her career in social media. She previously worked in media partnerships for Meta (formerly Facebook) in New York City, where she focused on working with influencers and celebrities on creating their brand image. 

Kaleigh has always been creative. As a child, she was constantly painting her bedroom walls and rearranging her room. While she was working with a lot of creatives during her time in social media, she increasingly felt the urge to be creative herself, and thus spawned her interest in interior design. 

In March of 2020, Kaleigh got the itch to explore a new career path, so she started taking interior design classes through the Parsons School of Design. While taking classes virtually at Parsons, she moved to Boston to work for a design firm, where she was able to get firsthand experience running their shop. 

“I started thinking about what it would be like to have my own shop. I came to Sharon one day for coffee, saw the ‘for rent’ sign in the window, and it was like fate,” she shared. “I hadn’t spent a lot of time in Sharon, but when we first drove through the town, it just stopped me in my tracks because it was so beautiful. I knew this is where I was meant to be.” 

Kaleigh secured the spot at 81 Main Street in April and opened The McKenzie Shoppe’s doors by the end of June. 

Curating a collection of handmade goodies

Even before Kaleigh planned to open her own shop, she had been sourcing and collecting vendors to keep in her back pocket for later use. She’s constantly searching for new vendors when she’s traveling, and also sources directly from trade shows throughout the region. 

What does she look for when sourcing vendors? “I want to know the background and the story of every product that I carry. It’s important to me. I’m always searching for new local artists and vendors.” 

Indeed, on the shelves you can find books from local authors, including Nora Murphy and Bunny Williams, as well as products from makers across the globe. Gracing the shelves are luxury candles from Caroline Francis, a landscape designer and architect turned candle-maker based out of Los Angeles, as well as Irish mohair throw blankets that are produced by a family in Ireland. On the wall behind the check-out counter, you can find hand-marbled plates made by a woman located in Philadelphia. “Each plate is so unique and beautiful.” 

All of the furniture in The McKenzie Shoppe is made in the USA and crafted with an emphasis on quality materials and construction. Additionally, Kaleigh also has a fabric room in the back of the shop, which allows her to custom upholster furniture for her clients. 

“If a customer comes in and loves this fabric, but maybe not the silhouette of the chair, then we can custom design something for them,” she explained. “It makes it more accessible for people to get a piece that is custom-made.” 

All about design

In addition to The McKenzie Shoppe, Kaleigh has also been running her design business, K. Kelley Design. In many ways, the McKenzie Shoppe is a natural extension of her design business and provides a physical space to allow potential clients to come in and get a flavor for her personal taste and design. 

“We often start at a place where we agree on taste or style, but listening is the most important piece of designing,” she emphasized. “When I approach a project, I ask a lot of questions to understand how my client lives. Do they have children or pets that are going to be all over the furniture? How do they spend their weekends? I focus on getting as much information about them as possible. The biggest part with design is that it includes a little bit of mind-reading. It’s a matter of taking in information, but also pushing your client a bit, too.”

K. Kelley Design is full-service, meaning that Kaleigh works on projects from full rooms and full homes, to working with architects on new builds, to helping with tile selection and plumbing fixtures. In other words, Kaleigh can do as much or as little as her client wants. 

When she’s designing a home, she obviously designs it to the client’s taste, but the shop is where she allows her own personal style to shine. Kaleigh describes her style as transitional, but emphasized that she wants things to be both beautiful and comfortable. 

“I believe in being able to sit on your sofa, kick your feet up, and not have to worry about scuffing something. I’d say my style is mostly transitional with a focus on comfort and timeless pieces that you can have forever,” she said. 

“I love to collect things, too,” she continued. “There are some products in the shop that I’ve sourced from antique shops and refinished. I’m a little sad when they sell because I want them for my house,” she laughed. 

Looking ahead 

In the short term, Kaleigh hopes to continue reaching local customers as well as tourists. She’s also hoping for The McKenzie Shoppe to be a community gathering space, and she’s planning on opening the doors for events and collaborations with other small businesses. 

“I want to specifically thank the members of the community as well for being so welcoming. Every person that has come through the door has been kind and supportive. Coming from a bigger city, you don’t experience that as much, so it’s been amazing to meet people and make connections.”

Long term, Kaleigh’s goals are to ensure that the McKenzie Shoppe is a space that people can turn to and know for certain that they’re going to get a quality product or investment piece that they’ll have forever. “When people are looking for meaningful gifts, I want The McKenzie Shoppe to be the first place they think of.” 

“At the end of the day, my favorite part of my job is helping people create a space that brings beauty to their everyday life,” Kaleigh said. “I would love to put the K. Kelley touch on as many homes and lives as possible.” 

The McKenzie Shoppe will be participating in the Holiday House Tour, hosted by the Sharon’s Women Club on December 21 from 4-6pm. Tickets will be sold at the Sharon Historical Society on December 21 from 3-5pm, and all proceeds for the tour will benefit the Sharon Fire Department’s Ambulance Squad. •

Visit The McKenzie Shoppe in person at 81 Main Street, Sharon, CT, or online at themckenzieshoppe.com. K. Kelley Design is currently accepting new design projects. You can contact Kaleigh at hello@themckenzieshoppe.com or kaleigh@kkelleydesign.com.