A NEW independent shop, Baxter, has opened its doors on Cork Street – offering a selection of old and new homewares, furniture, curiosities, ceramics and art.
Baxter is owned by interior designer Charles Prior who has 24 years experience of working in the industry. Speaking to Frome Times, Charles said, “I have been primarily working in Australia and a little in the UK. I was quite well regarded in Australia, I was featured in a number of magazines and had the pick of clients. But I decided it was time to take things a little slower and move to Frome.
“Since opening, business has been pretty good – there has been a great response from locals and there have been a number of repeat customers. People like the feel and look of the store – there’s something for everyone; you can buy a gift for a reasonable price, or save up for something special for yourself.
“At Baxter, which is named after my middle name, I offer a curated collection of objects from a mix of local and international suppliers. No-one lives in a space that has just new or old objects – it’s become a way of life to live amongst an eclectic mix of items that might be brand new, vintage, picked up at auctions.
“Baxter has homewares, ceramics and curiosities for the home, ranging from £5 succulent plants to £1,950 bronze sculptures and everything in between.
“I also want to encourage people to shop more sustainably – for example, we sell organic cotton shopping bags, candles made by The Recycled Candle Company, which uses recycled candle wax from places like churches and bars. And buying pre-loved, vintage items helps buy into the idea of a sustainable lifestyle – people would rather buy something of quality rather than something disposable.
“The store is also supporting local artists, such as Bruton-based ceramicist Richard Pommeroy and local sculpture Quentin Fleming. Baxter will be running workshops in Frome, offering people the opportunity to get a ‘taste of interior design’.
“I’ve been teaching interior design for 18 years at various locations around the world. We will be offering workshops starting on Sunday 18th August through to October. The workshops will be for five hours starting with a friendly chat and a cup of tea, before launching into a series of practical and theoretical aspects of interior design.”
Baxter is open 10am to 4pm, Wednesdays to Saturdays and open on Frome Independent Market days – it is also open by appointment. For more details visit: www.baxtergroup .co.uk
