The Elegant Nest vintage boutique opens in Garden City
Sandy Carol transformed her vintage collecting hobby into The Elegant Nest boutique in Garden City. Credit: Sandy Carol
When Sandy Carol’s youngest child went off to college, she found herself with more free time than she had been used to in the past 22 years. As someone who always took pride in her home and was constantly redecorating, Carol began attending estate sale auctions online and eventually her home was filled with vintage items that she “just couldn’t pass up,” she says.
Just two years later, her newfound hobby has turned into a business venture, and she officially opened her own boutique, The Elegant Nest, in September in Garden City.
Carol’s handyman introduced her to local estate auctions, where she began her initial collection of vintage items — mostly home decor and furniture.
“I just bought the things I personally loved,” Carol says, but after a while, the items she loved were filling her home to the brim. She had the idea to open up a storefront, sharing the treasures she found (but couldn’t keep) with others. That’s how The Elegant Nest came to be, a home decor boutique “where Southern charm meets coastal elegance,” a description inspired by Carol’s love for homey and comforting interior decor, and an homage to her favorite magazines, Southern Living and Coastal Living.
The shop offers a combination of vintage and new items, offering small pieces of furniture such as desks, chairs, bar carts and tables that could be “anywhere from five to 100 years old."
Newer items include accent pieces, housewarming gifts and seasonal accessories that can all be professionally wrapped in the store. And although Carol’s favorite part about her store “is the ability to showcase and make use of vintage items, maybe not in the same way they were originally intended,” she loves her current pieces just as much, working with different artists and businesses from across the country.
Located in Garden City’s downtown area on Nassau Boulevard, on a cozy strip bustling with local shops, The Elegant Nest is a nostalgic experience for shoppers and passersby. Carol notes it’s more than just a boutique— it’s a trip down memory lane, and she enjoys getting to know the stories and family history of her customers, who are often inspired to share and reminisce upon seeing what’s in the store.
Prices range from $2 for holiday handkerchiefs to $400 for vintage art.
The Elegant Nest ,13 Nassau Blvd., Garden City, 516-502-0099, theelegantnestli.com.
