Hidden Treasure
The signs were strong early in life that Commission Mart owner Pamela Frisoli was destined to sell furniture.
“When I was quite young, I put our family living room furniture on the front lawn and tried to sell it to the neighbors. I was doing fairly well until my father came home. He realized I had sold a few pieces, and needless to say, he wasn’t too happy.” However silly this early bit of mischief was, it ignited a passion that is seen when you walk through Pamela’s store, Commission Mart, located in Cos Cob, CT. Known to many insiders as the “go-to” consignment shop in Greenwich, Commission Mart has a decidedly new and different feel.Just over a year ago, Pamela updated the store and transformed it into a hip, sophisticated boutique featuring stylish vintage furniture and accessories from early to late twentieth century.
As you talk with Pamela, it is quite obvious she is very particular about what she features in her shop. “I consider myself to be part editor, part designer. I have furniture dealers from across the country bring me pieces. I choose what I think is the very best considering both value and design.” It is her distinctive eye as well as her ability to update older furniture with new finishes that has interior designers and style-conscious consumers making her store a weekly stop on their hunt for one-of-a-kind pieces.
Pamela believes in the quality of vintage furniture, “I encourage people to consider craftsmanship and design over trendy new furniture. If you want a new look, reupholster an older piece with a fresh fabric. When you invest in a piece that has been around for 60 years, I guarantee it will be around for another 60.” This encouragement to buy vintage is both homage to the design esthetic, as well as an appealing way to find pieces that work within a budget. “Discovering new life in an older piece of furniture is what gets me excited. I love the mix of old and new and I certainly want my customers to know that all great décor considers this marriage.”
The new Commission Mart is a warm and inviting space where one can find an exceptional array of designer vintage furniture, as well as affordable no-name items that look great. Commission Mart by Pamela is located at 245 East Putnam Ave in Cos Cob. Inventory changes daily. To make a personal appointment with Pamela Frisoli, call 203-869-5512, or visit her website at www.commissionmart.com.
