Nest & Nook Housewares Shares the Local Love in Sidney and Beyond

When Misty Coldwell approached Lindsay Trudeau on a whim about opening a decor and homewares store, Lindsay was initially hesitant. She didn’t have experience in retail or owning a business. “It was all very new to me,” she recalls. “But then I thought about it, and I was like, you know what? Why not? Sure, let’s take this leap together.”

It helped that Misty was no stranger to entrepreneurship. Her mom owned a clothing boutique in Sidney, which she took over in 2017 after retiring from law. So, with Misty’s retail background and Lindsay’s design expertise, the friends (and neighbours) opened Nest & Nook Housewares in 2019. Here, the two share what’s trending for the holidays and some of their favourite Sidney small businesses.

What was the first year like after opening the shop?

Lindsay: The first year was pretty good. We had a good rhythm going. We had a smaller space when we first opened, and I feel like we were really welcomed into Sidney. Then COVID hit, and a lot of changes happened to all the businesses. We were lucky enough to have our website up and running just before COVID started. And that’s honestly when we grew quite a bit through our online presence and online sales, thankfully. A lot of people turned to online shopping during COVID.

Misty: That was just the natural progression, so we were posting on social media a lot and spending a lot of time making our website beautiful. So, we had a lot of love and effort going that direction, and then all of a sudden COVID occurred, and we just continued that momentum.

How would you describe Nest & Nook’s aesthetic?

Misty: Since we’re in Sidney by the sea, we started quite coastal. We’ve shifted a little bit as trends do. We’re still into very bright, airy aesthetics and the coastal vibe, but we’re also still traditional and timeless. We’re inspired by people like Studio McGee.

Lindsay: Yeah, and Monika Hibbs. We’re very into trends, and we try to follow the up-and-coming to stay current with what we’re bringing in. People always come to us because they know we bring in what’s on trend at the time. There’s something for everybody.

Misty: We not only do home decor or styling pieces, but we also have rugs, pillows, some furniture, prints and, of course, all the little styling knick-knacks as well. Everything that would make your house a home, and bring in the warmth, love and a cozy feeling.

Is there a trend that you’re really loving right now?

Lindsay: Right now, we’re really focused on Christmas. That’s been our focus basically since August. Really, the whole year round is Christmas; it’s definitely our biggest time of year. But this Christmas, we’re seeing a lot of bows, woods and greens.

Misty: Lots of organics, even holiday and non-holiday. There are lots of different wood tones, lacquered brass and yeah, greenery, so more natural elements.

Lindsay: I think a lot of people are pivoting from the bright white aesthetic and moving towards a bit more of a cozier aesthetic with darker paint colours, darker furniture and pillow choices. A little bit more depth.

Is there an item or a brand in your shop that you really love?

Misty: Greenery is just a huge item in our store that we love. We carry some amazing greenery that looks so real. Even all year round, we carry beautiful stems like hydrangeas and cosmos that look and feel real. During the Christmas season, garlands, wreaths and stems are always a must-have—we love them because they look so real. They’ve come so far from years ago.

With respect to brands, one of our home decor brands is called Indaba, they’re based in Parksville on Vancouver Island. It’s a mother and daughter, and they make amazing products. We carry a ton of their Christmas decor, but also all of their everyday decor, like pillows and rugs. We do a seasonal home decor box, and we’ve partnered with them for a couple of our box items.

Do you have a favourite cafe or coffee shop in Sidney?

Misty: Definitely Grays Cafe in Sidney.

Lindsay: Yeah, it’s owned by two sisters. They have amazing coffee, smoothies and salads. They have this house salad, which has the most amazing dressing. We eat their salads every other day, or at least weekly for sure. It’s local, organic, healthy and definitely a popular place in Sidney.

If you have an event, where are you going to shop for a new outfit?

Misty: Our store space is connected to my clothing store, Miss Bliss Boutique. It’s women’s fashion and everyday wear. We try to focus on all age ranges for Sidney, and there are new arrivals every week. We try to keep on trend, while still carrying really classic items.

We do Tuesday tours of Nest and Nook, so every Tuesday we feature new products, and we always make sure to dress in beautiful Miss Bliss clothes. We’re always wearing Miss Bliss outfits for the holiday sip and shop.

Do you have a favourite restaurant in Sidney if you’re having a night out with friends?

Lindsay: There are a few in Sidney, but if we were having a girls’ night, we’d probably do the Surly Mermaid. It’s on the water, where the harbour is.

Misty: It has a really nice ambience. It’s a nice local restaurant.

Where are you going to unwind after a long day (that’s not your home)?

Misty: Across the street from Nest and Nook, there’s this amazing wine and cheese shop called The Farmer’s Daughter. We often will get some delicious grilled cheese for staff meals, but it’s also a great place to just sit and enjoy a glass of wine or a cheese board. It’s in a beautiful little alley, and it has a really nice vibe.

Since you’re by the coast, is there a spot in Sidney where you enjoy spending time outdoors?

Lindsay:Butchart Gardens is a beautiful spot to stroll and walk around. But Sidney has so many walking trails and beaches that, really, you could walk towards the water and go left or right and walk along the beachfront. Just walking around Sidney and poking around all the shops (and shopping locally) is a really great way to spend an afternoon.