“Antiques Are the Ultimate Recycling”— a love letter to Downstairs at Felton Antiques

At color theory Boston, one of our defining design principles is to always infuse a one-of-a-kind sensibility into our clients’ homes, as well as our own. In our experience, in order to create not just a beautiful living space but one that is a true expression of its inhabitants, there should be elements of meaning beyond what simply looks good, whether that be collected art from travel or a personal collection of something offbeat and quirky. If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that we are vintage fanatics and are always out scouting for unique décor pieces which evoke an emotional response, harken to another time or place, and bring an element of surprise to a space, case in point our Celadon refresh for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Going forward, we will be shining a spotlight on some of our favorite small businesses which we frequent for vintage treasure hunting, and whose selection is always covetable.

First stop- Downstairs at Felton Antiques which we have been visiting for the better part of 15 years! Tucked away on an unassuming side street in Waltham, Ma. is a cozy but surprisingly expansive multi-dealer shop, chock full of vintage and antique finds from every era. And don’t let the name fool you- the entrance is located at the top of a small set of steps. Owner Hope Chudy, who we lovingly refer to as “Miss Hope”, offers a warm welcome to everyone who walks through the door and on any given day can expertly assist in directing you towards any specific items for which you may be searching. (Quick sidenote. "Miss Hope" came about when we were instilling proprer manners with our then 3 year old daughter, Clara, and we would say to Clara, "Okay, time to go see "Miss Hope" in which Clara would jump to her feet in excitement.) Whether it’s mid-century art or ephemera, art deco lighting, turn of the century ceramic “smalls” or Native American silver and turquoise, the scope of this shop runs the full gamut of everything that we personally gravitate towards, but there is truly something for everyone at any price point.

Our most recent visit to Downstairs at Felton Antiques was on Wednesday, January 7th—and it happened to be Brad’s birthday. When asked how he wanted to spend the day, his answer was immediate and predictable: “Let’s go see Miss Hope.” It had been three months since our last visit, when we were deep in the midst of our Mandarin Oriental Hotel Spa project, and the turnover of new merchandise was unmistakable. This constant evolution is precisely why Downstairs at Felton remains one of our favorite antique and vintage destinations in New England. As designers, we rely on trusted resources that continually inspire us with fresh finds, and this shop never fails to deliver—each visit offering something new, unexpected, and irresistibly special. And this visit proved to be no exception. During a September stop at Hope’s shop, we encountered a striking framed work by abstract painter Hagop Chakrian (1929–2006), also known as Hagop Chah—an artwork that lingered in our minds long after we left. We were immediately drawn to its quiet simplicity and commanding presence; for us, it struck a perfect balance. As fate would have it, the piece had been marked down by 30 percent. That was all the confirmation we needed—it was destined to come home with us.

Kendra has always had a fascination with Egyptian art and jewelry, and our bedroom is happily adorned with her growing collection of these treasured pieces. So when we spotted a hand-carved statue of an Egyptian male tucked inside a glass cabinet—priced at just $30—it immediately caught her eye.

Directly behind it sat an Art Deco–era Geisha sculpture, made in Italy by E & R, a medium Brad has long loved collecting. At $38, it was an undeniable steal. Somehow, the fact that these two pieces were displayed side by side felt like a sign. Needless to say, they made their way home together—and in our experience, that’s often how the best finds happen.

For Hope, having grown up in the retail and wholesale world, the idea of owning her own store was not a far-off dream. “My parents had a retail store and a wholesale business, so I’ve been around this since I was a kid! I used to redo the shop windows every month when I was a teenager.” Hope initially started out as a vendor renting space under previous ownership, when the shop was in fact located in a basement next door to the current location. She then graduated to working a few days a week in the shop and when the owner wanted to sell, she jumped at the chance. Fast-forward to 2025 and hitting the 20-year milestone with a thriving and sustainable business. It goes without saying that in an era of fast home fashion of declining quality, directing your resources towards décor which has stood the test of time and lived a life of its own is not only environmentally and economically sound, but will give your home a character which cannot be bought at your local big-box store. Hope herself says it best- “Antiques are the ultimate in recycling.”

So the next time you’re in the mood to uncover your next vintage treasure, do yourself a favor and pay a visit to our friend, “Miss Hope.” Be sure to tell her color theory Boston sent you—we have a feeling you’ll be very glad you did.

Fun facts! Hope’s favorite color is orange, and she’s a BIG Bruce Springsteen fan.

Downstairs at Felton Antiques is located at 100 Felton St., Waltham, Ma. 02453 Shop Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon - Sunday (CLOSED on Tuesday)

Follow on Instagram @feltonantiques