above: One of the many charming vignette’s you’ll find at The Barns: a barn star, contemporary still life painting by Thad Hayes and an early American fish trade sign flanked by Wicker chairs and newly upholstered x-benches in Quadrille fabric – Photographs: Jane Beiles
Looking to feather your nest with one-of-a-kind finds and pieces that stand the test of time? Interior designer and antiques dealer Ali Mahon can be your guide at The Barns, a by-appointment shopping experience on the grounds of her 1804 home. Inside the two beautifully restored red barns on the property, she is showcasing her collections, which include American, Swedish, French, Spanish and Italian furnishings, art and accessories, whatever catches her eye.
“I buy what I love,” says Ali, who is a Greenwich native. Coming from a long line of collectors and following in her mother’s footsteps as an antiques dealer, she has a history of acquiring pieces with history. “I love the objects. I love the pieces of the puzzle and, to me, interior design is like the whole puzzle coming together.”
Now she’s helping clients and homeowners to source those pieces with provenance, finds that will give their spaces character and make them memorable. “The best homes come from taking your time, layering, having stories, having heirlooms, the things that were your parents’, or the little things that your kids remember,” she says. “It’s so much more meaningful and gives the home personality.”
Though some people associate antiques with older people, Ali says there’s a new audience for pieces that are recycled and repurposed. Young couples moving up from the city are taking an interest in a more collected look and pieces built to last, rather than starkly modern or “fast” furniture that wears out quickly. Ali likes to refresh some older pieces, she says, pointing to a pair of Chinese Chippendale armchairs she sourced from the Greenwich estate of the late designer Mario Buatta, with cushions she covered in a contemporary Sanderson fabric.
The Barns bring together a wide range of collectibles, from Italian brass urns, trade signs, weathervanes and game boards to a circa-1860 American painted cupboard and 1770 Gustavian Medallion-back armchairs finished in Colefax & Fowler fabric. Ali has a keen eye for repurposing older pieces, like an antique wooden barrel top that has such an interesting grain and texture, it works well as wall art.
Ali’s well-edited collection balances old with nearly-new featuring handsome rattan chairs from 2019 alongside a painted Danish table from 1790. “I love the mix,” she says. For example, “mixing true contemporary art with the old. That’s how you make it not look stuffy.” In addition to in-person shopping at The Barns, there’s also an online shop and Ali’s frequently updated Instagram. If she doesn’t have it, Ali is open to wish lists and hunting for specific items. “If there’s something you want, I can find it.” thebarnsbyalimahon.com