Maine road trip continues, Wiscasset and The Marston House
Continuing on our journey, we drove to Wiscasset, a very pretty little village and also the antique center of coastal Maine. I had driven through last summer and was very impressed with one shop in particular called The Marston House, in a very beautiful 19th century carriage house.  Owners, Paul and Sharon Mrozinski, focus on American and French 18th, 19th, and 20th century furniture, textiles, and decorative objects. Their friend and neighbor, Diane Haas, who is a friend of my friend, Jane Heller, helped us with the itinerary of this trip. Paul, Sharon, and Diane were kind enough to invite my little group of traveling ladies for an excellent lunch prepared in the kitchen of the shop. The food was colorful, fresh, organic, and very, very delicious.
Martha,
You make my day with your adventures everday I just can wait to read your blog the first thing every morning. I just love it.
Bernadette
Posted by: Bernadette | July 29th, 2009 at 7:05 am
I'm so glad the weather in Maine is cooperating with your trip! It has been horribly damp and dreary here until this week. ENJOY!
Posted by: Heidi | July 29th, 2009 at 7:07 am
How lovely to be met with a wonderful lunch! If only Maine were not so far away...
Posted by: The Blushing Hostess | July 29th, 2009 at 7:14 am
WOW! What and inspiring and beautiful shop! We live in Texas, and my 16 year old daughter has always wanted to visit Maine. We're adding this to our places to see!
Posted by: Cynde | July 29th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Bon jour, Martha!
Now that's a trip worth taking! How lovely The Marston House is, especially with Paul and Sharons personal French touch that displays itself throughout. And lunch, too!, served Rembrandt style... Really love the 'after lunch' expressions of Jill and Barbara...a nice after glow.
The crusty bread sold itself. Somehow I just knew what it would taste like. It didn't even need a hint of butter, right? And I'm not keen on salmon but I would have eaten it right up anyway...and loved it. It really looked yummy!
The Marston House, friends, beautiful antiquities and linens, lunch, crusty bread, the French and Rembrandt...how did you manage to leave there, Martha?!?
Thanks for another great adventure! I think you're out-doing F&S!
Posted by: tinay | July 29th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Martha thanks for taking us along with you on your most excellent adventures. You join me every morning with my coffee as I see what you have posted the night before.
I do have a question, are you ever met with people who do not want you to take pictures? Do you always ask permission before taking photos? I too carry my camera everywhere I go and ask permission.
Posted by: Robin | July 29th, 2009 at 10:25 am
I know The Marston House and visited it myself a few weeks ago. It is truly a find and very beautiful and different. A must see. If you are interested in visiting Maine, a fun and beautiful place to stay furnished with antiques is the Rice Cottage in Southwest Harbor on Mount Desert Island. It was featured in Country Living magazine. To see pictures go to rentricecottage.com I highly recommend it.
Posted by: Diane Speakman | July 29th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Hi Martha,
What a delightful shop! If that is reminiscent of a farm house in France, I'm moving to France! I would love to have that cupboard and those pottery bowls and that gravy boat right in the middle of the skincare products. One could put just about anything on that pedestal sitting right below on the table and I’ll take 2 or 3 of those fish platters too! Those herbarium pages would look nice mounted on thin burlap or linen covered board to fit and then those boards could be mounted on a larger, plain wallpaper covered board, the kind that you could paint if you wanted. The different dimension makes them look really nice. I have a couple of them that I bought at a flea market.
Paul did a great job of preparing lunch and his presentation was beautiful. I like that he served it on a plate that reads Plate which might be a brand name for all I know. Thanks for bringing us more of your trip – this was the best stop for me. I really would enjoy visiting that shop! Trish
Posted by: Trish | July 29th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I enjoyed your comments regarding the coffee and muffins you can find in the Barnacle on Monhegan Island! I happen to be an employee at the Barnacle! We have actually had visitors stop in and tell us they read about the Barnacle in your magazine!!
Posted by: Diane | July 29th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I only KNOW that the Mrozinskis' were delighted to have you stop in and be their guests for lunch! Their shop was another treasure trove...Ooo, I liked it I liked it! Again - comfy - cozy - that's what it's all about! I was trying to see all that I could see, too! [giggle]
I could just envision some roast beef emanating from those crockery terrines, juicy and succulent and just falling apart with a fork. That ticking and plaid bedding resonated with me too, Martha! - I personally am drawn to and prefer colonial decor, and I just love ticking, plaids, and Pennsylvania-woven coverlets (to name a few.)
Where are we visiting tomorrow?!...guess I'll just have to wait and see, now won't I?!
Have a wonderful Wednesday, my wonderful friend!
=^..^=
"Lord, I do fear thoust made the world too beautiful this year. My soul is all but out of me."--Edna St. Vincent Millay
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | July 29th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Hi Robin,
Yes, I try to ask permission when taking photos of people, as I appreciate being asked myself. Thanks for your comment.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | July 29th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
For another great road trip is Cannon Beach, Oregon. A beautiful and unusual shop is Sesame and Lilies with great antiques. I know it's on the opposite coast but Cannon Beach, Oregon is as one of a kind as Wiscasset, which probably has more refined taste per square inch then any place I've been. No wonder Martha was impressed with Wiscasset!
Posted by: Diane Speakman | July 29th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
The ladies in the two last photos appear to be posing for their Rembrandt-genre portraits. Why wasn't the salad finished off? Too much bread and cheese to start?
Posted by: jw | July 29th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Another lovely day with Martha. Your pictures were perfect as were the host and hostess, the shop, the guests/customers. I enjoyed it and them all and I enjoyed how you called the pig cutting board a piggy board.
Thanks for considering us and showing people preparing and eating such a pleasant meal.
Posted by: Margie | July 29th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Fabulous journey you are on! I wish i could just tag along.
Posted by: sherey | July 29th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Hi Martha, You gals really had a great road trip to Maine. I love the route you took so that we could see some of the places in Maine,etc. that we might have never seen otherwise. The lovely shops and fabulous eateries are certainly worth adding to out must visit list. I surely would love to visit The Martson House. What a wonderful antique shop and how wonderful that the owners fed you gals a delicious meal. Did you take Franny and Sharkey along on this trip? In picture 22, in the lower right hand corner, it looks like Sharkey on the floor. Thanks again for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 29th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Hi Martha, In my comment earlier at 10:38 PM, I asked if that was Sharkey in photo 22. I meant to say photo #21. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | July 29th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
I love Wiscasset, Maine! My husband and I stop by on our annual "after Labor Day" trip to Camden, Me. We pick up goodies for our own lunch/supper and/or dessert at Treats--Paul's shop across the street from Marsten House.
And remember folks, Reds, the famous lobster roll stop is at the corner. You've probably read about Reds or have seen it on the Food channel. In September the lines aren't too long so we get lobster rolls to go.
My favorite shop is Rock, Paper, Scissors--a charming stationery store. I can spend a lot of time browsing while my husband meets with his antique dealer friends.
Can't wait for September vacation. We've changed our route this year to include Hallowell, Maine.
Thanks Martha and Laura for your postings. Love them--glad you share.
Posted by: Catherine Kurczynski-Cathybytheriver | July 30th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Dear Martha,
As all the above readers, I like to read about your travels and adventures, your glamorous public "who's who"-life. Perhaps, a part of me is envious and a part of me asks, when do you rest and collect yourself, sort out or block out this outer events and stay with yourself. As a smart and not just an "on the surface" person, I imagine, you'd need that. That is where I live and create.
Viva Martha!
Vlasta Diamant
Posted by: Vlasta Diamant | July 30th, 2009 at 10:22 am
I am so glad someone mentioned Red's Eats. Don't let the line discourage you from stopping, it's part of the experience(you can always have an ice cream cone while you're waiting).
Posted by: Shellie Andrews | July 30th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Can't wait to visit the Marston House on my annual trip to Wiscasset and Bar Harbor. I always enjoy finding a different place to visit when we go to Maine. Thanks, Martha
Posted by: Bea Trainer | August 2nd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
This is the first year in nearly 30 that we will not vacation in Maine. So I enjoyed Maine through your blog and measured and savored every picture and script. Thank you and special greetings to Higgins Beach, Maine, a favorite of mine.
Posted by: Eileen Willems | August 4th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Thanks for the tip. I had dinner at Le Garage in Wiscasset on Tuesday, 28th July and have been coming to the area for many years and hadn't stopped at this fantastic spot. I live near Boston so I will make a point of getting up there again soon. My heritage is based in France and love to purchase items from various regions of the country.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Michelle Carrier | August 7th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Thanks for sharing the pics of your visit to the Marston House. My husband and I have been visiting Maine every August and I always stop at the Marston House (at least once) during our visit. Sharon is the best. I always come home with a little something plus a head full of new ideas. This shop alone is worth the trip!
Don't miss this shop if you get to Wiscasset.
Posted by: Doe | August 13th, 2009 at 4:51 pm