Shop Scout: Acquire

By Marni Elyse Katz
June 23, 2010

Acquire boutique owner Nikki Dalrymple; Acquire boutique, Boston

Nikki Dalrymple’s background as a television producer and set designer for HBO, National Geographic, PBS, and the Discovery Channel prepared this thirty-something tastemaker for her second career as antique scavenger, shop owner, and designer. When Dalrymple moved to Boston with her husband five years ago, she realized she was ready for a change and quickly snagged a job managing Good in Beacon Hill, one of the city’s most impeccably stocked shops (think vintage bowls, John Derian plates, and Mizu jewelry). Soon, Dalyrymple signed a lease on a space in Boston’s North End and Acquire was born. September marks the shops two-year anniversary, and what is surely just the beginning of a thriving design career for Dalrymple.

Dalrymple, who credits her success to her love of design, the thrill of the hunt for vintage and antique items, and her desire to connect with people, gravitates toward pieces with clean lines, and loves natural elements, like horn, wood, shell, and leather. The shop carries a mix of old objects, vintage furniture that she may have reupholstered in a funky fabric, and vintage lighting, along with modern-day home accessories. She’s expert at mixing vintage and modern pieces in unusual but balanced compositions and is ruthless when it comes to editing. She says, “I think of Acquire as an ever-changing cabinet of curiosities.”

Dalrymple turned up some vintage pieces on eBay that would feel right at home in her shop:

Clockwise from top left: Modernist Table Fan AEG 1930s Bauhaus Peter Behrens (buy it now price, $784.99) “I collect vintage fans and am always looking for new ones. I love the mix of brass and cast iron in this piece. Vintage fans are an easy way to incorporate a little bit of an industrial aesthetic into a space.” Antique Anglo Indian Porcupine Quill Box (buy it now price, $195) “I try to incorporate pieces I have picked up from my travels into my home decor. I love the coloring and pattern on this quill box. It feels like it was found in a far off locale.” Rare Prewar Firestone Bicycle Vintage Cruiser Tank Bike (buy it now price, $5,400) “During the summers in Boston there is no better way to get around town than on a bike. This one has some serious style. Plus, I am a sucker for anything in graphic black and white.” Mid Century Modern Vintage Wollensak Pair of Speakers (winning bid, $160) “I like to hide wires, speakers, and TVs in a home, but this is a piece of technology I can get behind! The mix of wood and shiny resin look great together and give this mid-century item a very contemporary feel.” 1970s Danish Picnic Lunch Box (winning bid, $31.08) ”June is the best time of year for a picnic in Boston. The weather hasn't gotten too muggy, and the tourists aren't out in full force yet. I'd fill this super cute picnic box up with bread and cheese from markets in my neighborhood and head over to the Public Garden.” Antique Modern Industrial Ship’s Lamp Tripod Arteluce (buy it now price, $1,495) “In my design projects, I always try to add a quirky element of lighting within the space. This piece would look fantastic in a loft project I am completing. I'd use it to highlight some contemporary artwork we've hung on the walls.”