Trusted by
editors for
25 years

The Well Appointed House was born from a moment of personal frustration—and creative clarity. While planning her own wedding in New York City, founder Melissa Hawks found herself unable to source the kind of thoughtful, refined pieces she envisioned. At a time when home décor was scarcely sold online, she saw an opportunity.

“If I couldn’t find it, someone else couldn’t either.”

What began as a search for beauty and intention became one of the earliest curated destinations for luxury home goods on the internet.

Shortly after its founding, the brand began to attract attention from national media, with features in The Wall Street Journal and mentions on CNBC—early validation of a concept that was ahead of its time.

As Melissa’s family grew, so too did the vision for the brand. The Well Appointed House expanded into children’s furnishings, introducing distinctive pieces rarely found in the U.S. market. Notably, the company became the first American e-commerce partner for Dragons of Walton Street, bringing an international sensibility to its evolving assortment.

The home, in all its forms, was becoming the brand’s central narrative.

With the introduction of its blog, The Well Appointed House began to share more than products—it shared perspective. The editorial voice that would come to define the brand began to take shape, offering inspiration, ideas, and a window into a life well lived at home.

The company established its operations in Greenwich, Connecticut, marking a new chapter of growth and stability. Around the same time, Melissa’s own home was featured internationally, an early reflection of the brand’s expanding reach and influence beyond the United States.

The Well Appointed House was named to Oprah’s Favorite Things—a defining moment that brought national attention to the brand and affirmed its distinctive point of view.

By 2013, The Well Appointed House had begun to move beyond retail into editorial influence. Melissa Hawks was featured in Serendipity Magazine, where she was invited to share her perspective on the essential elements of a well-appointed home.

This year marked a series of transformative milestones. The first brick-and-mortar store opened in Greenwich, creating a physical expression of the brand’s aesthetic. A redesigned website introduced a more elevated and immersive shopping experience. At the same time, the launch of a Trade Program welcomed interior designers into the fold, further deepening the brand’s role within the design community.

Melissa Hawks was named an A-List Blogger and Tastemaker by Real Simple and appeared on the cover of Greenwich Magazine. Her perspective—rooted in tradition yet refreshingly modern—was resonating far beyond the brand itself.

By this point, The Well Appointed House had grown to offer more than 12,000 items, reflecting an ever-expanding network of artisans, designers, and global sources. What began as a tightly curated offering had evolved into a comprehensive destination for the home, expanding its reach to homes and designers across the country

With a growing presence on social media, the brand reached over 150,000 followers, cultivating a loyal audience drawn to its distinctive aesthetic and editorial sensibility.

Melissa began speaking on entrepreneurship at Wake Forest University, sharing her experience building a business that balanced creativity, family, and long-term vision.

As the world shifted, so too did the way people lived in—and thought about—their homes. During this period, The Well Appointed House found itself uniquely positioned at the center of that conversation, serving a growing community of customers seeking thoughtful, enduring design

Through ongoing support of entrepreneurship programs at Wake Forest, including sponsorship of Entrepalooza, Melissa has remained committed to fostering the next generation of creative business leaders.

In her continued role on the Wake Forest Board of Visitors, she has further cemented her role as a leader in at the intersection of business, design and education.

The launch of Lily Cove marked an exciting evolution for the brand—extending its aesthetic beyond the home into clothing and accessories. Inspired by coastal living and effortless elegance, it signaled a broader vision for The Well Appointed House as a true lifestyle brand.

The Well Appointed House introduced its first seasonal print catalogs, reaching homes across the country and offering a tactile expression of the brand’s world.

Twenty-five years since its founding, The Well Appointed House continues to evolve while remaining rooted in its original vision: to help people create homes that feel both beautiful and deeply personal. With over 2 million visitors online a year and 234,000 active social media followers, the brand is well-positioned for the next 25 years!  Look for the brand across your mailbox, in person and through licensed partnerships, bringing a whole new way to create a well appointed house.