The Joy of the Hunt with Alexander Widener

The Joy of the Hunt with Alexander Widener

Author: Ariel Okin August 27, 2025 Duration: 35:40

Joining Ariel this week Talk Shop is Alexander Widener, a lifelong design enthusiast whose love of rummage sales and flea markets as a child in Pennsylvania grew into a career in the textile world. After stints at Matouk, Sister Parish, and Samuel & Sons, Alexander took a leap of faith earlier this year: leaving corporate America, moving to coastal Maine, and opening his own shop, Widener Collection, in a former antiques store. Since he joined us, his guest cottage is now open to visitors, and the shop, Widener Collection, is open for your visit. 

So tune in for a conversation around the thrill of collecting, art of brand-building, and what it really takes to pivot into a new chapter of life. Plus, his explosion on TikTok!

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Follow Alexander on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexander_widener/

And TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexander_widener

Plus learn more about his cottage and store: https://widenercompany.com/

Finally, the Ina is Cooking for Jeffery playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6qyF59UZ2apkT0IzVuqFTn


Behind every beautiful room is a story, and Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production uncovers them. Hosted by Ariel Okin, a House Beautiful Next Wave Designer and founder of Fenimore Lane, this podcast moves beyond glossy magazine spreads to explore the real, human elements of design. Ariel, who also writes for publications like Vogue and Architectural Digest, brings her insider’s perspective to conversations with leading interior designers, shopkeepers, and artisans from around the world. Each episode feels like an intimate chat between colleagues, where you’ll hear about the practicalities of running a creative business, the unexpected sources where professionals find inspiration, and the personal journeys that shape a distinctive aesthetic. Rather than just discussing trends, these dialogues get into the nuts and bolts-how a favorite fabric source was discovered, the challenges of launching a brand, or the philosophy behind a curated shop. It’s for anyone curious about the layers of thought and effort that create a lived-in, beautiful space. Listening to this podcast offers a masterclass in taste and entrepreneurship, straight from the voices defining the field today.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 58

Talk Shop with Ariel Okin: A Fenimore Lane Production
Podcast Episodes
Season Two Coming This Wednesday, February 21st! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Join me, Ariel Okin, interior designer, editor and writer, as I kick off season two of my design podcast, Talk Shop. Each week, I welcome the foremost tastemakers from around the globe to chat about how they built their…