On a recent visit to Kansas we were lucky to come across Nell Hill's, a cozy, charming enclave of interior design set in the vast open midwest.
The Atchison, Kansas location is an old industrial town that designer Mary Carol Garrity has taken by storm.
People travel here from all over the region to be inspired and add a bit of the shops' charms to their own homes.
What a thrilling suprise to find amid fields and farms!
Located in two old bank buildings in Atchison, the shops are warmly decorated as if inhabited and the designs change often to keep visitors coming back. 
Wow! It's been weeks since I've visted apartment therapy and on the day I visit I see a blurb about Nell Hills! Overall, it's not my style, but I do find some great little ideas spread throughout the store. It's a favorite for inspirational research for me and many of my coworkers at Hallmark.
Go Kansas! My home state!
Ad astra per aspera! (The state motto: "To the stars through difficulty," as every kansas public school child learns).
My home state, too! Never been to Atchison, but can't recommend the "Garden of Eden" in Lucas enough. amazing outsider artist's residence.
Also some interesting things happening in the arts district of KC (I guess technically MO, but close enough). Around 18th & Baltimore.
My sister lives in Kansas City and loves to make regular holiday pilgrimages to Nell. I kind of found the charm to wear off pretty quickly...it is jam packed with people and "stuff" and can get pretty overwhelming ...FAST. Not the place to go if you are trying to streamline your living space. That said... I have gotten some lovely christmas ornaments there over the years.
Nell Hills is the obsession of people who love their homes in the midwest. I grew up in Kansas City, but now live in Washington, DC. I always try to visit her stores when I visit my family. It is so popular that sometimes you have to line up single file to snake through the showrooms. It is worth it, and there are plenty of sales people around to help. The best part about it is whatever your style or budget, Nell Hills has something for you or something that would make a great gift. I am curious what brought AT out to the heartland in the first place?
First post. Delurking finally after months of reading.
I was excited to see a post about Atchison, KS (my college hometown, I went to Benedictine College).
Nell Hills is an interesting place in a small town like Atchison. I remember one time, in 2000 I think, the entire store had white river rock as its floor.
Thanks for the post about Atchison. It brought back many college memories on a nasty Friday in St. Louis.