Falmouth Finds Willow and Stone homewares and ironmongery

For owner Sarah Willshaw, the business began with a love of old buildings and the small details that bring them to life.

In 2005, while working in marketing for a London architectural salvage company, Sarah was preparing to move back to Cornwall when a friend suggested she start a business of her own selling the kinds of products she loved.

A planned shop in Truro fell through at the last minute, but rather than abandon the idea, Sarah launched Willow & Stone online.

The website quickly gained a following, specialising in period ironmongery and architectural hardware for people restoring older homes.

Before long, a retail opportunity arose in Falmouth and the business found its permanent home.

"From the moment I first arrived in Falmouth as a student, it felt like home," Sarah says. "There’s nowhere else in Cornwall I’d rather be."

After several years and a smaller second shop dedicated to books and stationery, Willow & Stone moved to its current Arwenack Street premises in 2012, giving Sarah the space to bring all her passions together under one roof.

Today, the store is a treasure trove of carefully chosen homewares, kitchenware, garden accessories, books, stationery, and decorative pieces, all united by a commitment to quality and timeless design.

The store sells everything from homeware and kitchenware to ironmongery, which is its particular specialism (Image: Falmouth BID)

While trends come and go, Sarah has always focused on products with longevity.

"Some of the things we sell today have been on offer in the shop for over 20 years," she says. "I love that.

"It means people still appreciate good design, good materials, and things that are made to last."

The business remains best known for its expertise in period ironmongery.

In fact, such is the demand that Willow & Stone opened a dedicated ironmongery showroom in July 2025, allowing customers renovating period properties to explore an even wider range of door furniture, cabinet fittings, hooks, hinges, and architectural details.

Beyond the products themselves, Willow & Stone has become known for its distinctive aesthetic.

Its beautifully styled window displays regularly stop passers-by in their tracks, while the shop employs many creatives and former Falmouth University students whose eye for design helps shape the store's unique character.

The shelves also feature work from local makers and illustrators, including stationery and gifts created by Falmouth-based artists.

Despite its growth, the business remains deeply personal.

The team love helping customers find exactly the right piece for their home, whether that's a handmade door handle, a carefully chosen gift, or a beautiful notebook.

Willow & Stone owner Sarah Willshaw (left) inside the Falmouth store she has built up over the last two decades (Image: Falmouth BID)

Sarah says one of her greatest pleasures is seeing familiar faces return year after year.

"We have customers who first shopped with us as students and now come back with their own families," she says. "That loyalty means the world to us."

For Sarah, that's one of the joys of being part of Falmouth's independent business community.

"There’s a real sense of connection here," she says. "People support local businesses and value individuality, and that allows shops like ours to thrive."