Building community, business, and family – all at the same time
We’re continuing our Moms We ❤️ series with Celine Kimberly. This mom of four is busy – she’s also an entrepreneur and founder of Nouvelle Maison, a French-inspired café and retail concept in Winchester, MA, rooted in food, family, and connection.
When Celine first reached out to Suburban Jungle in 2019, she was navigating life with two young children and considering a move from the city to suburbia. Today, she’s raising four kids (including twins!) and running a thriving business in a community she’s grown deeply connected to over time. We caught up with Celine to talk about motherhood, taking risks, and what it really looks like to build something meaningful, both at home and at work.
Trading City Life for Something More
Before landing in Winchester, Celine and her husband had lived in several major global cities, including New York, London, D.C., and San Francisco. When they first moved to the Boston area, they opted for the South End for its familiar, urban feel.
But after their second child, everything shifted.
With two kids in tow, priorities started to look different. As they looked ahead, the couple knew they needed more space, access to A+ schools, and to put down roots in a strong community. As they started to explore, Winchester immediately popped to the top of their list. Not only is this family-first suburb close to Boston, it also offers easy commuter access, a walkable downtown, and well-regarded schools. With her French heritage, Celine especially appreciated the close proximity to private French schools as well.
Building Community From the Ground Up
While the family was eager to make the move to Winchester, they did have one very common fear: they didn’t know anyone in town. But as they began exploring, their desire for a strong community was reinforced. Winchester was filled with countless families in similar life stages – people with young kids who had recently left the city for the suburbs. Celine got involved immediately, joining local groups and connecting with local parents. Soon enough, they’d built a strong social network, making friends and making plans.
“We knew no one when we moved,” she said. “But we built a real community over time.”
And that community would go on to shape everything that followed.
A Dream Years in the Making
After the move, Celine’s business, Nouvelle Maison, started to take shape. Growing up in France, food wasn’t just about eating. It was about ritual, connection, and spending time together. Meals were shared, ingredients were intentional, and the kitchen was the heart of the home. Celine always knew she wanted to bring a similar sensibility to her own community. With an eye on launching something “one day,” she and her husband collected inspiration everywhere they lived, photographing markets, cafés, and shops they loved. After moving to Winchester, though, that “one day” came sooner than expected.
With four young kids at home, including then-six-month-old twins, her husband encouraged her to take the leap. “If we don’t do it now,” he said, “we’ll regret it.”
With that in mind, Celine and her husband began planning to open Nouvelle Maison. Through their planning, however, the vision of a small boutique, quickly grew into something bigger. Celine realized that, for a small business to succeed, it couldn’t rely on one offering. It needed to meet people where they are and give them multiple reasons to walk through the door.
Today, Nouvelle Maison welcomes customers to a multi-experience space that blends café, retail, and curated goods, all designed around how people actually live and shop. It’s thoughtful, intentional, and, most importantly, sustainable.
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Entrepreneurship Meets Motherhood
While the business was thriving, running a business while raising four kids isn’t always the easiest or the most balanced.
“The first year,” Celine said, “there is no balance. You just have to show up.”
Now, things look a little different. With time blocking, prioritizing key moments, and being intentional about where her time goes, there’s more structure. Living just minutes from the shop has also made a huge difference. Still, it’s a constant juggle, Celine shares. And that’s okay
Celine also explains how her community really made this journey possible. Local moms became not only loyal customers but also a support system, offering encouragement, helping with childcare, and showing up in small but meaningful ways.
That support goes both ways, too. Seeing another mom build something from the ground up is inspiring and a reminder that it’s possible to create something meaningful, even in the middle of a full and busy life.
Celine’s kids are also part of the journey. They stop by the shop after school and see the day-to-day realities of running a small business. They’re part of the conversations about work, decisions, and even trade-offs because, for Celine, it’s about being present and showing them what it looks like to build something.
“I think it is inspiring for them to see their mother building a business from scratch,” Celine says. “And I think they think all the chocolate is for them!!”
Why We ❤️ Celine
If you’re thinking about making a big change, whether it’s a move, a career shift, or something else entirely, Celine was quick to offer her own words of wisdom:
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You will make mistakes. You will adjust. You will learn as you go.
But if you don’t try, you might always wonder what if.
Celine Kimberly embodies what this series is all about: building a life rooted in passion, creating community along the way, and raising thoughtful, grounded kids in the process. Her story is a reminder that there’s no perfect time to start, but there is always value in trying.
It’s the kind of story that reminds you what’s possible when you go for it. That’s exactly why Celine is a mom we ❤️!
For more client stories, visit Suburban Jungle’s blog page on our website.
If you’re thinking about making a move, but aren’t sure where to start, book a free strategy call with Suburban Jungle. We’ll help you take that first step and find a community that fits your life.