From the Big Apple to the Golden State, BOH has gathered all the showroom news to have on your radar this coming month.
Showroom Spotlight
When the elevator dings on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building in New York, you will gasp as the doors open to reveal Chelsea Textiles’s new showroom. The space transports guests from bustling 59th Street to a 4,000-square-foot space that evokes a serene London flat with its hand-brushed paint, venetian plaster and traditional millwork. The fabric brand, which was founded in 1990 by Mona Perlhagen, originally occupied a smaller space a few floors up, which was designed in partnership with the late Jed Johnson. This new outpost, designed in collaboration with British design firm Sims Hilditch, captures that same essence in a larger format. “We really had this incredible showroom to work from, and we tried to mimic everything that Jed had created on the sixth floor that made it such a welcoming, warm and residential-feeling space,” Chelsea Textiles design director Jenny Simpson tells Business of Home.
The move was necessitated by the company’s continued expansion. In the 35 years since it was founded, the textile brand has widened its assortment to include wallpapers, trimmings, cushions and, perhaps most notably, furniture—categories they weren’t able to fully showcase in the smaller space upstairs.
The showroom’s entrance is framed by a foyer featuring 18th century Swedish royal portraits hung on a damask wallpaper; from there, guests move into the expansive sitting room with upholstered walls, a marble fireplace by London-based Jamb, and three large windows dressed in Chelsea Textiles’s embroidered fabrics. “We don’t want people to walk in and just be hit by a wall of fabric wings—we wanted them to first come in and get the mood and feel of our company and what we’re trying to do,” says Simpson. “That first room that you come into is really just lots of things made up in our fabrics—wing chairs, curtains and sofas. It’s meant to be a space that you can come in and just absorb our whole look in one go.”
The space also includes a textile library with two walls of wings outfitted in the brand’s fabrics—including collections with designers Alidad, Neisha Crosland and Kit Kemp—flanking a pair of work tables; three designated furniture rooms featuring the company’s midcentury and traditional collections, which are displayed alongside antique and contemporary art pieces from prominent artists like Einar Jolin and Max Ernst; and a room dedicated to the brand’s collaboration with Robert Kime, which features the British designer’s fabrics, upholstered furniture and lighting.
The abundant natural light shines courtesy of the showroom’s 13 windows—the perfect opportunity for the brand to showcase its wares. “We’ve dressed them all,” says Simpson. “Some are blinds or curtains, some are embroidered, some are printed. We just want it to be really inspirational for people when they come and they can see everything.” She is also quick to point out an ingenious design choice to enliven a narrow hallway: “A hidden gem of the new location is at the back of the showroom—a long corridor with shelves stocked with the brand’s wallpapers and trimmings,” she says. “I don’t think it’s going to get forgotten. Everyone’s going to do the circle loop around the showroom, and then they’ll pass through that intriguing corridor with treasures.”
The company’s leadership is excited for the new heights this larger space will allow Chelsea Textiles to reach. “We have so many directions now where we can grow, and we now have the space to grow,” says Simpson. “What’s going to be really exciting when people come to the showroom is, yes, they know the embroideries, but now they’re going to really see everything else that we do and how wonderfully it all works together.” The Fine Arts Building, 232 E. 59th St., Second Floor, New York
California
Artem, a new destination for curated, collectible design, unveiled its inaugural showroom in West Hollywood. Founded by Brian Chaaban, the space showcases sculptural furnishings, collectible lighting and artisan-made pieces from a global roster of contemporary designers, including Callidus Guild, Fabric & Steel, Rika Kova, and the designer’s own furnishings and decor company, Chaaban Designs. 626-1 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood
Walk Your Plans Los Angeles is a new immersive showroom co-owned and designed by interior designer Kim Lapin to help designers, tradespeople, architects and builders visualize their projects at scale. Floor plans and renderings are projected in the space, allowing clients to “walk” their prospective rooms and work with designers to adjust designs in real time and on a real scale. The showroom also features full kitchens, bathrooms and lounge areas for guests’ comfort as they walk through their projects, and it will serve as a hub for industry events and educational sessions. 8673 Hayden Place, Culver City
Florida
Home decor and bedding brand Boll & Branch has expanded its presence in Florida with a new location in Palm Beach Gardens, the company’s second outpost in the Sunshine State. Its 10th brick-and-mortar location, the space displays a selection of bedding, bath, loungewear and accessories. 3101 PGA Blvd., Space G115, Palm Beach Gardens
New York–based bespoke furniture brand Classic Sofa opened a new location in West Palm Beach. The space showcases examples of its made-to-order pieces and a materials library, and design experts are on hand to help every step along the way. The showroom mirrors the brand’s outpost in the New York Design Center, but with a South Florida flare. 1406 Elizabeth Ave., West Palm Beach
New York
Italian mosaic tile manufacturer Bisazza debuted a new flagship in NoMad. The space showcases a selection of the brand’s most popular collections, including its collaborations with Daniel Arsham, Fornasetti, Pucci and more. 130 Madison Ave., New York
Swiss furniture brand Vitra has unveiled a new showroom in Chinatown. Spanning 6,265 square feet, the space boasts a terrazzo bar, high ceilings, and a full wall of windows overlooking the gateway to the Manhattan Bridge. The products displayed range from iconic pieces to exciting new launches like the recently introduced Anagram sofa by designers Panter&Tourron and Artek furnishings including tables, chairs, room dividers and the iconic Stool 60. 46 Bowery, Third Floor, New York
Kitchen brand TM Italia opened a new atelier in the Flatiron district. The 1,200-square-foot showroom boasts various zones, including an entertaining kitchen with an oversize island, a wine storage room, an integrated workspace and an urban-chic kitchen. The back of the space houses a large family kitchen in a rich green and deep merlot. 20 W. 20th St., Suite 502, New York
Hesperios, the home and lifestyle brand founded by designer and publisher Autumn Hruby, opened a store in the West Village. The 450-square-foot space houses homewares, rare books, vintage finds, art objects, the brand’s knitwear line and its new lighting collection. 143 7th Ave. South, New York
Kitchen design and manufacturing sister brands Henrybuilt and Space Theory unveiled a new joint showroom in Dumbo. Stretching 8,000 square feet, the two-story space houses Space Theory on the first floor, with a Henrybuilt preview section at the back; the Henrybuilt showroom will open in September on the second floor. Both will showcase a curated selection of kitchen systems in an array of finishes and technologies. 16 Main St., Brooklyn
ABC Carpet & Home expanded its footprint beyond Manhattan and Greenwich with the opening of a new store in Southampton. Stretching 5,600 square feet, the outpost showcases a collection of rugs, furniture, lighting, home accessories and vintage jewelry with a focus on ethical sourcing, craftsmanship and sustainability. 1 Pond Lane, Southampton
North Carolina
This past Market, North Carolina–based furniture brand Bernhardt moved to a new showroom in High Point. Housed inside a white, modern exterior, the interior spans 95,000 square feet and showcases a selection of the brand’s furniture offerings, a new art gallery featuring original works, and a club that will host social events. 101 N. Hamilton St., High Point
International
Laminam, the Italian porcelain surfaces manufacturer, opened the doors to its new Canadian flagship in Ontario. The space not only houses a 2,500-square-foot showroom, but also a 28,000-square-foot warehouse in order to offer an all-in-one destination. The showroom itself features a slab gallery, a working show kitchen clad in the brand’s materials, and a collaborative workspace where designers can meet with clients to review materials and projects. 51 Graniteridge Rd., Concord, Ontario
Luxury design and fragrance brand L’Objet unveiled a new flagship boutique in New Delhi inside The Chanakya, following the brand’s retail presence in New York, Paris and London. The mall space displays a selection of the company’s home decor, tableware, fragrance and apothecary products. The Chanakya, Second Floor, New Delhi
