Whether you prefer custom or in-line pieces, there are so many furniture showrooms out there, it can be overwhelming to narrow down the options. This week, we asked five designers—Gonzalo Bueno, Lyndsey Gauthier, Denean Jackson, Damon Liss and Alana Marie—to share their favorite furniture sources.
Old and New
“Donzella [in New York] has been an invaluable resource for a wide range of vintage and contemporary furniture, lighting and decorative objects. Rarely does one get to see such a variety of well-curated pieces in one space. Expect to see important pieces from all over the world, created by icons of the 20th and 21st centuries, such as Gio Ponti, Ico Parisi, Max Ingrand, Joaquim Tenreiro, Martin Eisler, Paavo Tynell and Alexandre Logé, to name a few. Walk through the gallery, ask tons of questions, and enjoy the education [proprietor] Paul Donzella is always passionate about and eager to share.” —Damon Liss, Damon Liss Design, New York
Dynamic Duo
“The two that come to mind are Hooker Furniture and Universal Furniture. Hooker has a huge selection that covers everything from living room and office to outdoor furniture, making it one of our go-to sources. Universal is another favorite—I’ve been sourcing from there for years. I especially love ordering bedroom furniture from there, as well as accent pieces that fill in the gaps and bring the space together. We absolutely love the new Hooker showroom at High Point, as well as Universal’s large showroom footprint there. Both showrooms are inspiring and really allow us to see how the pieces will fit into our transitional design projects. The variety and style from both brands give us plenty of flexibility to create unique, timeless spaces for our clients.” —Denean Jackson, D.Nicole Design Studio, Charlotte
Down to a Fine Art
“We frequent a lot of showrooms, but I’d say our top pick in Los Angeles for both range and aesthetics is Lawson-Fenning. It features incredible artist pieces like ceramic mirrors and vases alongside staple furniture I could sit on for hours! Their selection of fabrics and finishes allows for customization that fits most projects. You can furnish and fully style a project, down to pillows and candleholders, all with contemporary but timeless elements.” —Alana Marie, Alana Marie Interiors, Los Angeles
Digital First
“Shopping for furniture online has become my go-to. With project timelines and lead times, there isn’t time to drive around and peruse showrooms. Starting with places that have local showrooms allows me to have the option of visiting them if it comes to that. Many selections I make are custom and can’t be seen in person. However, I start with local showrooms such as West Elm, Arhaus and Four Hands, which allows me the option of an in-person visit.” —Lyndsey Gauthier, CG&S, Austin
Global Selection
“Ralph Pucci in New York has an incredible curated group of designers from across the globe, and I always enjoy the temporary art exhibits as well as the limited-edition pieces. David Sutherland showrooms [which has a location here in Dallas] represent some of our favorite collections of furniture. For fabrics, I always have to run over to [local multiline] Culp Associates!” —Gonzalo Bueno, Ten Plus Three, Dallas
