From California to Japan, BOH has gathered all the showroom news to have on your radar in August.
Showroom Spotlight
Lowe Hardware unveiled its new location in Manhattan’s Flatiron District. The Rockland, Maine–based architectural and marine hardware manufacturer had a showroom in Greenwich Village for more than 10 years, and was looking for a larger home to display its collections. “We wanted the space to be a showcase, but also a workspace,” says Lowe Hardware director Brooks Huston. “We have our vitrines with samples of our hardware for designers and clients to review, to borrow and to show. We also have a work area so that architects or interior designers can bring in floor plans, hardware schedules, and we can turn it into a work session where we’re reviewing the needs of a project door by door. [That’s] how we make sure we’re providing not only the right decorative items but all the technical and functional components that are needed as well. Different visits take on a different nature. Some are just to look at design options, and some are true work sessions, so the furniture [in the space] allows for both.”
For the brand’s new location, it went with a more central locale—a space that can play host to one-on-one client meetings as well as firm-wide events for architecture and design partners. “We’re accessible from designers coming from the east side, west side, uptown, downtown,” says Huston. “Flatiron gives us that central location, and it’s also a community of designers. There are a lot of design firms that we work with in the neighborhood, and even more specifically in the building, which is great for us to build those relationships. It’s also a destination for other showrooms. It’s just a concentration of the design industry in the area that we wanted to be a part of.”
The company drew from its Maine roots when outfitting the space. “We wanted to reflect our heritage as a U.S. brand, but also a Maine-based brand, so we tried to [tap into] that DNA in the design choices, finishes and color palette,” says Huston. The walls are swathed in a white hue that lets natural materials like woods and leather shine. “It’s a lot of made-in-America pieces—some with an industrial feel, and a palette that also kind of taps into the Maine identity, but also our history in marine and nautical hardware,” he explains. “That’s how the business began in the ’70s, and that’s still very much a part of our identity, and [we wanted] to bring that character into the space with our finishes and colors.”
The showroom displays a selection of Lowe’s door, window and cabinet hardware from its in-line collection as well as its custom and bespoke options. “All of our hardware is made to order, and we often work with clients on creating pieces that are entirely new and original,” says Huston. “We wanted to really be able to highlight those items in addition to our standard catalog pieces.” Also on view are the brand’s collaborations with Peter Pennoyer Architects and Toshiko Mori.
With the new showroom opening, the company has its eyes on the future. “We have been in New York with a showroom presence for just over a decade,” says Huston. “I’ve been here for most of those years, and have really enjoyed and been proud of the growth of the business, both in terms of new clients and also new geographies. Taking on more space reflects both the need and the ability to bring in more items as our collection has grown, and to be able to host more clients and events.” 1123 Broadway, New York
California
Vancouver-based furniture company Sundays opened a new showroom in Santa Monica—the second in Los Angeles County after its Pasadena outpost. The 2,100-square-foot space showcases the brand’s furnishings in living, dining and bedroom vignettes. 1101 Montana Ave., Santa Monica
Florida
Former fashion publicist Elizabeth Tuke unveiled Tuke Bazaar in West Palm Beach. The boutique, designed by Anna McLaughlin, features colorful murals and yellow-and-white striped floors alongside a selection of fashion brands, home accessories and globally sourced antiques. 5204 Georgia Ave., West Palm Beach
Katie and Ruben Gutierrez, founders of the Miami-based design firm Errez Design, unveiled Maison Mischief in Coral Gables. The maximalist-designed boutique boasts an array of art, furniture, lighting, textiles and home decor. 361 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables
Georgia
California-based retailer Living Spaces opened its first store in Georgia, bringing its total number of national locations to 43. With the combined showroom and distribution center spanning one million square feet, the space features an array of furniture selections, a sleep center, and designer displays curated by industry stalwarts like Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent. 2630 Gravel Springs Road, Buford
New York
The French interior architecture and design firm Gilles & Boissier opened its first U.S. showroom in New York. Set in an apartment within the One High Line condominium complex, the space offers an array of the brand’s furniture, lighting and decorative objects, as well as a curated selection of artwork. 500 W. 18th St., New York
7th Avenue, the Los Angeles–based furniture brand known for modular sofas, opened its first location on Long Island, which comes on the heels of its recent opening at the King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania. The new Walt Whitman Shops outpost spans 1,206 square feet with white oak flooring, and welcomes guests to test out the furniture offerings and customization capabilities. 160 Walt Whitman Road, Suite 1150, Huntington Station
South Carolina
Republic of Decor launched in Greenville’s West End. The interior design studio and home goods store, which was formerly located in Naples, Florida, features an eclectic mix of home accessories, tabletop, accent furniture, wallpaper and decorative objects sourced from across the U.S. as well as woven goods from Asia and South Africa. 109 Augusta St., Greenville
Virginia
Textile brand Schumacher unveiled a new location in the state capital. The to-the-trade showroom spans 1,800 square feet and displays nearly 10,000 fabrics, wallpapers and trims, as well as items from Backdrop, Iksel Decorative Arts, Boråstapeter, Tillett Textiles, Raoul Textiles and Patterson Flynn. 4917 Grove Ave., Richmond
International
Lalique has opened up shop in Osaka, Japan. The new outpost, located in a mixed-use complex called Quartz in the Shinsaibashi shopping district, displays its decorative objects, glassware, tableware, jewelry and home goods in an array of curated vignettes. The opening also celebrates the Japanese debut of the brand’s collaboration with British wallpaper company Fromental. 3-12-14 Minamisenba, 3F, Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
German textile company Zimmer + Rohde unveiled its renovated London headquarters at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, which includes a showroom and workspaces. The brand’s fabrics and wallcoverings are on display in a space by local designer Theresa Obermoser that pays homage to England’s architectural heritage and Victorian townhomes. 0 Chelsea Harbour Drive, London
