Engaging clients in a next-level retail experience has become the name of the game in design showrooms. Newly debuted locations like Martin Kesselman's extensive color library and the vignette-focused Avenue Road 8A are just a few testing the new concept. EAL rounds up some of the top picks for showroom openings across the country.
EAST COAST
CONNECTICUT
After nearly 20 years in New York City, Francine Gardner is moving her Interieurs Design Studio to Cos Cob, Connecticut. The move comes amid the launch of Interieurs’s new e-commerce site and a nationally and internationally expanding clientele. (238 East Putnam Ave., Cos Cob)
NEW YORK
Brazilian manufacturer Ornare brings its customizable kitchens, bathrooms, closets and offices to New York City in its new showroom in the A&D Building. Led by Ornare partner and head of U.S. operations Pitter Schattan, the 2,100 space is one of only three Ornare showrooms in the U.S. (150 E. 58 St., Manhattan)
Color specialist Martin Kesselman debuted INColour, a shoppable paint showroom, in Tribeca. Open to the trade and the public, the showroom houses one of the largest color libraries in New York City, with appearances from Farrow & Ball, Benjamin Moore, and more.
In the midst of celebrating its 30th anniversary, Artistic Tile debuted a new showroom in the A&D Building in May. The unveiling featured new collaborations with Michael Aram and jewelry designer Lauren Harper. (150 E. 58 St., Manhattan)
Harlem-based Kathy Kuo demonstrates her refined aesthetic in Design Bar, the designer’s new showroom, studio and headquarters for Kathy Kuo Home. The new-concept shop includes a fully functional kitchen, bar, bathroom and living room displaying product collaborations. (1961 7th Ave., Manhattan)
SFERRA, purveyor of Italian-made linens, unveiled a newly redesigned retail store in New York City’s Bloomingdale’s flagship in April. Contemporary vignettes featuring custom-built fixtures set the tone for the brand’s percales, sateen and Egyptian cotton sets. (1000 Third Ave. Manhattan)
Walking into Avenue Road 8A, the new floor of Avenue Road’s New York showroom, is like entering the fully furnished apartment that dreams are made of. The expanded 5,000 square feet creates a conceptual shopping experience of high-end and limited-edition furniture with renovations taking place biannually to reveal new designs. (145 W. 28th St., Manhattan)
Wolf-Gordon makes the great return. After nearly 30 years in Long Island City, the wallcovering and textile design firm is moving its corporate headquarters back to Chelsea with an office designed by LTL Architects. (333 Seventh Ave., Manhattan)
Industrial-minded lighting and furniture manufacturer Lumifer opened its first studio showroom in West Chelsea. Unveiled in May, the showroom displays founder and designer Javier Robles’s work, which is handmade in Lumifer’s Brooklyn and upstate New York factories. (508 West 26th St., Studio 6C, Manhattan)
Designer Timothy Brown brings his signature warm minimalism to a new showroom in the New York Design Center. Timothy Brown Studio provides European and American vintage in a 400-square-foot showroom, with plans to introduce custom pieces in the future. (200 Lexington Ave., Manhattan)
Fifth generation family business I.J. Peiser’s Sons opened its new showroom in May. One of the first occupants in the D&D Building’s new concourse level, the showroom features the top-notch wood flooring patterns, finishes and craftsmanship for which the brand is known. (979 Third Ave., Manhattan)
The humble, yet luxurious offerings of Life Designs and Bunakara, known for its handcrafted-in-India furnishings and textiles, are on display at the new Life Designs NYC showroom. A collaborative space of artists, designers and manufacturers, the 2,400-square-foot design center will host weekly events with color and trend experts. (330 W. 38th St., Manhattan)
After more than 30 years in its original D&D Building showroom, Kravet is elevating its quarters—a few floors up, that is. The new and expanded showroom focuses on enhancing the shopping experience beyond just retail, which means dedicated areas for each product type and an inviting Kravet Café. (979 Third Ave., Manhattan)
NASIRI, makers of fine handmade carpets, is one of the newest tenants at 200 Lex. Vintage-inspired custom rugs and a Mid-century modern collection are among the product offerings at the recently debuted New York Design Center showroom. (200 Lexington Ave., Manhattan)
Marking its first showroom in the U.S., Élitis is one of the newest occupants in the D&D Building. Rows of textiles and wallcoverings line the walls of the sixth-floor showroom. (979 Third Ave., Manhattan)
Stand back e-commerce. Judging by the A&D Building’s growing occupant rate, showrooms still reign king. Saelger Shading, Guy Regal Decorative & Fine Art, Elle W Collection and Munder-Skiles Garden Furniture recently filled up the fourth floor. Other new residents include Cosulich Interiors & Antiques, Woven, Lepere and KGBL. (200 Lexington Ave., Manhattan)
Lighting manufacturer Allied Maker will be opening its first Manhattan gallery location. The New York-based company has signed a 10-year lease on a 1,400-square-foot site in Tribeca featuring an exposed cast iron infrastructure fit for the contemporary product offerings. (81 Franklin St., Manhattan)
SOUTH
GEORGIA
Luxury case goods and upholstery supplier Caracole introduced a new permanent showroom in Atlanta’s AmericasMart in June. Following its two other locations in High Point, Caracole expands its regional footprint with the new 4,500-square-foot showroom, which features a hands-on workspace for customizing orders. (240 Peachtree St., Atlanta)
TEXAS
New York-based Robin Baron debuted the first-ever Robin Baron showroom in the Dallas Market Center. Among the pieces available are the designer's furniture line, hand-knotted rugs, and 12 SKUs of hardware, and vintage artwork including a special collection of artisanal hand-painted wallcoverings by THE ALPHA WORKSHOPS. (2100 N. Stemmons Fwy, Dallas)
MIDWEST
ILLINOIS
Previously only available through local representatives, Moore & Giles natural leather is now accessible at the brand’s first-ever showroom. Located in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, the new showroom will display the nearly century-old company’s complete collection of fine leathers. (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago)
LuxeHome, a collection of premier boutiques consuming the Merchandise Mart’s first floor, welcomed several new residents this season. A collaborative experience center featuring Gaggenau, Thermador and Bosch offerings, BSH Home Appliances opened its first Midwest-based location at the Mart in June. High-end retailers Divine Flooring and True Residential cut the ribbon on their showrooms earlier this spring. (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago)
WEST COAST
CALIFORNIA
PreviouslyPremier surface producer Cosentino expands its North American footprint with the debut of the Cosentino San Francisco City Center in the San Francisco Design Center. The opening marks the third U.S. city center, which are known for using innovative technology to allow clients to experience the brand and products. The 3,000-square-foot showroom features slab galleries and augmented reality labs that allow clients to envision the surfaces in their design spaces. (101 Henry Adams St., San Francisco)
In conjunction with its 60th anniversary, Paul Ferrante returns to its original showroom on Melrose Place in Los Angeles, where the lighting, antiques and furniture design company helped lay the foundation for the go-to design strip nearly six decades prior. The company will be leaving its Pacific Design Center location to reopen the redesigned, 3,500-square-foot space on Melrose Place. (8464 Melrose Place, Los Angeles)
