Deeply Madly Living Inc.
255 W. 36th St., nr. Eighth Ave.; 212-564-1530
Husband-wife design team Garry and Elena Jensen artfully tagged the walls of their furniture store with neon graffiti to offset their Pop Art-inspired designs, which include metallic throw pillows, glow-in-the-dark bathroom fixtures, and chairs fashioned from bicycle wheels. Their latest creation is the Celebrity Lamp, built from 40 pairs of chrome aviator sunglasses.
Rubin Chapelle
410 W. 14th St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-647-8636
At Rubin Chapelle from May 18 to 22
Fashion and design take center stage at the Rubin Chapelle boutique from May 18 to 22, when the avant-garde space will transform to display innovative furniture like Akemi Tanaka’s convertible Tagei table, which expands into a seven-foot-long bench with dual side tables for entertaining. The internal cushion is removable to create hidden storage, and the wood, fabric, and finish can all be customized.
Character
19 Prince St., at Elizabeth St.; 212-274-1966
This quirky gifting and housewares shop in Nolita stocks curvy Droop Vases by Kyle Cunniff and Kasia Polkowska of KCPC Design alongside toys and brightly colored collectibles. Each vase is one-of-a-kind (what the designers call the “snowflake effect”), individually formed by melting down reclaimed glass bottles in a kiln. The pair also makes bendy Droop Lamps in blue or green glass.
A. Rudin
979 Third Ave., nr. 59th St., Ste. 1201; 212-664-3766
Childhood friends Daniel Hellman and Eric Chang of furniture-design studio Hellman Chang showcase their inventive designs in A. Rubin’s haven for handcrafted furniture. These graceful, twisting Z Pedestals take on different shapes when viewed from various angles, earning the Interior Design Magazine’s 2006 Best of Year Design Award.
Dune
88 Franklin St., nr. Broadway; 212-925-6171
Find Richard Shemtov’s cleanly designed, candy-colored Cocoon sofa on the floor of Dune’s sprawling showroom. The eye-catching couch features wool upholstery and a contrasting white-oak base.
Qui NY
601 W. 26th St., at Eleventh Ave., rm. 1507; 800-836-1798
Showcasing a mix of classic and forward-thinking design, Qui NY carries Dan Golden’s animated, tongue-in-cheek rugs. The artistic designs are comfy—hand-tufted from 100 percent New Zealand lambs’ wool—and double as a conversation piece. This one depicts a holdup, reading: “God wants me to be financially abundant.”
DOM NY
66 Crosby St., nr. Spring St.; 212-253-5969
Valcucine’s customized “Artematica Arte” glass art reimagines the traditional kitchen at this sleek showroom, incorporating thin layers of hand-cut and colored film inlaid in glass cabinets. This version features a cartoon-animal motif designed by designer Gabriele Centazzo’s daughter.
Essenze
18 Eckford St., nr. Manhattan Ave., Greenpoint, Brooklyn; 917-578-7687
This collective of New Zealand designers unveils Lucy Tupu’s curvy “Sally” chaise lounge, handcrafted from fiberglass, steel, and upholstery. Each chaise takes five hours to assemble, consisting of 21 individually shaped ribs connected by hand-rolled steel.
Aswoon
14 Jay St., at John St., Dumbo, Brooklyn; 718-801-8290
Trained as a sculptor and a painter, Susan Woods exhibits her signature coiled metal designs in a new Dumbo gallery space. The spring line turns recycled materials into intricate decorative pieces, like this Spring Peacock screen. Made of coiled, flattened bedsprings, the freestanding screen evokes a peacock’s unfurled feathers.
Matter
405 Broome St., nr. Lafayette St.; 212-343-2600
Lindsey Adelman’s customized chandeliers brighten up this arty, minimalist Park Slope store for housewares and accessories. Her new Bubble series incorporates 14-karat gold into hand-blown glass globes using the Italian murrini technique. An upgraded version features a 24-karat gold finish.
3r Living
276 Fifth Ave., nr. 1st St.; 718-832-0951
Brave Space Design displays their sustainable, multifunctional wares at this ecofriendly housewares boutique. Their walnut Coat Range contrasts the interior wood grain with a dark outer finish, creating a coat rack that resembles snow-capped mountain peaks.