Pottery Barn 600 Broadway, at Houston St. 212-219-2420 1965 Broadway, at 67th St. 212-579-8477 127 E. 59th St., at Lexington Ave. 917-369-0050 potterybarn.com The originator of chic, affordable housewares, Pottery Barn is still a good bet for oversize, inexpensive dinner-plate settings ($40 for a four-piece Sausalito setting), flatware (around $40 per five-piece place setting), and stemware (six margarita glasses, $24). Most couples opt to roam the store on their own and then use its online registry service. Pratesi 829 Madison Ave., at 69th St. 212-288-2315 pratesi.com This legendary Italian-linens store spins some of the most beautiful cotton confections around. Basic sheets with embroidery are $1,280 for a queen set (482 thread count). To register, just stop by and pick out the things you’d like; the store will keep your choices on file. Family and friends can start shopping immediately, but special orders take three months. Restoration Hardware 935 Broadway, at 22nd St. 212-260-9479 restorationhardware.com If you’re looking to decorate your home with quaint, classy antiques but don’t like the idea of owning furniture that others threw away, Restoration Hardware might just be the ticket. You’ll want to cherry-pick from classic Paradigm bath sheets ($46); 600-thread-count bedding ($379 for king sheet set); and a supremely refined eleven-drawer maple dresser ($2,095). Saks Fifth Avenue 611 Fifth Ave., at 49th St. 212-940-4793 800-331-6552 saksfifthavenue.com From china to luggage, it’s no problem finding things to suit your wants (and needs) at this New York favorite. You have to stop in to register for everything from cashmere pillows and hand-woven throws from Italy to sterling-silver and crocodile picture frames. Appointments recommended. The Sharper Image Call 800-344-5555 or visit sharperimage.com for locations A 21st-century marriage deserves 21st-century gadgets, and the Sharper Image has plenty in its registry. Let technology dictate your comfort with a Roomba robotic vacuum ($280), a “Bright As Day” floor lamp ($170), or a heat-sensitive Contour Form pillow with a cool side and a hot side for the perfect night’s sleep ($100). Simon Pearce 120 Wooster St., nr. Prince St. 212-334-2393 500 Park Ave., at 59th St. 212-421-8801 simonpearce.com Couples can come in or register online for chic, timeless handmade stoneware and glassware, a favorite among stylish brides no matter their Zip Code. Hand-thrown stone dinnerware starts at $89 for a four-piece setting. They have a huge section of slightly imperfect “seconds,” which are 20 to 50 percent off. Steuben Glass 667 Madison Ave., at 61st St. 212-752-1441 steuben.com The company still makes its legendary goblets, but there’s even more for fans to drool over: Sparkling crystal bowls and vases and sweet little animal figurines are perennial favorites; stemware and barware are new additions to the line. An Orbit bowl is about $650; champagne flutes start at $105 each. Takashimaya New York 693 Fifth Ave., nr. 54th St. 212-350-0100 Takashimaya’s exotic-chic settings are as elegant as any we’ve seen. Start by making an appointment to tour the massive store; a bridal rep will write down your selections. High-profile couples are reported to like the private-label china (from $125 for chargers), Sferra Brothers bedding (duvet cover, around $695), and vases ($65–$795). Afterward, you’ll receive a gift certificate to lunch in the Tea Box Cafe on the lower level. Target 88-01 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst, 718-760-5656 Gateway Greatland 519 Gateway Dr., Canarsie, Brooklyn 718-235-6032 College Point Greatland 135-05 Twentieth Ave., College Point 718-661-4346 139 Flatbush Ave., at Atlantic Ave. 718-290-1109 800-800-8800 target.com There are plenty of bargains at this affordable-housewares emporium. You’ll find everything from well-designed items like folding bookcases ($50) to fun choices such as kitschy toasters ($40) and tea kettles ($20). Guests can access your registry online. Tiffany & Co. 727 Fifth Ave., at 57th St. 212-755-8000 tiffany.com One of the city’s most popular places to register, Tiffany sells much more than jewelry: The fourth floor brims with silver, fine china, and crystal. Prices range from conceivable (Palladium Band–pattern china starts at $25 per piece) to sky-high (hand-painted Limoges porcelain starts at $390 per piece). Elsa Peretti crystal and the Tiffany steel flatware collection appeal to contemporary tastes. Villeroy & Boch 901 Broadway, at 20th St. 212-505-1090 villeroy-boch.com This European-based maker of everything from tiles to toilet seats is best known for the china patterns used at top restaurants like the one in the Ritz-Carlton. Equally handsome all-white dinnerware starts at about $75 per setting. Registry appointments are recommended but not necessary. Williams-Sonoma 1175 Madison Ave., at 86th St. 212-289-6832 110 Seventh Ave., nr. 17th St. 212-633-2203 121 E. 59th St., nr. Lexington Ave. 917-369-1131 10 Columbus Circle, Time Warner Building 212-823-9750 williams-sonoma.com This high-end chain is full of statusy kitchen stuff: Wüsthof knives ($300 for an eight-piece set), French copper cookware, and KitchenAid mixers (from $280), for starters. The stores give registering couples a Welcome Kit with pointers on the art of entertaining, and send them a letter for a one-time offer of 10 percent off any items left in their registry. Zabar's 2245 Broadway, at 80th St. 212-787-2000 zabars.com Any New Yorker who cooks will tell you that this place has an unbeatable selection of cookware and kitchen gizmos at highly competitive prices. We challenge you to find more coffeepots—or blenders or pepper mills—for sale anywhere else. And you can register for all of it. Photographed by Kenneth Chen. |
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| From the Fall 2005 New York Wedding Guide | |||||||||||||||
