Advice from a New York interior designer: Tribeca’s best home decor showrooms
The beautiful interior architecture of Form Atelier vintage design gallery in Tribeca, New York City
There are some New York City neighborhoods that spark envy by having it all: cobblestone streets, historic buildings with beautiful loft apartments, tree-lined squares, destination restaurants, and innovative art galleries. Tribeca, in Lower Manhattan, offers the best of all these features; plus it has an impressive network of cutting-edge design showrooms. This fashionable area, with its eponymous Film Festival, is an interior design lover’s dream, beckoning shoppers to explore its luxury showrooms in a setting that feels more like a quiet enclave of European-style romance than gritty city.
As a New York interior designer who’s regularly on the lookout for intriguing local sources of vintage + modern designs, I’m thrilled to share with you my guide to Tribeca’s home decor shopping hotspots. My hand-picked selections range from Mid Century furniture showrooms to luxury boutiques presenting artisan-made homewares. Each of these venues offers strong integrity of curation, with a unique focus on specialty designs you won’t easily find replicated elsewhere.
Whether you live in Tribeca and are looking to decorate your space with locally sourced designs, or you’re exploring the neighborhood, scan this list for your next Lower Manhattan shopping trip. And if you need a professional interior designer’s hand with curating a space that’s fitting for a sophisticated lifestyle, filled with one-of-a-kind designs, check out the Time & Place Interiors design packages.
Happy shopping!
-Ksenya (Founder of Time & Place Interiors)
Form Atelier | Tribeca, New York City
It takes a clever eye to spot designs from any era that transcend time, and Form Atelier founders Avril Nolan and Quy Nguyen have that ability nailed down to an art. Whether they’re presenting signature Mid Century masterpieces by the likes of Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret, anonymous 19th Century American architectural forms, or pre-historic Mexican mounted pottery masks, their thoughtful curation feels decidedly modern.
Streamlined forms and neutral tones define Form Atelier’s aesthetic, yet eclectic sourcing that boils down tasteful design to its very essence is Nolan and Nguyen’s unique talent. A visit to the showroom is a joy in itself: this Tribeca vintage design gallery space feels like an oasis of calm in New York City, with tall columned pillars, exposed beams, and sparely placed intriguing displays that bring an intellectual inquisitiveness to interior design possibilities.
How I’d design with Form Atelier: The most tasteful interiors combine a range of styles, leaving enough room for design surprises that push boundaries of formulaic adherence to either a modern or traditional bent. From Form Atelier, I’d scoop up an eclectic surprise, such as a ceremonial pre-historic object, juxtaposed against a European Mid Century vintage furniture piece, showing off a bold design aesthetic that values beauty over trends.
What to shop: Akari lighting by Isamu Noguchi; iconic Mid Century furniture; decor ranging from antique found folk objects to signed 20th Century designs; contemporary photography
Stillfried Wien | Tribeca, New York City
Design enthusiasts who’ve visited places like The Neue Galerie museum know that decorative arts from Austria come from some of the most impressive craftsmanship and style heritage in history. Luckily, you can invite this beautiful genre into your own home by shopping at Stillfried Wien, a Tribeca boutique focused on design originating in Austria, Germany, and Eastern Europe. Viennese-born founders Anna and Michael Trubrig have close ties to Europe’s most influential designers and manufacturers, inviting you to access designs by iconic makers as well as contemporary artisans.
A tour of Stillfried Wien’s Tribeca gallery begins with a stunning backlit display of Austrian glassware, followed by a sleek arrangement of modern lighting and contemporary artisan-made furniture. The style is minimalist, even when the design is based on an iconic historical masters like Josef Hauffmann, Carl Auböck, or Oswald Haerdtls.
How I’d design with Stillfried Wien: For a handsome home bar display that welcomes you home after a long work day, I’d turn to Stillfried Wien to source high end Viennese glassware including wine, cordial, or brandy glasses to enjoy a well deserved drink in the comfort of your beautiful home.
What to shop: European glassware; designer lighting; independent craft furniture; contemporary ceramic tableware
180 the Store | Tribeca, New York City
Shoppers looking to curate not only their interior design style but also their urban hip wardrobe will enjoy 180 the Store, a retail and event space showcasing modern designers of homewares, menswear, womenswear, and accessories. Founded by PR veteran Denise Williamson, the gallery provides a space for independent brands to bring their visions to life. The airy Tribeca loft, occupying a former dairy distribution warehouse, with original wood floors and a massive skylight, is the perfect setting for a rotating presentation of beautifully edited objects in a minimal, clean style, ranging from hand blown glassware to furniture to leather personal accessories.
Those seeking hands-on knowledge can participate in 180’s events, including artist talks, ikebana arrangement classes, and cocktail party receptions honoring resident artisan makers.
How I’d design with 180 the Store: If I were adding much needed character and personality to a new build apartment, I’d turn to 180 to source layered textures like Italian wool and cashmere blend cushions by R+D lab, a ceramic glazed hand thrown vase by Kosi Hidama, or a Frama half-moon mirror.
What to shop: Menswear; womenswear; personal accessories; fragrance; ceramics; glassware; textile decor; furnishings by makers like Frama and Vogel Studio
BaBoo | Tribeca, New York City
The latest newcomer to Tribeca’s interior design scene is BaBoo, a boutique importing handcrafted objects from artisans around the world, with a focus on natural materials and one-of-a-kind curations. The whimsical selections range from wool felted floor cushions, curvy bent plywood tables, woven indoor swings, pebble mats, and other funky homewares that would lend an element of delight to any modern interior. Founder Galit Chay started her journey with a boutique in San Francisco, and has now expanded her presence in New York City, via artisans hailing from countries including Israel, Japan, Denmark, France, South Africa, and Portugal.
A stop into BaBoo’s attractive corner showroom in Tribeca will have your creative design juices flowing as you explore jungle swings, felted poufs stacked like river rocks, and merino wool freeform ball chairs. Don’t be surprised if you connect with your inner child, and end up transforming your home into a sophisticated adult’s play gym.
How I’d design with BaBoo: For a design-forward children’s bedroom, I’d score a playful kid-size animal stool, some sweet felted nests to hold air plants, and a merino wool beanbag-like chair for story time.
What to shop: Whimsical furnishings and home decor from global artisan studios, including bentwood tables by Kino Guerin; felted rocks by Rone’l Jordaan; free-form ceramics by Cookplay; indoor swings by social innovator IOTA
Clic | Tribeca, New York City
Part home decor gallery - part fashion boutique, a visit to Clic will make shopping pure fun. You’re practically guaranteed to find an object you didn’t know you couldn’t live without. The series of shops, including a Tribeca location, by former stylist and Calypso St. Barthes founder Christiane Celle, feature books, art, furniture, and global handcrafted accessories that will lend everyday luxury to your home. Luscious pillows, blankets, and sheepskins will wrap you in comfort, while hand thrown tablewares and candleholders will gear you up for an indulgent night in.
Your furry best friend will love it too. Clic carries sherpa fleece dog sweaters, felted wool pet toys, and ceramic drinking bowls for the most deserving loyal companions.
How I’d design with Clic: To spice up an interior with some glam style, I’d look to Clic for an ultra-modern glossy metal side stool by the Polish designer Zieta, or even a shimmery stainless steel toy Italian Vespa motorbike, which would look just as cool as a cheeky-but-classy accessory in an adult’s apartment.
What to shop: Ceramic vessels by Cym Warkov; micro lamps by Zafferano; New Zealand sheepskin chairs; illustrated books on design, art, and culture; collectible board games; blankets by Spanish mill Mantas Ezcaray
Stella | Tribeca, New York City
A true marker of living an elevated lifestyle is how you dress your bed and bath. It’s a behind-the-scene luxury reserved for the most personal levels of enjoyment. At Stella, an independent Tribeca boutique dedicated to creating comfort through relaxation, you can attain the creature comforts worth coming home to. The shop offers high end and custom-made bedding and bath products that are sustainable and tailored to individual tastes. From Belgian woven linen throws, to Spanish mohair blankets, layered above percale sheets from Portugal, your luxury bed will look as inviting as it is elegant.
The shop tops off its selection with other home decor categories like tabletop and bath, including bamboo placemats, linen napkins, fine scented candles, and handwoven storage baskets. Don’t miss Stella’s blog, with helpful lifestyle tips like selecting the right temperature down comforter or increasing the longevity of your candles.
How I’d design with Stella: To create a luxurious bedroom with a comfortably and elegantly styled bed, I’d source layers of textiles like a cotton blanket woven in Maine, topped by a plush Mohair throw, and a silk velvet embroidered lumbar pillow.
What to shop: High end bedding and blankets; custom cushions; bath linens; luxury scents; artisan-made home accessories
Urban Archaeology | Tribeca, New York City
With roots in architectural salvage and home restoration spearheaded by founder Gil Shapiro, Urban Archaeology has become known for original architectural fixtures and high end reproductions inspired by historic models. The business’s Tribeca location focuses on new models of bath products like marble washstands, designer lighting, and tile. Meanwhile, its warehouse in Long Island City holds architectural salvage treasures like original mantles, stained glass windows, gates, and plumbing products.
On a visit to the Tribeca showroom, make sure to walk down the steps to the lower level, where a salvaged historic wrought iron door leads to a room displaying a stunning collection of vintage lighting, from Art Deco schoolhouse lights, to Victorian chandeliers, to Mid Century Murano glass.
How I’d design with Urban Archaeology: For designing a luxurious bathroom that celebrates high style, I’d use Urban Archaeology to source bath lighting products like antique wall sconces or Mid Century vanity lights, which would add not only sophistication of design but also cultural heritage of original craftsmanship.
What to shop: High end plumbing products; stone vanities and bath consoles; vintage and reproduction lighting; natural stone tile; architectural salvage
You have a great Tribeca shopping guide. Now, how do you put together all those amazing design finds?
Time & Place Interiors’ founder Ksenya Malina specializes in designing homes through vintage and modern artisan designs, layering them to create tastefully coordinated spaces that reflect her clients’ sophisticated urban lifestyle. Use the link below to schedule a free 20-minute information call with Ksenya to discuss ways to design your space according to your unique style:
