Thanks to eye-catching designs dreamed up in-house or by firms like Studio Urquiola, these recently opened showrooms capture the essence of the brands they service while providing a wellspring of inspiration to visitors. Here, we step inside five spaces that debuted in New York, London, Vancouver, and Nashville this fall.
Rove Concepts
Vancouver
Steps from the waterfront in Vancouver’s downtown, Rove Concepts‘ 4,000-square-foot showroom is wrapped in a calming, neutral-hued palette with black and gray accents used throughout, designed by the firm’s in-house team. “The original heritage building had a modern French renaissance interior that we adored,” says Diane Lee, senior marketing manager for Rove Concepts. “We added modern finishes to bring subtle depth, texture, and character to an otherwise empty space.”
The concept store also boasts an Immersive Design Lab. Featuring XR technology, users can experience the products using augmented and virtual reality to take visualizing and planning to a new level. There is also a secret staircase that takes visitors to a mezzanine level, allowing them to experience an aerial view of the entire space. “We wanted our customers to be immersed in a shopping experience like no other,” adds Lee.
Moroso
New York
Coinciding with the Italian brand’s 70th anniversary in October, Moroso unveiled its new showroom in New York’s NoMad neighborhood. Designed by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, the team took cues from legendary Italian designer Ettore Sottsass, paraphrasing one of his quotes to sum up their overall approach: “Pink is the only color that puts the world together.”
Indeed, a clay-tinged blush color covers the walls, ceilings, and cabinets of the showroom. “For me, the clay color is a white canvas,” says Urquiola. In contrast is a back staircase in a punchy blue-purple shade that leads to the mezzanine and employee offices. Another distinctive design flourish is the lack of sharp angles. Instead, wide, towering columns add a sense of drama, while circular wall cutouts punctuate the open concept space.
Porro
London
When designing Porro’s new London showroom, located in designer Tom Dixon’s famed Coal Office, Italian designer Piero Lissoni and Porro’s project department considered the company’s Italian roots and UK location, resulting in “a beautiful interpretation of an Italian company in line with the London spirit,” says Lissoni.
Inspired by the historic building but wanting to imbue a contemporary feel, a transparent storage system creates an internal path as well as a sleek display while letting light pass through. Though the space is relatively small, just over 1000 square feet, it highlights the quality of the company’s offerings, allowing people to understand them by touching the materials and finishes in person.
Schumacher Boutique & Showroom
Nashville
Schumacher’s Nashville showroom, a collaboration with New York-based Lalire March Architects, tells the brand’s story from the outset, with a façade adorned in India Arbre, an archival pattern from the 1920s that features a tree of life. “Blown up, it looks almost modern,” says Stephanie Cano, director of space planning and visual merchandise at F. Schumacher & Co. (Every year, a new pattern will be painted on the exterior to keep the design fresh.)
Inside, expansive windows fill the space with natural light, while the back of the building is home to a think tank of sorts with a long table and a plethora of samples that encourage brainstorming. “The showroom is a space you want to spend time in,” says Cano, “with big worktables that allow designers to work and spread out if they want.”
Rottet Collection
New York
Hall of fame architect and interior designer Lauren Rottet‘s namesake product line, Rottet Collection, now has its own showroom. Housed in the same building as the Rottet Studio offices, at 29 West 30th Street, it occupies 3,900 square feet on the sixth floor. Throughout the light-filled space, products from the collection, including the rainbow-tinted Dichroic table and marble Walking bench, mingle with Rottet’s collaborations with Kyle Bunting and Visual Comfort & Co. “In a world of throwaways, Rottet Collection is produced with the finest materials and workmanship, designed to endure and be passed down from generation to generation,” says Rottet. “We are excited to bring our New York showroom to the market.”
Related: New and Notable: 21 Designer Collaborations To Check Out
