Design firm: Roman and Williams, New York
The details: When opening their flagship store, the two-story Roman and Williams Guild—a hybrid showroom and restaurant with a bookstore and flower shop in New York’s SoHo neighborhood—Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch, the duo behind successful firm Roman and Williams, wanted a place that resembled Parisian cafés with a distinct retail component. Spanning 7,000 square feet, the ground floor is filled with aromas from both chef Marie-Aude Rose’s French café La Mercerie (a partnership between the pair and longtime collaborator, restaurateur Stephen Starr) and Emily Thompson Flowers’ fresh blooms. There’s also an area to showcase the Founding collection—the duo’s line of furniture, lighting, and accessories—as well as pieces collected from the workshops of craftspeople the world over.

For the design, classic shapes mix with warm woods in an open layout that channels a bohemian, residential aesthetic. Blue velvet banquettes line the bright and airy café, echoing the color of the storefront façade. In the darker, moodier adjacent room, a mural depicting a forest at night wraps the walls and a black wet bar, while gray cabinets lined with pottery, inviting furniture, and artwork all offer a homey feel for a sumptuous journey.