Walking into any space that Bunny Williams’ hand touches inevitably serves as a masterclass on livable glamour, and her new showroom in New York’s Indoor Arts Building is no exception. Opening June 1, the reimagined outpost of Bunny Williams Home is set to be a sightseeing feast for all who come to visit.
For years, the New York furniture brand’s store was found in the Beaux-Arts Building while the headquarters of Bunny Williams, Inc. Interiors Art Design Company, Inc., is located in the Interiors Art Building. The decision to move the two entities together came as a no-brainer to Williams because she saw it as an opportunity for both sides of the business to grow together and inform each other’s business.
Unlike the previous home, the new showroom and shop has a more contemporary appeal with large modern windows, wooden beams and a renovated ceiling. Williams says the space’s “realistic qualities” help shoppers visualize how they can incorporate furnishings into their homes, as well as give Williams and her team the freedom to play with showroom décor.
“The thing about the showroom is that the decoration changes – and that’s not much different from the way we live,” Williams explains. “During the change, you move the furniture, you take back the sofa because you always want it to look new. We want to do the same with the showroom. We don’t tend to over-decorate it because the decor becomes the furniture you want to sell, lamps, mirrors, art.”
The new Treillage collection from Bunny Williams Home takes center stage in the store, which pays tribute to the popular garden antiques store founded by Bunny and her husband, John Rosselli, in New York. Chic bamboo armchairs mingle with striped side tables while works of New York City artists sparkle on the walls. There is also a variety of hand-picked Williams antiques, as well as the classic reproductions for which her brand is known. Kyle Marshall, creative director of Bunny Williams Home, explains the combination of new furniture and vintage pieces that perfectly align with the brand’s ethos of mixing high and low.
“It’s a destination not only for people who want to learn more about the line, but also for people who may already know us and want to keep shopping for new and antique pieces for ongoing projects,” Marshall says.
The showroom also plays an essential role in attracting new customers who want to get to know the brand and have a look at the quality of the pieces. Both Williams and Marshall note that while the brand has seen a spike in online sales, it’s still appropriate to have a space where customers can see and touch upholstery before making a big purchase.
Williams says she’s always wanted to have a showroom where people can “sit in the chair and sit on the sofa and see the quality of the product.” “I want people, whether they’re designers or retail customers, to have a place to come and touch and feel the quality. Then they make a decision and they order it later online,” she adds.
The Bunny Williams Home Showroom in the Intertour Arts Building will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning June 1.
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