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One of the many perks of being a decorator is the exclusive access to trade-only wholesalers and manufacturers. But when projects encounter constraints, designers make a beeline to B2C brands as a quick fix. Although time and budget crunches may necessitate faster and less expensive options, the results can be quite rewarding—if you know where to look. AD PRO asked interior design experts around the country for their go-to stores when they’re in a bind, and for their standout stunner suggestions.
CB2 is Nicole White's hands-down favorite store when she needs something “fabulous and fast for clients.” The Miami-based White adores the Rake Brass Chair, she says, “because the statement this chair makes from the back is fierce.” The Avec Sofa always makes a real splash on her most popular projects, but she’s “been itching to use the Collete White Sofa with faux leather piping because—piping!"
White White firmly believes, “Your foyer-slash-entryway should boldly declare who you are as a client, and this marble-top beauty, the Westmont marble console table, with the fluted detail says you are hella stylish, on trend but love classic/timeless details like marble.”
Apartment 48’s Rayman Boozer also hits CB2, particularly when finishing projects or meeting a tight budget. One of his favorite floor coverings is the Rainbow Snakeskin Rug. “Matthew Williamson’s design is color positive and I love how the pattern bleeds off of the rug—you don't often reach this artistic depth with an off-the-shelf buy,” he says. Boozer also recommends the Cupa Saddle Leather Swivel Base Chair. “It is great as an accent chair to round out a living room or even for a collaboration space in a more laid-back office. It’s masculine, glam, and comfortable. It’s a winner!”
Manhattan-based Neal Beckstedt is making an effort to support local stores as much as possible, he says, “especially right now because so many are struggling. Also, it reduces the environmental impact of shipping and the headaches of delays, which inevitably always happen.”
Beckstedt frequents Aero Studios, founded by designer Thomas O’Brien. “Everything at Aero feels unique and hand-selected,” says Beckstedt. “There is thought put into the items they carry. They know the taste level of their customer very well and continue to surprise me with the items they carry.”
The showstopper selections Beckstedt loves are its “beautiful trays, which are a minor obsession of mine—for example, the Cork Ottoman Tray. Also, they have a large selection of serve ware, with everything from the perfect salt-and-pepper shaker to kitchen utensils and barware [like the] Foret Beechwood Ladle.”
Samantha Orley, of Orley Interiors, shares, “There is almost always some aspect of budget and/or time constraints in every project.” In those circumstances, Orley’s go-to is BluDot. Her swoony sofa suggestions are the Bonnie Sofa in Copper Velvet or the cozy Sunday Sofa. Orley depends on BluDot’s sofas as they are always “in-stock, comfortable, and made with great material.” She also recommends its Stash Desk, “which is a new favorite as it is perfectly sized for New York City apartments and can turn any bedroom or living area into a work-from-home office.”
Shawna Underwood
Washington, D.C.–based Shawna Underwood is a fan of Room and Board’s reliable lead times and quality, and loves the free cancellation and return policy. One of Underwood’s favorite items, she points out, is the Cedric Table Lamp, with its sleek, modern look that “will instantly update any space.” She also loves the Profile Frame Set in Gunmetal, which is “perfect to create gallery walls,” not to mention the low-profile but beautiful Copenhagen File Storage Bench with Cushion, which “can be easily layered under an open desk, saving on space and providing storage and extra work surface for all your office piles.”
Katie Logan LeBlanc and Jensen Killen
New Orleans’s Katie Logan LeBlanc and Jensen Killen, of Logan Killen Interiors, founded Sunday Shop on the ground floor of their interior design office. With a store right under their feet, they can find go-tos for their clients any time.
Their lighting leader comes from Lambert et Fils. “It is just amazing to work with and their lead times have been incredibly reliable throughout the pandemic,” Logan LeBlanc tells AD PRO. “They even have a quick-ship program with lead times of four weeks, which is pretty rare in the bench-made/made-to-order lighting category. They have wonderfully modern shapes and the price point is very affordable considering the craftsmanship and quality—e.g., the Parc 04.”
Logan LeBlanc adds, “The almighty Hawkins New York always comes to our rescue and is our go-to for sourcing linen bedding and pillows. Their colors are amazing and are able to be mixed and layered together in really creative ways. Products typically arrive within two weeks of ordering—check out the Hawkins by Belgian Linen Bedding, Terracotta. We have never been disappointed in the quality of a Sika piece, and who doesn’t love a beautifully sculptural rattan chair [like the] Arne Jacobsen Paris Chair?”
Santa Monica, California–based Bridgid Coulter’s favorite shop is the local semi-custom Croft House. The designer’s current selections are the Tula coffee table, which “balances organics of the wood with the industrial metals,” and the Kings Credenza, which she says is “simply a complex combination of their proprietary smooth black surface and weathered wood.”
Designers agree: Project constraints don’t have to diminish a project when there are solutions like these that are both time- and budget-saving.
