Walking into any space touched by the hands of Bunny Williams inevitably serves as a masterclass on livable glamour, and her new showroom at New York's Interiors Art Building is no exception. Opening on June 1, the reimagined outpost for Bunny Williams Home promises to be a visional feast for all who come to visit.
For years, the furniture brand's New York shop was found in the Fine Arts Building while the headquarters for Bunny Williams, Inc., the decorator's interior design firm, was located in the Interiors Art Building. The decision to move the two entities together came as a no-brainer to Williams as she saw it as an opportunity for both sides of the business to grow together and inform each other's work.
Unlike its previous home, the new showroom and shop has a more contemporary appeal with its large modern windows and restored wood beams and ceiling. Williams says the "lifelike qualities" of the space help shoppers envision how they can incorporate the furnishings into their home, as well as giving Williams and her team free rein to play with the showroom's decor.
"The thing about a showroom is that the decoration changes—that's not so different from the way we live," explains Williams. "As you change, you move furniture around, you recover a sofa because you always want it to look fresh. We want to do the same with a showroom. We tend not to overdecorate it because the decoration becomes the furniture you want to sell, the lamps, the mirrors, and art."
Taking center stage at the shop is Bunny Williams Home's newest collection, Treillage, which pays homage to the famous garden antiques store founded by Bunny and her husband John Rosselli in New York. Chic rattan armchairs mingle with striped side tables as works from New York City artists shine on the walls. There is also a medley of antiques that are hand-selected by Williams, in addition to the classic reproductions her brand is known for. Kyle Marshall, the creative director for Bunny Williams Home, explains the blend of new furniture and vintage pieces perfectly aligns with the brand's ethos of mixing high with low.
"It's a destination not just for people who want to learn more about the line, but also, people who might already know us and want to still shop for new and antique pieces for projects that are going on," says Marshall.
The showroom also plays an integral role in bringing in new customers who want to become acquainted with the brand and look at the quality of the pieces. Williams and Marshall both note that while the brand has seen a rise in online sales, it's still pertinent to have a space where customers can see and touch the furnishings before making a big purchase.
Williams says she always wants to have a showroom where people can "sit in the chair, sit on the sofa and see the quality of the product." She adds, "I want people, whether it be designers or retail customers, to have a place that they can come and touch and feel the quality. Then, they make a decision and order it later online."
The Bunny Williams Home showroom at the Interior Arts Building will be open Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting on June 1.
Sarah DiMarco is the Assistant Editor at VERANDA, covering all things art, design, and travel, and she also manages social media for the brand.
