New York is obviously packed with home design shops, and you can’t go wrong with the likes of Crate and Barrel, Williams Sonoma, ABC Carpet & Home, to name a few classics, but if you’re looking for a shopping experience with a twist for your next New York trip, here’s an idea I’d like to share…
It’s called John Derian and you’ll find it tucked down a leafy side street in the East Village (side note: it might just be my favourite shop in New York, perhaps even the world).
It opened 18 years ago selling his signature decoupage plates and paperweights which feature flowers, frogs, ships and gorgeous typography. Today it’s spread across three neighbouring shops, and feels like an elegant aunt’s Parisian apartment, filled with striped rugs, scented candles, cheeky art books, woodblock prints and colorful quilts. You’ll feel transported and inspired.
Each shop is an organised chaos of plates and platters, scented candles, paperweights and coasters, cheeky art books, bowls and ephemera, rugs, throws, colourful textiles, art and furniture. There’s so much to look at you could easily lose a morning browsing around, making a mental note of all the things you’d like to buy.
If you’re interested in finding out more about John Derian, his work and how it all started, here’s a little behind-the-scenes video of him at work in his studio:
Find John Derian at 6 – 10 East Second Street, between Second Avenue and the Bowery.
