Q&A with Float Design Studios’ Partner Brad Sherman

Just a three-minute walk from Madison Square Park is where Float Design Studio in NoMad, an interior design company, calls home. Recently, they designed the new café and wine bar concept for Bumble, Bumble Brew, for its first permanent location.

Known for their pops of color and strong graphic elements, Float has managed to match the energy of many lively brands while offering a variety of comfortable, collaborative workspaces. The results are spaces made for people.

Float has worked on some award-winning projects for major names, specifically designing office spaces. They believe every company has a unique story, which can be told through the design of their workspace.

With New York City opening up and employees coming back to the office, a lot of companies realized that they would prefer their own private office space to collaborate with coworkers in person. Float Design Studios is accommodating just that.

Brad Sherman, LEED AP and Partner at Float Design Studio answered some questions about the company and the amazing work they have done in the NoMad area.

Can you give us a description of the café concept for Bumble? What are the elements of it that are ideal for New York’s reopening?

The focus was creating a safe space to meet – equally welcoming to a Bumble user or someone coming in off the street. It had to be a place where people could meet in any capacity, serving as a comfortable dining and relaxed gathering place – flexible, hospitable, environment for people of all types of interactions.

Can you describe Float Design Studio’s history and why you are successful today?

Float was formed in 2013 with the mission to make great design accessible for start-ups aging out of the co-working model. Our first clients were companies that felt like their specific needs were not being considered and that their culture – so critical to their identity as a small group – was absent in their space.

We soon discovered that the issues scaled. Utility of a space, three-dimensional identity – the things growing companies wrestle with – are found in businesses of all sizes and industries. As the businesses grew and moved into progressively bigger workspaces, our process remained the same. We distinctly respond to each brand – that is why no two spaces we design look alike.

What are some major projects Float Design Studio is proud of and why?

Food52, Casper, and Hungryroot are a few that we’re very proud of. We specialize in making commercial spaces feel as comfortable as residential ones, and these really hone in on that.

Given COVID’s effect on commercial real estate and office spaces, what has Float Design Studio been embracing in their designs as New York reopens? What are some success models or approaches that Float Design Studio is using now that weren’t used before?

The people that are coming back to the office aren’t as interested in dedicated desks for their employees – they want creative gathering spaces, where people can come together and brainstorm, sketch together, [and] work through ideas in person. If hybrid working is here to stay, physical locations have to find a way to add value.

Why did Float Design Studio choose NoMad to set up shop?

The accessibility to the rest of the city was a major factor. Most of our clients are either in NoMad or generally south of Midtown. And with the public transport resources, the design businesses in the neighborhood, and a beautiful park to blow off steam if need be, NoMad has been a great home for our business.

Float Design Studio in NoMad is helping New Yorkers get back on their feet. They are the type of classic creative businesses that makes NoMad, NoMad. Experience what else NoMad has to offer.

Autumn in New York is in full swing and Manhattan’s NoMad is percolating with energy.  The neighborhood is vibrant with activity as more people are returning to the office.

Autumn in New York Specials and Offers in NoMad

Adding to the excitement, the NoMad Alliance and Flatiron/23^rd Street Partnership have launched a new initiative: Fall for NoMad Piazza.

Proprietors and restaurants on and around the NoMad Piazza – Broadway from 25th Street through 31st Street – are serving up seasonal offers and specials on lunch, dinner, drinks, shopping, and services. Plus, there are wonderful live performances along the NoMad Piazza.

Details on special offers can be found at experiencenomad.com/nomad-piazza or by scanning the QR code found on the NoMad Piazza signs located along NoMad Piazza.

Food & Drink

Enjoy a variety of delicious foods from some of New York’s best-known restaurants, like Casa Nomad, The Breslin, Il Florista, Izakaya Nomad, Num Pang, and Woodpecker Pizza Bar & Grill by David Burke.

Shopping

Get the latest reads from the one and only Rizzoli Bookstore.

Find chic fashions from exclusive shops like WANT Apothecary and Noir et Blanc, or vintage designs at the thrifty HoG (the Hearts of Gold’s charitable thrift store).

Discover new artists and one-of-a-kind treasures at resources like Maison 10, a unique retail concept store and art gallery and the iconic Chelsea Flea market.  Or explore the quintessential souvenir store, Memories of New York.

Services & Treatments

Indulge in a range of services and treatments – from Fellow Barber and Heyday skincare, to plant-based wellness at Standard Dose and general and cosmetic dentistry from Dr. Lauren Becker.

Live Music & Entertainment

Live it up with live music at Casa Nomad, where up-and-coming artists perform every week Thursday through Sunday. Or make a dinner date at The Breslin for BROADWAY@BRESLIN Prix Fixe Performances on Sundays at 7:00, where Broadway talent performances are followed by a Q&A with New York 1’s Frank DiLella.

Autumn in New York at NoMad Piazza is unforgettable. With plenty of outdoor space, good food, great shopping, and exceptional services and entertainment, anyone who visits can’t help but Fall for NoMad Piazza.

The NoMad Piazza grows in popularity and size, as New York City’s Open Street program expands. New Yorkers have come to know the stretch of Broadway between 25th Street and 28th street as the NoMad Piazza – a wonderful outdoor Manhattan destination in NoMad.

Based on the success of NYC’s Open Streets, NoMad Piazza now extends north up to 31st Street, offering even more reasons to visit and partake of the neighborhood’s unique offerings. The southern tip continues to be closed to cars from 8:00 in the morning to 11:00 at night, allowing pedestrians to amble as they please most any time of day.

Outdoor eating areas and colorful umbrellas have been set up by a number of New Yorker’s favorite restaurants. At the heart of this new favorite destination, they continue to serve up tasty dishes with impeccable service under the summer sky. Some of the snacks, treats, and meals visitors can enjoy along the way are from eateries like:

• La Pecora Bianca NoMad
• Wagamama
• Num Pang Kitchen
• The Smith
• The Little Beet
• Smood’s,
• Cha Cha Matcha
• Sweetgreen
• Lady M Cake Boutique

In the expansion of NoMad Piazza, notables now include The Breslin and Casa Nomad.

Many of the neighborhood restaurants are offering special deals as part of the city’s All In NYC efforts. Check them out here.

The NoMad Piazza offers visitors more than delicious foods and beverages. Stop in Fellow Barber, sit in one of its vintage barber chairs, and get a haircut, buzz cut, trim, shave, or the “hangover treatment.” Or relax the mind and body with something from Standard Dose and get recommendations on plant-based wellness and CBD products. Those in search of the next great summer read can browse the incomparable Rizzoli Bookstore.

As NoMad Piazza grows in popularity, it easily accommodates more people with plenty of wide-open space on Broadway from 25th Street to 31st Street. The NoMad Piazza has room for everyone to enjoy the best of the season in New York City.

NoMad attracts international talent and resources from around the globe – from Dutch lighting to Finnish fashion and Japanese confections. Among the globally diverse companies, the Mitchell Denburg Collection stands out.

Its extraordinary textiles support Guatemalan artisans and makers who employ traditional techniques. At the same time that Denburg is bringing these beautiful fabrics to a world market, he also is helping to keep centuries-old customs and traditions alive by supporting the artisans who create them instead of using mass production. The authenticity makes the gorgeous pieces all the more meaningful.

The company prioritizes the use high-quality materials – but the materials must also be natural, renewable, and eco-friendly. Even when sourcing, The Mitchell Denburg Collection works with suppliers from many cultures, encouraging them to preserve heritage processes and the ways of life that support such endeavors.

Its founder, Mitchell Denburg was recently profiled by Mitchell Owens in Architectural Digest. He describes how in 1980, Denburg as a 22-year old photographer became enamored with the city of Antigua in Guatemala – its people and its crafts – and soon began an atelier with five workers and three looms.

Today, the company has 175 artisans and 50 looms. It is a company of multi-talented, skilled individuals, who continuously seek ways to create new designs and products – all while maintaining a commitment to excellence.

The Mitchell Denburg Collection’s New York flagship in the rooftop loft of the historic St. James in NoMad manifests the appreciation of individual artistry and reverence for history. The New York showroom is headed by Christian Jaillite, himself a talented photographer.

NoMad attracts such diverse international talent with a creative approach to their industry and social justice. That is why it continues to be a bastion for companies with similar core values and a dedication to bringing the best of global artistry to a wider audience.

Num Pang NoMad reopens to cheers from those who crave the renowned kitchen’s casual eating with serious flavor. Even more reason to celebrate, Num Pang is offering 10% off to anyone who shows a Kew building ID now through August 23rd.

Founded in 2009 under the culinary direction of chef Ben Daitz, Num Pang specializes in Southeast Asian-inspired sandwiches, bowls, soups, salads, and sides. Num Pang means “Cambodian Sandwich” and the incomparable Pulled Duroc Pork sandwich – served with cucumber, pickled carrots, and chili mayo or soy – is just one of the many culinary highlights offered. Every sandwich comes on a quinoa or semolina baguette baked fresh daily in New York City. It’s no wonder Zagat has ranked Num Pang as the “#1 Fast Casual in New York.” Check out the menu here.

The reopening of Num Pang NoMad at 1129 Broadway is another welcome addition to what neighborhood regulars are dubbing “The NoMad Piazza,” a stretch of Broadway between 25th Street and 28th Street that has come to life under New York City’s Open Street program. Locals and NoMad visitors enjoy the blocks along Broadway, which have been closed to vehicular traffic, allowing for outdoor dining and leisurely strolls under the summer sky.

As the summer continues to unfold and Num Pang NoMad reopens, New Yorkers are savoring the flavors of NoMad.

Spring brings the reincarnation of the famed flea market at 29 West 25th Street (between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue).

Ten years ago, our neighborhood was covered with flea markets on the weekends. They afforded two benefits.  First, they provided curious shoppers – from the casual tourist to the most discerning shopkeepers – a huge market to scour for very special treasures, which can only show up in a New York City flea market. Second, they gave parking lots a nice income on weekends when the lots were vacant.

But as real estate market pressures increased, these lots closed and the properties saw high-rise developments. At the end of last year, this last of the neighborhood flea markets on 25^th Street closed when the owners’ lease was not renewed.  It appeared that yet another facet of what made New York interesting to so many different types of people had disappeared forever into the past.

That’s why the neighborhood cheered with surprise and relief when it was announced that beginning the weekend of April 4 and 5, over 60 vendors will again be selling their wares at the 25th Street weekend flea market, and will continue to do so year-round, come rain or come shine.

The new market, christened Chelsea Flea, will offer high-quality antiques, unique vintage finds, found architectural objects, and hard-to-find collectables. Plus, select food vendors will make sure you don’t go hungry as you hunt for treasures (including eats which are gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and more).

The team who brought us Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg is behind the resurrection of this storied flea market, which was shopped by designers, celebs, and style icons like Andy Warhol. Those in the know look forward to the revival of this invaluable resource, and dealers look forward to working with the new team.

Savvy shoppers appreciate the real deals go early and go fast. It’s $5 to enter Chelsea Flea 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. After 9:00 a.m., the entry fee is $1 per person. Dogs and service animals are welcome free of charge.

This matchless shopping experience builds on the forty-year heritage of its location. Recognized for its exceptional bargains and lively negotiating, the new Chelsea Flea Market is New York deal-hunting at its best. Whether you’re a serious shopper or dabbling in deals, it’s history repeating itself in all the right ways.

Kew is proud to count acclaimed beauty and wellness brand Rituals among its tenants at 11 West 25th Street. Rituals is built on the philosophy of “finding happiness in the smallest of things.” Its message has particularly resonated with the public amid a growing desire for products that don’t just improve your body but foster a deeper sense of self-improvement and care. It is no surprise that the company’s popularity has blossomed from its home European market to international fame in the last two decades, with stores in Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

By its own definition, Rituals merges advanced modern technology and cosmetics with ancient Asian traditions, yielding an array of luxurious products that seek to nourish both the body and the home. But the company doesn’t draw the line at just physical changes — it encourages people to create real and positive change in their lives by cultivating better habits.

The Brand’s Collections — or ‘Rituals’

Each Ritual is designed to elicit a particular effect in its user. Here are three examples from the Aweleven Rituals currently available.

Its Ritual of Jing line, for instance, is named after the Chinese concept of the same name and is meant to bring calmness and inner peace. The line includes serums, creams, and fragrances that promote sleep and relaxation, with accompanying tips, recipes, and yoga exercises available on the company’s website to further complement the products with these meaningful daily activities.

Its Ritual of Samurai, by contrast, draws from its ancient Japanese namesake and is designed to invigorate and boost confidence, with offerings geared towards male grooming.

Its Ritual of Happy Buddha collection begs to differ with naysayers who think cosmetics can’t create happiness, with an excellent assortment of oils, scrubs, balms, scented candles, and perfumes that celebrate positivity through the sweet scents of orange and cedarwood. These also come with four-step instructions for how to use them to build mood-enhancing routines, solidifying the brand’s message of comprehensive self-care.

Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness

Part of the company’s appeal is its efforts to use as many natural ingredients as possible and ensure its growth is sustainable and eco-friendly. As it notes on its site, Rituals is just as committed to caring for the planet as it is to caring for the individual body and mind. And there’s no need to look any further for gift ideas, as the company’s artfully arranged and reusable boxes are the perfect answer to making toiletries a personalized and thoughtful present for friends and family.

Good Things Ahead

In an age when online shopping has become increasingly more common, and brick and mortar commerce seems to be increasingly obsolete, Rituals still attracts customers to its stores by creating interactive shopping experiences. This can include anything from giving customers a cup of herbal tea at the door to a quick massage of their hands while waiting — unique touches that enhance the brand’s goal to “transform daily routines into meaningful rituals,” according to its UK Managing Director Penny Grivea.

Even though it has already enjoyed a rapid expansion across the globe, with locations in 27 countries, Rituals has no intention of stopping — it plans to open over 300 stores in the next two years, with a target of 1,040 stores by the end of next year. It is eyeing new stores in Singapore, Paris, Stockholm, and Arnhem in the near future, with a particular focus on boosting its presence in the Asia-Pacific region via more points of sale at major hotels and airports in key cities. Clearly, good things lie ahead for the Rituals brand and its growing base of devotees.

We eagerly await the opening of the company’s bigger and better stand-alone locations, as it seeks more room to display its constantly expanding collections. In the meantime, we are happy to visit the Rituals store at 172 Fifth Avenue to appreciate the soothing atmosphere and enjoy some real-time pampering as we shop for things that will bring the beauty and tranquility of a spa into the comfort of home.

Hiten Manseta has taken his family business from Bombay to New York, achieving success through the fine quality established by his family tradition and the foresight of using modern Japanese designers and branders to broaden his company’s appeal. From its humble beginnings, Hitten has made Tusk a premier source for leather goods including handbags and travel accessories for both men and women and established a showroom at the St. James Building in Suite 531. As a fellow tenant, you might want to stop by and see the extraordinary products Tusk offers.

Raised in a typical Indian family in Bombay, Hiten Manseta grew up surrounded by family members in the textile industry. Family dinners always revolved around business talk, and Hiten quickly developed a passion for the industry. He was well-prepared to take over his family business, and when he did in 1993, he surprised his family by moving to New York to launch his brand.

Realizing the importance of design appeal, Hiten started working with a friend and artist from Japan to design the brand’s logo and signature Tusk zipper pulls that are now trademarked as an original Tusk product. It is this marriage of contemporary design with the highest quality of leather that has led to the company’s growth and recognition, even being featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things.

However, despite all the changes, Hiten has maintained the family tradition — an incontrovertible commitment to integrity in and sourcing the best materials and maintaining high-quality manufacturing practices.

Materials

Only the finest leather is used at Tusk. Customers can select leather from American buffalo, which is known for strength and durability, French calf, known for being soft and smooth, and Egyptian buffalo, which is elastic and durable.

Processes

The Leather Working Group is a group that has set environmental standards to promote appropriate environmental business practices within the leather industry. All of the leathers that are selected at Tusk have earned Gold and Silver ratings from this group. Each material and process involved in the making of a Tusk bag and accessory is selected with the environment in mind.

Manufacturing

Tusk’s factory in Mumbai, managed by Hiten’s sisters, still produces all Tusk products from tanning, and dyeing through the finishing process.  These craftspeople working at Tusk are not simply workers making thousands of pieces for a super brand, they are the heads of small families who have grown up with the leather making factory and are part of a culture that respects its artisan tradition.  In fact, Tusk is so proud of its operations that they invite visitors to their factory to see the sustainable and ethical ways in which their products are made.

Uniquely symbolic of the care and commitment of the company, customers receive superior customer service and a personal thank you letter with every Tusk purchase. Customers have reciprocated with wonderful testimonials to Tusk products and services , which can be found on its website. Our favorite is this:  “I made my first purchase of a TUSK wallet more than a decade ago, that is in perfect condition. Since then, I purchased the black lizard, a small billfold for a tiny purse, and now the wood colored Donington wallet.”

Tusk 

1133 Broadway, Suite 531
New York, NY 10010
(212) 242-8485

tusk.com

Hours:
Monday-Friday: 11:00 am – 6:30 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday: Available by Appointment

To celebrate the impressive development of NoMad over the past 12 years, our neighborhood organization the NoMad Alliance launched an exciting new website this week at experiencenomad.com. If you aren’t familiar with this site, or haven’t explored it before, it is a great place to learn about the neighborhood’s history, all it has to offer, and what is going to happen next.  We urge our tenants to spend time on the new website and take advantage of its many features, because it’s a great resource for all of us who work and/or live in NoMad. Discover:

The Latest Neighborhood News
Fun, informative Historical Stories
An interactive Map of NoMad
A Broad Calendar of Events
Listings of Resources and Governmental Agencies to Help You
Profiles of Area Businesses
Transportation Information

The newest update of the website has a fresh, bright, and streamlined look. Improved organization of information and navigation, making it easier and more fun to use. One of the best features of the new experiencenomad.com is the several contact points that will allow you to reach members of the Alliance directly.

The NoMad District

The Nomad District, first recognized as far back as 1999 by The New York Times, has grown into one of  New York City’s most exciting neighborhoods. Once the center of Gilded Age New York, as you have read on this website, NoMad was ”forgotten” for many years, but once again its enduring strengths are drawing people, businesses, developers, and tourists here:

• Great transportation.
• An inventory of historic buildings.
• The city’s finest small park.
• A balanced live/work community.

As a tenant, you are sure to have noticed these enormous changes as tech and design businesses flood into the area, new skyscrapers rise, beautiful architectural gems are restored, and the inventory of world-class restaurants, hotels, and nightspots swells. Businesses, such as Nomad Tower, Virgin Hotel NoMad, Arlo NoMad, Sweetgreen NoMad (to name a few), recognize that “NoMad” signals something new and powerful; it is a brand that has and will continue to bring attention and growth to our area.

NoMad’s Tin Pan Alley is proud to house five new landmarks after eight months of debate by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Take a stroll from Broadway to Sixth Avenue on 28th Street to admire the buildings at 47-55 that represent Tin Pan Alley—the birthplace and fountainhead of popular music.  From these blocks, love songs, comic and novelty songs, ballads, cakewalk, Ragtime, jazz, and showtunes flowed around the globe at the turn of the twentieth century, making innovations in the music industry that endure today.

The landmarked townhouses, built in NoMad between 1839 and 1859, sheltered the growing publishing houses that promoted persecuted African American and Jewish composers, giving them the space to create beloved American classics such as ”Maple Leaf Rag,” “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” and “God Bless America.” The street saw the rise of Duke Ellington, Scott Joplin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, and other greats, who brought diversity into the mainstream music industry and became immortalized in the Great American Songbook.

Historical feats aside, the structures also have architectural significance, as they feature the bracketed cornices and projecting stone lintels characteristic of the Italianate style that peaked in popularity during the 1850s.

Preservationists have been lobbying to landmark the buildings since 2008 to avoid their potential demolition after being listed for sale for $44 million. The properties were sold to a developer in 2013, but grassroots campaigns and continued legal efforts culminated in a long-awaited win for the neighborhood.

Commissioner members noted that landmarking these buildings serves as a solemn reminder of a difficult time in U.S. and global history, intertwined as it is with violence and discrimination, while still celebrating the cultural richness and accomplishments that emerged from the period. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer was one of several prominent figures who applauded the decision, calling Tin Pan Alley “an indelible part of not only our city’s history, but also national identity” that will be preserved “for generations to come.”

With its central location, easy subway access, abundant eateries, and the beautiful and tranquil Madison Square Park, NoMad is a great neighborhood to work in, but also a great place to live. In the past few years, numerous new and renovated apartment and condo buildings have added to the stock of great apartments available in our neighborhood. If you find the work-to-work lifestyle alluring and you’re thinking about moving closer to your office, here are five residential buildings within walking distance that you might consider.

Prism at Park Avenue South

One of NoMad’s newer residential communities, this unique 40-story glass tower was designed by architect Christian de Portzamparc to create a one-of-a-kind luxury New York living experience. Individual units feature floor-to-ceiling windows with skyline and river views, stainless appliances, wide-plank wood floors, in-unit washers and dryers, and more. The list of building amenities is long and includes a 24-hour concierge, fitness center, children’s play area, lap pool (inside), steam room, sauna, yoga/spin room, screening room and in-building access to the 6 line. You’re also steps away from many great dining options, including Pret a Manger and Tarallucci e Vino on-site. Units are available to rent ranging from small studios to three-bedroom, two-bath apartments, all with no broker fees.

Prism at Park Avenue South
50 East 28th Street
New York, NY 10016
(646) 989-8723

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The Capitol

If you are looking for the ultimate in city living (and you happen to have a dog), you’ll want to check out this particularly pet-friendly high-rise. This 370-unit building was built in 2000 and offers a selection of sleek, modern, no-brokerage-fee apartments ranging from studios to two-bedrooms, many with stunning city views. Apartment units feature wood floors, stainless appliances and marble baths.  In addition to valet services, the building itself offers such amenities as a 24-hour attended lobby, fitness center, billiards room, a screening room, library, and dog-`wash station. The Capitol has also recently renovated its community lounge areas, including a rooftop lounge and terrace with a dog run.

The Capitol
776 Sixth Avenue
New York, NY 10001
(212) 447-4477

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Chelsea Landmark

Another centrally located high-rise, this 2005 apartment building is designed with busy New Yorkers in mind. The 36-story Chelsea Landmark features no-brokerage-fee studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments, each with open floor plans, luxury finishes, and plenty of natural light from oversized windows. Building amenities include 24-hour concierge services, on-site fitness center, party room, library and game room with billiards, and golf simulator. You’ll particularly want to check out the landscaped rooftop deck with stunning panoramic views of the city. Best of all, with its easy access to NoMad and nearby Chelsea and Flatiron, you’re steps away from some of the best dining, shopping, and nightlife in Manhattan.

Chelsea Landmark
55 West 25th Street
New York, NY 10010
(646) 453-4401

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True North NoMad

If you’re looking for a bit more historic charm in your living space, check out this restored pre-war apartment building at 80 Madison Avenue. Originally built in 1923, this eight-story elevatored building has been modernized and updated while retaining its original structural feel. Each of the 56 loft-style units, ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments, is uniquely designed. Most include oversized windows, stainless appliances, walk-in closets, and 13-foot ceilings. Building features include laundry facilities, video security, and a live-in super. Residents also receive a discounted membership to New York Health & Racquet Club.

True North NoMad
80 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 248-3333

Leasing Information

Instrata Nomad

This 50-story residential rental high-rise exudes sophistication and luxury. On a quiet street across from one of New York’s most famous historic churches and a few blocks from verdant and exciting Madison Square Park, Instrata Nomad is in the center of one of the city’s hippest neighborhoods. Studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments all feature gorgeous finishes and convenient features, including stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, Kohler fixtures, hardwood floors, marble bathrooms, and sizable closet space. Balconies are found off many of the 392 apartments. Building amenities include a full-service concierge, 24-hour attended lobby, fitness center, 360° roof deck and resident roof lounge on the 50th Floor, valet, and parking, and in-house laundry.

Instrata Nomad
10 East 29th Street
New York, NY 10016
(646) 590-0080

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With a beautiful showroom at Kew’s 255 Fifth Avenue building, Ernest is a dynamic collective that offers the most inspiring Belgian-European architecture and design brands to North American architects and designers.  The company has built its business on its core values of personal responsibility and a down-to-earth attitude. Co-founder and partner Thierry Herbert explained that the very name of the company was chosen to underscore these special qualities.  He said that a leading interior designer commented to him that it was wonderful doing business with the firm, because it was so “earnest.”  We think it fits the company so well that management adopted it as the firm’s corporate name.

Ernest Looks for Specific Characteristics in Choosing Products to Import

In crafting its portfolio, Ernest first and foremost only presents products that will be exclusively available through them — these are not products you will find elsewhere in North America.  They must also have several key qualities:

• Be more architectural than simply “decorative.”
• Have a design that can be characterized as clean, timeless, and forward-thinking.
• Be a medium to high-end quality product that is well-made.
• Offers longevity both in design aesthetic and construction.
• Be manufactured as a sustainable product using sustainable means.

Ernest Customers Have a Special Perspective

Herbert described Ernest’s clients like this: they are “people who are generally internationally driven, who like architecture and culture, who value quality, longevity, sustainability, and consider the evolution of product development.”  He also noted that they have “a certain partiality to imported goods and materials — those that are not be as accessible and as common as local products.”

The problem of course is that not everyone understands that investing in a better product pays off multifold as time goes by.  Herbert quoted Ben Franklin: “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.“  He also referenced the story of The Three Little Pigs —”the first two build their homes out of lesser materials and make fun of the third for working so hard, but of course, in the end, the one made of the strongest materials is the only one to survive.”  It’s amazing how many people don’t learn that childhood lesson.  However, it’s the people who did learn it who are Ernest clients.

Offering Four Broad Product Lines

The company offers a huge range of products covering four main categories: furniture, lighting, architectural products and materials.

1. Furniture — Ernest offers furniture from Royal Botania, which has earned an acclaimed worldwide reputation for creating a refined and diverse choice of outdoor furnishings, engineered to offer a perfect blend of precision, functionality and sustainability.

2. Lighting — Ernest represents Delta Light, a Belgian family business, which creates innovative lighting designs recognized throughout the world for their subtle blend of ambiance, elegance, and functionality, both in interior and exterior lighting.  Besides, individual products, Ernest also handles Delta Lighting projects for small- and large-scale houses, hotels, offices, public buildings, retail and hospitality environments.

3. Architectural Products — Renson is a Belgian family business creating healthy spaces with innovations in ventilation, sun protection, and terrace coverings. Renson products focus on sustainable energy efficiency, acoustics, and design in creating systems for homes, apartments, offices and healthcare facilities.

4. Materials — In Ernest’s showroom you can see a broad range of building materials, including reclaimed wood, tile, and carpet flooring.

A Must Visit Engaging Showroom at 255 Fifth

Ernest’s showroom reflects the firm’s vision.  It is set up to act as a one-stop shop for developers, specifiers, architects, designers, and individuals seeking design-focused, residential and commercial furnishings suitable for both indoors and outdoors. The showroom is divided into different spaces – a living room/lounge, kitchen, dining room, outdoor furniture area, and bathroom – all using Ernest’s products, so that buyers can see, feel, and experience products in situ. Herbert stressed, “We want designers to come here and see the full range of how we can work.

As a means of promoting dialog, with the New York design community, Ernest uses the space to play host to multidisciplinary cultural and social experiences such as screenings and social events throughout the year.  To make the space exciting and flexible to accommodate these events, it is cutting edge, with experimental creations; drop-down media screens, adjustable LED lighting solutions and retractable privacy screens.  (It’s also stocked with Belgian treats so you can get a literal taste of Belgium while you’re there too!  We told you it was a great, inviting space as well as a great resource.)

Forward Thinking

“Through our strong brand partnerships, we have been able to offer a rich and distinctive collection of inspiring Belgian-European products. We wanted to build on that successful base and enhance it with a fresh new name and concept that is emblematic of our shared philosophy.”

He notes that there have been some barriers, which are changing.  Europe has been much more forward-thinking in terms of sustainability, but America is catching up and that is good for Ernest.  Not only do Ernest products offer longevity — they are meant to last, but are produced with the environment in mind.  That is becoming more and more important in America, and Ernest is well positioned for the future in this regard.

The company approach to showing products in use also helps.  The company’s showroom parties have been a great success, not only in terms of business but also in terms of creating a forum for discussion and synergies among members of the design community.  So to, its Ernest Cabin, outside the main entrance of the Architectural Digest Design show in 2017, and its mini-house have proved great venues for attracting audiences and showing Ernest products effectively.  Both have helped designers and architects see many Ernest products at once and in use.

Ernest and NoMad

Ernest has been a Kew tenant here in the NoMad area for almost three years now. Herbert describes NoMad as “a perfect area for architectural design,” “a central location for business,” and “very alive and thriving.”

Herbert pointed out that there are also some very talented furniture, lighting, and architectural designers whose creations are on display in showrooms here in NoMad.  It wasn’t like that a few years ago, but the changes have been significant — it went from “no man’s land to NoMad.”

Blue Dot,  Liaigre, Jung Lee, Porcelanosa, Marimekko, Archlinea, ddc, and Natuzzi, are just a handful of the many firms catering to the interior design and architectural professionals that have located in NoMad, making the area a center for people interested in finding the ideal solutions for their projects.  That puts Ernest in the center of New York City’s newest design center.

Thierry Herbert especially welcomes Kew’s architect and interior designer tenants to call upon him and visit the showroom just a few blocks away — there is a lot to see and learn that may be useful in your next project. 

Ernest
255 Fifth Avenue, 6th Floor (between 28th & 29th Streets)
New York NY 10016
(212) 334-5045
info@ernestny.com

www.ernestny.com

Hours:
Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

If you’re looking to make an end-of-the-year contribution to an organization, whether for tax deduction purposes or otherwise, allow us to make a suggestion: Consider giving back to the neighborhood by making a donation to the Madison Square Park Conservancy.

Madison Square Park is arguably the crown jewel of NoMad, and it plays a huge part in why this neighborhood is such a remarkable place to live and work. It provides us with wonderful views, a place to stroll during lunch or break times, year-round family-fun and cultural, a place to walk the dog, world-class art exhibits, and so much more.

The park doesn’t stay beautiful on its own. Although this is a city park, the Madison Square Park Conservancy raises 100 percent of the money required to plant the park’s flowers, maintain and keep the park grounds, as well as put on the numerous programs that benefit the community all year. That is why it is one of the most beautiful, well-maintained, and active park in the city.  The Conservancy is currently planning for its upcoming calendar—and the budget they can raise plays a significant role in what decisions are made.

If you have taken time out of your day to walk the park, eat a picnic lunch, relax on a bench or attend a special event at any time during the last year, you have already benefitted from the good will of others who have and are supporting the park. If you’re not already a supporter, why not take this opportunity and do your share for the upcoming year?

Madison Square Park Conservancy is a non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. They’ve made it easy to donate – just click here to fill out their convenient online form. Let’s work together to help keep our park looking amazing—and in so doing, we’ll help keep NoMad one of the best places to live and work in NYC.

In the second half of the 19^th Century, the small Worth Hotel stood where the Townsend is today and the elegant, very famous St. James Hotel was located at the site of the St. James.

The Worth was owned by the Townsend family who decided to replace the hotel with a larger commercial building. They hoped to purchase the two adjoining brownstones to add to the building site. The brownstone nearest their building agreed, but the second brownstone was owned by Edward T. King, who held out. The design and building of the Townsend proceeded without King’s property. The St. James Hotel, at the other end of the block, was purchased by Joseph and Abraham Pennock, who planned a second office building on the block. They too approached King to incorporate his property into their site, but again he refused.

That’s how 1129 Broadway became one of the first holdouts in New York City history, and for a few years the five-story brownstone was wedged between a 12-story building and 16-story building.

King should have realized the neighborhood was changing as residents, hotels, and private clubs began moving further uptown and businesses increasingly took their place. It was only a short time before the family recognized their mistake. Less than 12 years after the Townsend and St. James were finished, the Pittsburg Life and Trust Company persuaded the Kings to sell. The brownstone was immediately torn down, and the one-story building that is now on the site was built. (You can still see the white ghost of the old King brownstone on the sides of 1123 and 1133.)

Now housing Num Pang, this one-story building was originally occupied by the renowned and popular Carl H. Schultz mineral water shop at “The Sign of the Siphon.” Schultz was famous for his artificially flavored waters and patrons could enjoy their drinks in long-stemmed glasses served from marble counters decorated with Tiffany lamps. Just across the store a wooden bar, putatively from the then recently demolished Fifth Avenue Hotel, served ice cream sodas and egg creams.

Since 1952, all three buildings have been under Kew ownership. In an ironic twist, a passage was created across the roof of the one-story “holdout” in the 1980s, connecting the Townsend and St. James. And despite the frustration of the original builders, the King holdout enforced a space between the two tall buildings providing today’s tenants with more light and air than they would have had if the buildings abutted each other as the Townsends and Pennocks had hoped.