The prospect of retirement doesn’t just signal the end of a career; it offers the chance to recalibrate and re-prioritize in life.
Shops We Love: Boerum House and Home, Brooklyn
photos by:
August 8, 2014
Boerum House and Home, a Brooklyn outpost features a roster of emerging and established designers. Inside its loftlike retail space, discover new and vintage furniture, accessories, kitchenware, and more. We sent a few questions to Anthony Sperduti, a co-founder of Partners and Spade, the creative agency who worked on the store's concept, to learn a bit more about the shop, how e-commerce has impacted retail experiences, and the ultimate housewarming gift. [Editor's note: the shop has closed as of February 2015.]
Boerum House and Home is meant to evoke the modern Brooklyn residence. How would you define that?
Brooklyn is a hotbed of output from the creative class, and Boerum Hill is one of the great Brooklyn neighborhoods. For us, that means it’s an exciting place to live with traditional architecture, in an exciting town, in a modern way. From where we stand, the modern Brooklyn home is a world-class backdrop for the stories, interests, and pursuits of a life well lived.
Photo by
How did you select the brands and designers to feature in the shop? Is there a particular sensibility that unites the collection?
We hand selected the products to be best-in-class design from best-in class-designers and makers with enough edge and wit to stand the test of time.
Photo by
How does the shop support local artisans and makers and why was that an important element?
We’ve got a number of pieces from Brooklyn-based makers and craftspeople. Supporting them by giving them a platform to further get their stories and products out is one way of giving back. The other way is showcasing local artisans in the context of the larger world. Seeing local product alongside other pieces gathered from around the globe reveals the quality of the design that comes out of the borough.
Photo by
Can you tell us a bit about how you found the storefront and what the space was like pre-renovation? How does the architecture complement the pieces for sale?
The site came on the market (quietly) and we were really taken by the opportunity afforded by the unusual space. There just isn’t anything in the neighborhood that compares. We’ve got a lot of exposure from the street, which brings in natural light and the front room. With the double height ceiling, it's a dramatic backdrop for our products. Prior to our renovation, the front and back were completely disconnected. We took the dividing wall down and opened up the space to bring some of the light and air deeper in the store. And from a programming perspective, we wanted to showcase pieces from the home in the areas that they would be used, so we designed “rooms” with basic functions: kitchen, bath, and living.
Photo by
For people who are starting out and looking to furnish their spaces, what do you think the essential items are to get?
The most important items to bring to any space are the ones you personally connect with. A photo of a place that you've been to is much more than a just a pretty picture. A usable ceramic mug that reminds you of your youth brings more meaning and joy to your space. If you love to cook, having proper cookware isn’t just decoration for the space; it’s giving you the tools you need to do what you love. And if you love those items because they are well-designed and beautiful, you will enjoy them that much more. We’ve selected things that we hope people will love.
Photo by
How have customers’ expectations of retail experiences shifted in the last few years? What do they come to expect from brick-and-mortar establishments? Has e-commerce impacted what you’re trying to accomplish with Boerum House and Home?
The world is a very different place than it was 15 years ago before the era of everything available to everyone always via the internet. The reasons to go to a store versus a website are simple: to have an experience, to get information from a knowledgeable sales person, to touch the product in person and to discover something you didn’t expect. The Boerum House and Home is a retail destination that offers a smart collection of items not found under one roof anywhere else in the world.
Photo by
What piece in the shop is especially meaningful to you?
The collection that everyone in our offices seems to be drawn to is an assortment of vintage ashtrays from venerated New York institutions—like 21, the Stork Club, and Peter Lugers, among others—each with a full set of matchbooks from the era. They are kept under lock and key, so they stay intact as an entire lot and don't innocently disappear in the night!
Photo by
What’s your go-to housewarming gift?
We have a throw pillow that can be custom embroidered with your personal WiFi password. As a housewarming gift, it’s got it all.
Photo by
Boerum House and Home is meant to evoke the modern Brooklyn residence. How would you define that?
Brooklyn is a hotbed of output from the creative class, and Boerum Hill is one of the great Brooklyn neighborhoods. For us, that means it’s an exciting place to live with traditional architecture, in an exciting town, in a modern way. From where we stand, the modern Brooklyn home is a world-class backdrop for the stories, interests, and pursuits of a life well lived.
Founders: Flank
Opening Date: 2014
Address: 314 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11201
Phone: 347-987-4267
What it's all about: "The Boerum House and Home is our take on a modern, eclectic home shop. It’s the unapologetic expression and point of view of the founders and creative team," says Anthony Sperduti.
Philosophy: "The driving philosophy for the store is that personal style is about confidence and curiosity," Sperduti says. "We’ve scoured our Rolodexes, bookmarks, and friends' homes and apartments to assemble and showcase the work of makers and artisans who we think are creating world-class items for the home." Designers include Doug Johnston, Haptic Lab, Uhuru Design, Wary Meyers, Patrick Townsend, Clare Vivier, and more.
Weirdest question from a customer: "The store is set up like a home with different rooms where we showcase appropriate product," Sperduti says. "The other day someone asked if they could take a nap in the bedroom because it looked so inviting."
View our slideshow to learn more about the shop and see additional images of its interior.
Latest Articles
You don’t have to choose between sustainable energy and curb appeal.
July 19, 2016
Each week, we tap into Dwell's Instagram community to bring you the most captivating design and architecture shots of the week.
July 06, 2016
Each week, we tap into Dwell's Instagram community to bring you the most captivating design and architecture shots of the week.
June 29, 2016
Docomomo US announces the winners of this year's Modernism in America Awards. Each project showcases exemplary modern restoration techniques, practices, and ideas.
June 27, 2016
After last year’s collaboration, we were excited to team up with Monogram again for the 2016 Monogram Modern Home Tour.
June 27, 2016
A strategic rewire enhances a spec house’s gut renovation.
June 26, 2016
Coralie Gourguechon's paper objects will make you see technology in a whole new way.
June 26, 2016
Smart technology helps a house in Aspen, Colorado, stay on its sustainable course.
June 25, 2016
The aesthetic appeal of personal electronics has long fueled consumer interest. A new industrial design book celebrates devices that broke the mold.
June 25, 2016
An angled deck transforms a backyard in Menlo Park, California, into a welcoming gathering spot.
June 24, 2016
Today, we kicked off this year’s annual Dwell on Design at the LA Convention Center, which will continue through Sunday, June 26th. Though we’ve been hosting this extensive event for years, this time around is particularly special.
June 24, 2016
Two designers restore a low-slung midcentury gem in Napa, California, by an unsung Bay Area modernist.
June 24, 2016
San Francisco–based designer Maca Huneeus created her family’s weekend retreat near Lake Tahoe with a relaxed, sophisticated sensibility.
June 24, 2016
A Toronto couple remodel their home with a special emphasis on a spacious kitchen and a material-rich bathroom.
June 24, 2016
In Kansas City, an architecture studio designs an adaptable house for a musician on a budget.
June 23, 2016
By straightening angles, installing windows, and adding vertical accents, architect Aaron Ritenour brought light and order to an irregularly shaped apartment in the heart of Athens, Greece.
June 23, 2016
A modest kitchen addition to a couple’s cottage outside of Brisbane proves that one 376-square-foot room can revive an entire home.
June 23, 2016
Each week, we tap into Dwell's Instagram community to bring you the most captivating design and architecture shots of the week.
June 22, 2016
A modern dwelling replaces a fallen farmhouse.
June 22, 2016
Seeking an escape from bustling city life, a Manhattan couple embarks on a renovation in the verdant Hudson Valley.
June 22, 2016
Atelier Moderno renovated an old industrial building to create a luminous, modern home.
June 21, 2016
Anchored in a small San Francisco canal, this floating home takes its cues from a classic city habitat.
June 21, 2016
From the bones of a neglected farmstead in rural Scotland emerges a low-impact, solar-powered home that’s all about working with what was already there.
June 21, 2016
An architect with a taste for unconventional living spaces creates a small house at lofty heights with a starring view.
June 21, 2016
Marjan Van Aubel makes technology a little more natural.
June 21, 2016
Building on the site of a former one-car garage, an architect creates his family’s home in an evolving neighborhood of Brooklyn.
June 20, 2016
In a Brooklyn backyard, an off-duty architect builds a structure that tests his attention to the little things.
June 20, 2016
In the suburbs of Paris, an architect with an eco-friendly practice doesn’t let tradition stand in the way of innovation.
June 20, 2016
Join the Discussion