Good Design: Where to Shop in NYC
From handcrafted ceramics and collectible design to furniture, art and everyday objects, these are the New York stores worth knowing.
New York real estate is impossible. In fact, finding a good apartment is one of the biggest challenges a New Yorker can face. Housewares, however? That’s a different story.
The city has long been known for its sense of style, and while fashion often gets most of the attention, good design extends well beyond what’s hanging in your closet. From handcrafted ceramics and heirloom-worthy tableware to sculptural lighting and everyday essentials, New York is home to countless independent shops with a point of view. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites so you don’t have to.
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Tucked along Orchard Street where the Lower East Side meets Chinatown, Beverly 1975 is as much about community as it is about design. Founded by former fashion stylist Beverly Nguyen, the shop draws inspiration from her Vietnamese-American heritage, bringing together thoughtfully sourced home goods, kitchen essentials and handmade objects from independent designers. Every shelf feels considered, balancing functional pieces with collectible finds that are just as suited to everyday use as they are to display.
The space itself encourages you to linger. Alongside ceramics, glassware and textiles, you’ll find pantry staples, small-batch olive oil and the kinds of objects that quietly elevate daily rituals. More than a place to shop, Beverly 1975 feels like the kind of neighborhood store you’ll find yourself returning to simply to see what’s new.
27 Orchard St
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Hidden on the second floor of a Mercer Street building, BOMI is easy to miss—which makes discovering it feel all the more rewarding. Founded by former Nickelodeon art director Bomi Jin, the SoHo boutique reflects her thoughtful approach to curation, bringing together housewares, clothing and accessories from independent designers around the world.
Rather than chasing trends, BOMI is built around atmosphere. Glassware by Hirota Glass and OU Glasswork sits alongside Tekla towels, while a carefully edited selection of clothing from brands like About Arianne, Brooke Callahan and Baserange fills the racks. The space feels less like a traditional retail store than someone’s very chic apartment—right down to the beautiful closet, where everything happens to be for sale. Take your time here; the joy is in noticing the details.
54 Mercer St
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Colorful, playful and refreshingly unprecious, Coming Soon has become a Lower East Side institution for anyone who believes good design should also be fun. The shelves are packed with everything from sculptural ceramics and whimsical home accessories to contemporary furniture and gifts you’ll almost certainly end up buying for yourself instead.
Founded by Fabiana Faria and Helena Barquet in 2013, the shop has spent more than a decade introducing New Yorkers to emerging designers alongside established names. There’s a good chance some of your favorite design obsessions started here, from Cold Picnic’s cult-favorite bathmats to Sophie Lou Jacobsen’s instantly recognizable ripple glassware. The result is a store that never feels intimidating, even when you’re surrounded by collectible design. Whether you’relooking for a statement piece or simply browsing for inspiration, it’s nearly impossible to leave empty-handed.
53 Canal St; (212) 226-4548
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Part housewares shop, part clothing boutique, Salter House has become a destination for beautifully made everyday essentials. Founded by Sandeep and Carson Salter in Brooklyn Heights in 2017 before expanding to the East Village in 2023, the store brings together sustainable housewares, thoughtfully sourced clothing and its own line of cult-favorite nightgowns under one roof.
Browse the shelves and you’ll find pottery, linens, furniture, children’s goods and carefully selected clothing, all displayed with the same understated aesthetic that has made Salter House a destination in its own right. The East Village outpost occupies a historic storefront that feels perfectly suited to the brand’s quiet, lived-in charm.
34 E 2nd St; (332) 330-5808
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PORTA brings European craftsmanship to Boerum Hill through a thoughtfully curated collection of tableware, linens and artisan-made goods. Childhood friends Alice Russotti and Francesca del Balzo founded the shop after years of collecting inspiration from neighborhood stores while growing up in London, bringing that same sense of discovery to Brooklyn.
Inside, handcrafted ceramics, embroidered linens, glassware and decorative objects share space with contemporary pieces created in collaboration with artisans across Europe. Whether you’re shopping for your next dinner party or searching for a gift that feels genuinely special, PORTA makes everyday entertaining feel just a little more considered.
360 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn; (347) 534-7723
Recently relocated to an appointment-only showroom in Industry City, LES Collection offers a more intimate shopping experience than your typical design store. Founder Lauren Sands curates a distinctive mix of contemporary art, vintage finds and handcrafted objects for the home, making it well worth booking ahead if you’re searching for a statement piece.
WORDS Hillary Sproul