THE ULTIMATE RX FOR A VERY MERRY HOLIDAY: NEW LONDON LUXE
by Anita Sarko
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| DOUGLAS LITTLE for D.L. & Co Gold Plated Skull Place Card Holders ($195). |
| It is certainly not difficult to love NEW LONDON LUXE (246 8th Ave, Second floor, 212.414.9740) or, quite frankly, be WOWED by it. The Problem is FINDING it! Settled on the floor above the fancy New London Pharmacy, it’s a lot easier to just pass by its entrance than notice it. HINT: While walking south on the east side of 8th Avenue from 23rd St., take a close look to the right of the pharmacy. Voilà! A door is ever-so-slightly visible! Walk through that door, climb the stairs and you will find yourself in a glitzy fantasyland. Everywhere you look, you will be dazzled. Imagine ABC Carpets at its best, minus the New Age Eastern Zen obsession ABC has been drifting towards more and more. The goods at LUXE can be pricey, but they are a lot more reasonable (usually) than ABC. You can also depend on both the quality and uniqueness of ... well ... EVERYTHING. LUXE is the brainchild of an unlikely pair, to be sure: Pharmacist couple/New London Pharmacy owners Abby and John Fazio. Not only are they amongst the new breed of Mom ‘n’ Pop establishments, but they are also forging new inroads into branding and synergy. Add to their vision the talent and taste of über-buyer/designer Jennifer Moore and the merchandising magic of the incredible Wesley Rowell and you have a VERY unique source at which to find unusual décor items and accessories that you suddenly can’t live without. And what a super destination to FINALLY unearth that perfect gift for the finicky friend who has everything! Jennifer Moore kindly shares her design philosophy and thoughts with NYSD. |
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| L. to r.: Pharmacists/Owners ABBY and JOHN FAZIO; Buyer, Jennifer Moore. |
| AS: How did the idea for New London LUXE come about? JM: LUXE is, indeed, an extension of the New London Pharmacy. It was Abby's idea to expand the scope of services and merchandise into Home and Lifestyle. A sort of "one stop shopping" at your neighborhood family-owned business. AS: What is your background in? JM: I was an English Major with an Art History minor in college, graduating from St. John's University with a BA degree. Then, I studied Interior Design at the New York School of Interior Design. I have done residential and commercial design, but New London LUXE is my first retail space. AS: How did you meet Abby? JM: My relationship with Abby began as friends through our children who attend the same school. I began to design for her for her villa in Greece. Then, she hired me for the LUXE job. It was all very karmic and casual. We were completely simpatico! |
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| L. to r.: JERE RAIN DROPS MIRROR ($3,050); RYE Polyester velvet and silk CHAIR ($2,500). |
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| L’OBJET diamante and metal PICTURE FRAMES ($80-$200). Available in gold, silver, silver-plated and treated metals, as well as various shapes. |
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| Close-up of RABLABS glazed malachite COASTERS ($59 per) and PICTURE FRAME ($72). |
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| One-of-a-kind antique deco VANITY ($10,000). Made of wood, with silver antiquing and metal fixtures. Found by Jennifer Moore at an estate sale in Connecticut; Mid-century double-sided MIRROR with chrome detail ($1,000); PHILIPPE STARCK plexiglas “LOUIS XIV GHOST CHAIR” ($4,035). JUNIOR DRAKE purple leather shoulder PURSE ($288). |
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| PUMMER 78’’ by 118” RUG ($12,050). “This is totally washable and HIGHLY synthetic. Tom Ford once styled a photo shoot using 3 or 4 of these.” |
| AS: How would you describe LUXE? What is the concept behind it? JM: Abby's vision was for a very chic space with an echo of Deco design. As you plainly see, I have created a very atelier/salon-like feeling. The shop is divided into a vignette-style layout, featuring our center salon with a very sexy, fringed, cascading crystal chandelier from the '20s, very much reminiscent of a flapper at her finest. Library, Boudoir, Bedroom, Dining Room and Garden areas also help set the scene. AS: What if an artisan was wondering if they should approach you with their goods? JM: We feature both domestic and international lines and especially love the local artists. We aspire to present on the same level as Chelsea Passage at Barney's or the top floor of Bergdorf’s. We have a few recognizable gift brands that do cross over into those venues, but that aspect is not overly represented at LUXE. We carry many items that are vintage, one-of-a-kind, or available for the first time in the US. What excites me, as the designer and buyer, is to see something I haven't seen before or items that are very art-driven and/or very finely crafted. |
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| Deco NECKLACE ($500) made of jet beads and rhinestone rhondelles. |
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| R&Y AUGOUSTI shagreen shark leather DESK ($600); R&Y AUGOUSTI shell STOOL ($2,500). |
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| Unlit KAREN CURTIS CHANDELIERS ($9,000-$18,000). |
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| KAREN CURTIS LIT CHANDELIERS ($9,000-$18,000). “She finds antique Swarovski Strauss crystals, some being one-of-a-kind, never to be made again. Then she finds chandelier shells at antique markets and shops and strips and rebuilds them.” |
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| ANTHONY GRAVIANO “Prayers From the Holy Cave” PAINTING ($10,000). “He got married and had a baby and suddenly his colors went from dark to light and bright.” |
| AS: How do you see yourself as unique from other interior/accessory shops in NYC? JM: We carry a line of hand-beaded and embroidered pillows and wraps that are sewn in India by men. In the case of this line, the sizes, styles, colors, fabrics and pattern designs must all be specified. THIS MAKES ME CRAZY!!! Pure unadulterated designing at its best! That produces a (unique) and completely hand-made item for our customer. Come to LUXE for the things you won't find elsewhere. We also carry hand-blown Murano glass sconces from an Italian family-run company. This company, Andromeda International, has also blown many custom lighting fixtures for some of the must exclusive venues in the world, including the chandelier in the lobby of The Gramercy Park Hotel. And it gives me great pride in taking interest in and helping to preserve a centuries-old craft that is literally on the verge of extinction. We also showcase a line out of Morocco named Tade. They make these amazing vessels out of old tires, fitted together with chunky nuts and bolts. Everything is recycled and can be used both indoors and outdoors. The results are very edgy and sexy at the same time. |
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| R&Y AUGOUSTI purple stone “Safari” MINAUDIERE (opened) with brass detail and frosted velvet-lined interior ($450). |
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| R&Y AUGOUSTI stingray boxes ($200-$400). |
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| LEONELLO BORGHI PURSES. ($600-$2,000). “He formerly did design for Armani and Prada. He uses obscenely exotic materials." |
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| L’OBJET SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS ($165). Glass with gold-plated braided metal with crystals and silver-plated braided metal details; NAPKIN HOLDERS ($120). Silver-plated braided metal or gold plated platinum with crystals starfish. |
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| L. to r.: Vintage mosaic mirrored tree ($400). Great for lazy holiday tree-decorators since it already has its own inherent bling-factor; DOUGLAS LITTLE for D.L. & Co skull etched MIRROR ($250). |
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| DOUGLAS LITTLE for D.L. & Co skull stationary ($175). Comes encased in "correspondence box." |
| AS: No matter how long I’ve spent in LUXE, I keep unearthing new objects I didn’t see the other times. There also seems to be almost a set design and soundstage look to its layout. There is a very adult, yet playful, sexy vibe going on, as well. JM: LUXE is merchandised in such a way that items are placed "in situ." The panties and the leather whip are in the Boudoir, awaiting use. Leather boxes are in the library on the desk, but beware: The box may contain condoms instead of pens. The Tête-à-tête is equipped with "chains of love" and lavished with its own posh curtains, ready to be drawn closed to conceal its inhabitants. Our marble bust is juxtaposed with its own one-of-a-kind Venetian bead necklace, strung with vintage beads. There do seem to be paradoxes everywhere, dirty details and unexpected curiosities. These are all joyously chosen for their unique qualities. |
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| L. to r.: LEONELLO BORGHI rose “Mariana Clutch” treated leather PURSE. ($412.50); LEONELLO BORGHI silver fox “Mariana Clutch” PURSE ($662.50); LEONELLO BORGHI leather “Winged Clutch” PURSE ($210). |
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| DOUGLAS LITTLE for D.L. & Co “Rotten Luck” gold-plated DICE detailed with Swarovski crystals ($195). |
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| TADE Glass sphere Moroccan cluster LAMP ($400). “I had one on my terrace and, except for the dead of winter, was out year round. It provided great accent lighting for parties.” And it’s low maintenance ... just take out the light and hose it down!” |
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| Custom-made one-of-a-kind PILLOWS embroidered exclusively for the shop in India ($495). “Only men are allowed to make these." |
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| L. to r: DOUGLAS LITTLE skull silver plated SWIZZLE STICKS ($250); DOUGLAS LITTLE for D.L. & Co Stirling Silver Skull Place Card Holder ($305). |
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| ATTOMBRI Murano bead neclaces ($600-$750) “He has a tiny tiny tiny store in Rome. We’re his only retailer.” |
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| LEONELLO BORGHI bag ($1,025). |
| AS: What is your ultimate design goal with LUXE? JM: I am a seeker of beauty and I bring it back to LUXE to create an intrinsic mise-en-scène. |
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