When Tory Burch graduated college from the University of Pennsylvania, she moved to New York’s SoHo neighborhood. Flash forward to 2004, and Burch was opening her first eponymous boutique in the same area of downtown Manhattan. Since then, the designer’s fashion empire has grown to reach incredible heights—expanding beyond her signature tunic tops to include all matter of products, such as a delightful range of home and tabletop goods.
It’s those types of pieces, from spongeware pitchers to Dodie Thayer lettuceware tureens, which arguably shine most brightly in Burch’s new 151 Mercer Street store. (Admittedly, a limited edition of Lee Radziwill Double Bags, exclusive to this retail location, aren’t far behind.)
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For visitors keen on bringing a dose of Tory into their own home, the design of the store is likely to be of special interest as well. There’s a chandelier by artist Francesca DiMattio and a metalwork inlaid Tree of Life along the stairs. AD100’s Miranda Brooks designed the garden that fills the backyard space, and Gwenaël Nicolas’s magical touches can be glimpsed all over the interior.
Throughout the store pieces such as a floral chintz sofa and a pink rag rug are perfectly poised to charm shoppers. But as is often true within the Tory Burch universe, the most compelling elements come straight from the heart, soul, and nostalgic memory of Burch herself. Case in point is the installation of a series of hung woven baskets (an homage to Burch’s Valley Forge childhood home) and a wicker structure designed to look like her Antigua bee apiary.
Regardless, to reduce the space to any single element would be unjust to the rich layering created by arts and crafts elements, a generous use of rattan, and so much more. “This is probably the most personal store that I have ever designed with a team of extraordinary people,” Burch tells AD in the video below. For a full tour of the space, including its oak and ceramic flooring, and patchwork use of American quilts, sit back, relax, and press play.
