Idealist City Guide: NEW YORK design shopping and style

New York City is one of the style capitals of the world. If you can’t find it in the “Big Apple,” it may just not exist. The largest city in the United States is also filled with stylish galleries, hotels, restaurants and attractions. Normally found on Cape Cod, Joan takes a trip down from MA to NYC to hunt out some great stores and places to see.

Style shopping New York

Gracious Home

Gracious Home has been outfitting New York City homes and apartments since 1963. They stock everything from sofas to pillows to door hardware. If it helps decorate your home, they probably carry it. We love their extensive selection of unique lamps and lighting fixtures.

DwellStudio

DwellStudio showcases colourful furniture and housewares from around the globe. The merchandise in the store is arranged in stylish vignettes that look something like a Pinterest board come to life. We particularly like DwellStudio’s varied collection of outdoor furniture.

Room and Board

Room and Board, located in Chelsea in the former Barney’s department store space, offers 38,000-square-feet of uncrowded furniture galleries and accessories. The focus here is on contemporary design. We love their selection of wool area rugs.

Nadeau Furniture

Tucked away in Greenwich Village, Nadeau Furniture is a quirky shop which stocks one-of-a-kind furniture and accessories, many of which have been recreated by the owners using pieces salvaged and re-purposed from garage and junk sales. Their tag line “furniture with a soul” is very apt. Make sure to explore their Asian-influenced furniture and accessories.

Tiffany & Co

The iconic Fifth Avenue store which is Tiffany and Co never gets stale. The three-level luxury jewelry and housewares emporium is most famous for its baubles, but it also offers an entire floor filled with glass, silver, china and other house accessories. Plus, the stylish mahogany counters and Art Deco elevator are worth the visit. Check out the cut crystal barware.

Staying Over

While New York City hotel rooms are generally not spacious, they can be stylish. For history and location, you can’t beat the Plaza, located at the south end of Central Park and Fifth Avenue. For a more modern, hip abode, try the new Hotel on Rivington, on the city’s Lower East Side near Chelsea galleries and shopping. Each of the 110 guest rooms here is equipped with a glass shower and a Japanese soaking tub.

New York’s best Galleries and Museums

If you only have time to visit one museum while you are in New York City, make it the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This art mecca is filled with paintings, sculpture, furniture, jewelry and other art objects from cultures and eras that range from ancient Egypt to the present-day. In addition, Rockefeller Center is a must for any fan of Art Deco design and architecture, and auction giant Sotheby’s, on New York’s Upper East Side, frequently has auction previews with fine art, jewelry, furniture and other high-end items. The New York Public Library (shown above) is also worth a visit for a wide range of exhibitions on such themes as Black Power, and Broadway.

Food New York style

As with shopping in New York City, you can find almost any type of ethnic food here. However, you won’t want to leave the city without sampling an authentic New York bagels (preferably with lox, cream cheese and onion), Manhattan clam chowder, eggs Benedict (the combination of poached eggs, Canadian bacon and hollandaise sauce that was invented at the Waldorf Hotel), and the ubiquitous (yet delicious) hot dogs that are sold from carts all over the city.

Must-See Things in Town

You could stay a month (or a year) in New York City and not be able to visit all of the exciting attractions in this “city that never sleeps.” However, if you only have a few days, be sure to visit Central Park, the beautiful landscaped oasis in the heart of the city; cruise around New York Harbour and view the skyline and the Statue of Liberty from this unique angle; and take in a Broadway play in one of the iconic theatres that surround Times Square.

How to Visit from London

It’s easy to get to New York City from London. A myriad of airlines offer non-stop flights between London’s two airports and New York City’s three air fields. These include British Airways, Air India, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. Airfares start at around £360.

New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport is about 45 minutes away from downtown Manhattan by taxi. There is also an affordable shuttle that connects the airport with Grand Central Station in the heart of Mid-town.

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