House SFW, the imaginative retail showcase in Rhinebeck, NY, emerged in 2021 as a captivating haven for eclectic aficionados. With a passion for exceptional craftsmanship, founders Rachael Stollar, Erin Fearins, and Ward Welch have assembled choice pieces from renowned artists and artisans. The curated collection also includes hand-picked antiques and vintage objects sourced from country estates and Parisian fleas, creating a harmonious blend of old and new. House SFW proudly features exclusive lines such as Atelier Delalain’s furniture, Ted Tyler’s textiles and pottery, Elizabeth Hargraves-Mandy’s hand-painted leather goods and glassware, and their own line of furnishings and decor. Learn more about House SFW’s offerings from the founders in today’s Maker Monday.
At House SFW, you’ll be sure to find anything you need. From abstract art paintings to elaborate taxidermy to dishware and serveware for your next party.
Andrew Joseph: Style (or design) icon?
Rachael Stollar: The only person who comes to mind is Aldo Rossi, I was always fascinated by his seemingly simple drawing and design style. My favorite thing about fashion and style is that you can completely change things up anytime you please as long as you have a good foundation, whether its well-made garments or timeless vintage pieces.
AJ: What’s your biggest fear in life?
Ward Welch: Since childhood: going down in a plane or boat only to survive and be eaten by a shark. This was instigated by the Carol Burnett skit (spoofing Jaws) where Tim Conway gets attacked in a NYC bathtub by a shark. I never took a bath again.
AJ: How would you define your work in three words
Erin Fearins: Comfortable. Welcoming. Joyous.
Along with plenty of decorations, House SFW offers shoes and house slipper styles made from flat woven fabrics in traditional rug patterns.
AJ: Favorite piece of clothing you own?
WW: A 5-year-old Brooks Brothers winter driving jacket. Makes me look not so fat. It’s also the most classic/stylish thing I’ve ever seen from BB.
AJ: Must-have clothing item everyone should have in their closet?
EF: A French chore jacket.
RS: Agreed, the classic chore coat is seriously hardworking for anytime you really need to dig into a task.
AJ: If you had one more hour in the day what would you do with it?
EF: Take a walk.
WW: Go to the gym. (That’s a lie. I’d still not go.)
Radiating timeless elegance, the Gilt Topiary Tree with Vegetables effortlessly steals the spotlight amidst a gallery of stunning wall art.
AJ: Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
EF: Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and focus on what you’re doing—and make sure that whatever you’re doing is making you happy.
AJ: How do you define beauty?
EF: It’s so different and personal for everyone. I think that’s the thing that makes it so special, that beauty can be something that’s fluid.
WW: Fluid is a good word here. Visual beauty is personal, though there are plenty of ways to codify that which is overwhelmingly similar/common for us all. (symmetry, proportion, harmony, etc.) 99% can agree that nature offers an unlimited palette of beauty. When the emotional aspect becomes involved, visual beauty is often to be blurred, our ability to see it for what it is becomes skewed. To both extremes. The human condition can’t be taken out of the equation.
About the Makers | Studio SFW is a distinguished design practice with an impressive portfolio spanning Brooklyn, Manhattan, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
In 2021, the visionary team behind the firm launched House SFW, an imaginative new retail showcase for the decorative collections of the studio. Known for their Southern sensibility and made-to-order approach to home design, the SFW partners have assembled choice pieces from artists and artisans with whom they’ve collaborated over the years as well as hand-picked antiques and vintage objects from country estates and the best Paris fleas. Featured and exclusive lines include furniture by Mario Lopez Torres, Atelier Delalain, textiles and pottery by Ted Tyler, hand-painted leather goods and glassware by artist Elizabeth Hargraves-Mandy, and SFW’S own furnishings and decor line, Raton Laveur, among many others. The team’s worldly interests and discerning eye for original style come together in a unique narrative that is, quintessentially, SFW.
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