The Ultimate Resource: The Architects and Designers Building

AD-ShowroomAt any point in the interior design process, you will have to visit a showroom- the best way to choose furniture/hardware/materials/etc. is to see it in person. Yet, with so many different areas of your home to consider, you’ll spend a lot of time bouncing between different showrooms, hoping that the various pieces you’ve chosen will all work together.

Or you could just go to the A&D Building in Manhattan, and streamline the entire process. Open to homeowners and designers alike, the Architects and Designers Building at 150 East 58th street is one of the largest permanent collection of design showrooms available. Here, one can find inspiring spaces and incredible resources for nearly every room of your home. Representatives of each company are often on hand to answer questions and guide you through their showroom. There are even seminars, product demonstrations, and showroom opening events for both designers and homeowners scheduled throughout the year.

With 11 floors and 35 distinct showrooms, a full exploration of the A&D Building could take hours, if not days. Luckily, homeowners and designers have access to a complimentary directory upon arrival at the concierge desk, which is also available for download on the A&D Building website. The website also offers a step-by-step shopping guide, to help you craft a plan to navigate the countless options available here.

To get you started, however, here’s a quick glimpse of a few of the showrooms that this incredible resource has to offer:

Kitchens- Allmilmo, 7th Floor  Suite 720

Allmilmo-kitchen
Photo courtesy of Allmilmo

Allmilmo, a German company founded in 1965 by Heinz Milewski as the Milewski Furniture Factory, is a major source of high-end kitchen and bathroom design. From flooring to cabinets, tiling, fixtures, counter-tops- Allmilmo combines contemporary design with high-end quality and maximum functionality.

 

Appliances- Smeg USA, 7th Floor Suite 762

SMEG-Unionjack-fridge
You can order a Smeg refrigerator to open from either side, depending upon your specific needs. Photo courtesy of Smeg USA.

Smeg is known for its tasteful and elegant product design, thinking outside the box visually while paying close attention to functionality. The additional consideration of environmental factors, layout of space, and architectural principles to create a fully cohesive home- from  the overall structure to the smallest appliance- sets Smeg apart as a global brand.

Founded in 1948, SMEG (“Smalterie Metallurgiche Emiliane Guastalla,” translated as “Metal Enamelling Plant from Guastalla Emilia”) is an Italian home appliance manufacturer based in the town of Guastalla, in the Region of Emilia Romagna in Northern Italy, 30 kilometers north of the city of Reggio Emilia.  Beginning with the opening of its first subsidiary, in France, in 1988, SMEG now has 17 subsidiaries worldwide (in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Mozambique, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States), overseas offices in Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, and an extensive sales network. – Smeg USA

Cabinets/Closets- Wood-Mode American Classic Kitchens, 9th Floor Suite 901a

Southampton kithchen wood mode
Photo courtesy of Wood-mode

Wood-mode is an all-American company founded in the 1940s, and has since transformed the way the cabinetry industry caters to its clients. With thousands of options to choose from, Wood-mode works closely with homeowners and designers to create the perfect custom cabinets for any kitchen, bathroom, or other space. They are committed to high-quality American craftsmanship and quality construction with the best materials.

Speaking of materials, Wood-mode is also committed to environmental stewardship and forest preservation, and has been certified by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association as meeting the standards for its Environmental Stewardship Program. The company invests in protecting sustainable forests, and adheres to the cleanest manufacturing processes possible.

Furniture- B&B Italia, 1st floor Suite 102, 2nd floor Suite 215, 3rd floor Suite 264

BB-italia-chaise
The Terminal 1 chaise longue by Jean-Marie Massaud in the B&B Italia Collection. Photo courtesy of B&B Italia.

B&B Italia is a luxury furnishings company with high-end designer products, with various lines of indoor and outdoor furniture, carpets, and accessories. Collaborations with top designers from all over the world ensure a varied and unique collection of items, and pushes the contemporary and innovative furniture market ever forward. This is a showroom (or rather, several showrooms) in the A&D Building that you can NOT miss.

Homes that differ in terms of style, concept, and architectural solutions have been furnished by B&B Italia. These spaces tell of an international lifestyle that expresses modernity, research, and a creative spirit.- B&B Italia

 

So there you have it! The briefest of looks into the wonders that await you at the A&D Building at 150 East 58th Street in Manhattan. The general hours of the various showrooms are 9-5, but be sure to check beforehand the hours of the particular design showroom you’d like to visit. Whether you are a New York native, or visiting the city on a mission to furnish your (or a client’s) home, the A&D Building is a priceless resource, combining the best of design and architecture in one thrilling location.

Photos courtesy of A&D Building unless otherwise specified.

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