Part serendipity, part opportunity, our vendor spotlight for the month of August is one that sits very close to our hearts as designers as it has become one-half of our work day since April. What began as an adventure exploring the world of product development has now turned into a full-fledged entity with a voice all its own. We’d like to introduce you to 42nd Street Design, Inc., a Kerrie Kelly Design Lab company.
Our Story
42nd Street Design was inspired by designers all over the world who, like us, couldn’t find the exact product their clients were looking for. They would search for a desk or a chair or a side table and be forced to select one that was almost perfect, almost within budget, almost customizable. We grew impatient waiting for companies to dream up furnishings that were both beautiful and functional, sturdy and stylish. We met with designers who shared our belief that Everyone Deserves Great Design™, including the design community. After several phone calls, conferences, brainstorm sessions, and many cups of coffee, 42nd Street Design was born.
In April 2016, we soft-launched 42nd Street at High Point Market with Wesley Hall, our friends and industry partners. Many days were spent staring at a computer screen, tweaking logos and images. Many nights were spent dreaming up new ways to promote products to designers and clients that made them feel that they were in charge of their own design. Many hours were spent creating a dialogue around customization with fellow designers and business people, sparking creative conversations about the industry and demand for new and innovative products.
For Designers, By Designers
42nd Street Design is a company by designers, for designers. With the ability to customize nearly every piece offered on the website, designers can select which hardware suits their style, which paint finish matches their client’s aesthetic, and which fabric most closely resembles their own personality. From case goods like Mary Lou, a chest boasting a sleek glass top, soft-close drawers, and customizable fabric lining, to rugs, lighting, and eventually accessories, 42nd Street Design caters to all design needs.
Just six months old, the e-commerce site houses 100+ products in ranging sizes, colors, finishes, and styles. Is your client super-modern with a love for pattern? There’s a dresser, rug, side table, and lighting fixture for that. Designing a space for someone more traditional? There are options for every case good piece to ensure it fits your unique criteria with no varying cost when you select any given finishes on the website. 42nd Street Design sits on the principle of ease and attention to detail with an approachable, comfortable aesthetic. It’s tagline, Make Your Statement™, stems from the company’s desire to put designers in the driver seat of their own projects.
Our 42nd Street team doesn’t simply want designers to like and buy the product but create the entire look, too. With a Tastemaker Program featuring a series of designers all around the world, 42nd Street enlists creatives to help create and promote furniture that they can put their names on. 42nd Street Tastemakers are innovative designers, social media mavens, creative business people, and individuals looking to start a conversation within the design community about positive change and innovation. With a global move toward customization and uniqueness, 42nd Street Design fills a gap for designers and their clients, offering a different approach to design altogether.
Our Plan
While 42nd Street is in its infancy, we are fearlessly powering forward with new product launches, campaigns, and presentations. Our inaugural Tastemaker, Elissa Grayer, believed in our mission and helped us create a fabulous foundation in which we’d launch our vision for the design industry. We are pleased to announce our next Tastemaker, Kim Scodro of Kim Scordo Interiors in Chicago, who will be beside us at the Wesley Hall showroom at High Point Market in October along with our Northern California wine partners, Silver Trident Winery. Until then, peek at our product selection at 42ndstreetdesign.com, and follow along on our journey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Thank you for all of the well-wishes and support we’ve received over the past several months. Diving into product development and e-commerce has been a new, thrilling experience and we are excited to see where 42nd Street Design takes our team.
