Profile

In Florence Knoll, mid-century modern design has met its maker—or at least, a prime mover and shaker. An architect and designer of furniture and interiors, Florence and her husband Hans founded Knoll Associates in 1946, dedicating it to the production of the era’s finest furniture, and revolution in the physical work environment. Today, Knoll continues this mission; in its New York showroom—a soaring, industrially minimalist, poured-concrete space eleven floors above Chelsea—customers can browse among creations by some of the period’s greatest designers. The majority of Knoll’s business, and the lion’s share of the showroom’s space, is devoted to the design and installation of corporate interiors, but for its residential KnollStudio collection, the company continues to produce the work of mid-century masters Mies, Noguchi, Bertoia and Saarinen—designers whose tubular steel, leather, bent plywood and molded plastic pieces epitomize the Modern vernacular. (The collection is too large to show every item, so the store just keeps representative samples on display.) Knoll also forges relationships with select contemporary designers, along with KnollTextiles fabrics and the Spinneybeck collection of leathers. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments booked ahead guarantee that a salesperson will be able to tour you through the store and take your order. — Andrew Sessa

Annual spring sale, with discounts of 10%.