Crate & Barrel

Profile

For Gothamites decorating on a reasonable budget with room for a few splurges, Crate & Barrel is a stuffed & upholstered, stained & shined, glazed & polished dream come true. The Chicago-based chain--with New York locations in the West Village and on the Upper East Side--was founded in 1962 to bring unique, functional, and affordable home decor to the masses. Back then, products were actually displayed in their shipping crates and barrels. Presentation has since become significantly more refined, but the focus on interesting, moderately priced current design remains unchanged. Myriad offerings include Provence dining tables and chairs that bring French country casual to city dwellings. More contemporary pieces include sleekly Modern rectilinear sofas, club chairs, tables, desks, beds, and storage units and the outdoor furniture for which the company is well-known. Smaller housewares are often real finds; look for beautiful glassware, colorful pottery and ceramics; wooden kitchen and cooking accessories; bed, table, and bath linens; along with cutlery, flatware and serving pieces and scores of area rugs. Stock changes seasonally; holiday and outdoor items appear winter and summer, respectively. — Andrew Sessa

Registry

Look for designer-inspired tableware, furniture, and linens at modest prices: There are affordable 50-piece sets of flatware.

Sales

The week after Christmas brings Crate & Barrel’s storewide sale, with discounts on discontinued items.

Discontinued home furnishings receive markdowns in June as well, when the store’s larger ticket bedroom, living room, dining room and kitchen, home office, storage and outdoor furniture goes on sale.

Each fall, save 20 percent on custom fabrics and upholstered items.

Related Stories

Best of New York Awards

• Best of New York: Sofas (2004)
• Best of New York: Tableware (2002)

Featured In

• Coming to Your Kitchen Table: Ceramics by Jono Pandolfi (3/5/07)