Modern more timely than ever at ABC Carpet
By Carole Sloan -- Furniture Today, December 3, 2001
NEW YORK — ABC Carpet & Home sees the future — and it is modern.
"I believe a larger percentage of the business will become modern-focused," says Evan Cole, president of the New York-based home furnishings store, which prides itself on being edgy.
With that as a direction, the store has totally revamped its second floor, creating a home for today's modern furniture and lighting design as well as bringing back modern classics from the '50s and '60s. Cole thinks the change reflects a dramatic swing in consumer preferences.
"People need to clean up their acts, live simpler. And we want to be the first out there," he said at a party to christen the redone floor.
ABC, which has been known for its bazaar atmosphere with lots of excitement, clutter and a feeling of "look what I've found" adventure in its merchandise mix and presentation, has addressed its new home of modern furniture with a minimalist spirit.
Cole pointed to the looks of retailers Roche Bobois and Maurice Villency as important directions for home furnishings. "They're both in vogue and the Maurice Villency ads look great!"
Entering the remodeled floor from the elevator, customers of a certain age are greeted with an array of familiar looks — which younger customers see as fresh, new and exciting. A collection of futons, sofas, beds, and accent pieces is from Innovations of Denmark — Scandinavian classics mostly of the 1950s, with some from the '60s.
ModernLink at ABC, a leased department, offers vintage contemporary and Bensen of Canada is represented with a number of pieces.
Also on the floor is a Herman Miller section featuring classic modern. The upper tier of the floor is a space dedicated to Thomas O'Brien's collection of modern designs for Hickory Chair, plus vignettes from a number of other manufacturers including McCreary Modern and Mitchell Gold.
Designer O'Brien, who attended the party, said the ABC presentation shows "pretty much the entire collection in about 2,500 square feet."
| A vignette in blue mixes a sofa from Canada's Bensen with a vintage chair from ModernLink. |
| One of the vignettes of Thomas O'Brien-designed furniture from Hickory Chair features wall units in a living room setting. |
| Right: Futons in bright, eye-grabbing colors by Innovations of Denmark float on the wall as a folding bed sits in the foreground. |
| Far right: Fifties modern is highlighted in a dining setting from Innovations of Denmark. In back, a series of windows showcases a variety of seating. |
| Evan Cole and Paulette Cole of ABC Carpet & Home. |
| Gary Edge, left, and Beth Gayer, both of ABC, with Mitchell Gold, Mitchell Gold Co. |
| Ben Rawls, left, Hickory Chair, and designer Thomas O'Brien. |
