Tucked away in TriBeCa, in a mid 19th century building capped with a metal industrial facade (formerly an egg and butter warehouse), resides the perfect setting for iconic pieces of midcentury design from the likes of Karl Springer, T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings, James Mont and Tommi Parzinger. But the fresh and oh so welcome surprise offered by Duane Modern (and a long time trade secret) is their collection of current production furniture which pays tribute to the good looks and great style of midcentury design, which have been reinterpreted into “classic-modern” pieces which are handcrafted locally in the Northeast US-clearly apt to become collectibles in their own right.
For more than the past ten years, Bruce Glickman and Wilson Henley have traveled high and low to capture the best of the best of midcentury design, only to see it fly out their doors in an instant. With the Duane Modern collection (four years young and constantly expanding), they have taken the clean and elegant lines familiar to midcentury design (that work so effortlessly in any context), and made them available at any moment (in the finish and upholstery of your choice). Their collective “eye,” sharply honed during the course of a dynamic career in dealing in vintage design, has given them a one-up, to see what works, what is hot and what is the of-the-moment “must have.” So rest assured, just in case you did not happen to fortuitously visit their jewel box of a store at the right nanosecond to beat out some celeb designer or energetic collector ( each with the edge of their own 24/7 vintage design scout), you still have a wonderful collection to chose from-- that is modern, yet rich in history--that you can customize to “speak” your style.
We were lucky to steal a few moments of Bruce’s and Wilson’s busy day to talk about the shop, the Duane Modern collection, midcentury style and some great places to catch a bite in TriBeCa.
IC: Duane—your shop specializing in mid-century modern pieces—has been hugely popular for 10 years—why Duane Modern? When did Duane Modern Launch? Why then?
DM: We launched Duane Modern about 4 years ago—and actually it was the result of demand. A lot of our customers were disappointed when great vintage items had already been sold so we began to develop a line that reflected some of those great lines and style.
IC: How would you describe the Duane design style in three words?
DM: Tailored, elegant, chic.
IC: What is it about mid-century modern design that you believe keeps clients coming back for these special pieces?
DM: We believe that a lot of mid-century design, although great on its own as a total way of life, can be blended with most periods of furniture if done cleverly and with style.
IC: Who is your all-time favorite mid-century modern designer? Do you have a favorite architect of this period?
DM: These days we’re loving T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings. His clean, graphic lines, over 60 years old, feel so fresh and modern right now. Insofar, as an architect, Neutra is a favorite. We renovated a 1950s flat-roof Modernist house in Northwest Connecticut that embodied the sensibilities of his restrained work.
IC: That sounds out of this world. Tell us, does your home décor style carry over into your sense of fashion? Who are your favorite designers to wear?
DM: We tend to wear dark or monochromatic colors—very much like the way we present our pieces at Duane. Every now and then we’ll surprise people with an orange lamp or a purple Lacoste. Designers: I guess John Varvatos, Brooks Brothers, J. Crew.
IC: There is so much great "undercover" food in TriBeCa, can we twist your arm to share with us your favorite lunch spot? How about Dinner?
DM: We don’t go out for lunch much, but if we do it’s usually to the Odeon. There are so many great places to eat in TriBeCa but we’ve been regulars there since before we had a shop down here. Our new favorite is Locanda Verde (if we can get in) and we love Tiny’s on West Broadway, a sliver of a place with big personality.
*top five (product reference)
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1 |
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{The Betty Lounge Chair} Pure statement. |
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2 |
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{The West Wingback} La grande wingback. Magnifique! |
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3 |
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{The Jay Slipper Chair} Greek key = classic chic. |
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4 |
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{The Paris Stool} Can't stop thinking of a pair side by side. |
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5 |
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{The Hubert Bench} Pure midcentury. |
