Some people want pictures with presidents. We're actually more delighted to meet and get a picture with CB2's and Crate & Barrel's founder, Gordon Segal (below with CB2's product manager, Marta Calle) at last night's opening...
Last night we attended CB2's big opening on lower Broadway - extending the reach of Furniture Alley - and got a peek at how this Chicago hipster does Manhattan.
The store is lovely, the sense that this IS a family business is assured, but you won't find many surprises here. As with Crate & Barrel's offerings, CB2 is well made, colorful and fun, but certainly not edgy design. What stood out, however, aside from the vitalizing and zingy color, is how much of the furniture is scaled for small urban spaces. There are some great catchy solutions for small NYC apartments.
In addition, there are some mix-ins that will make life easier. FLOR tiles are featured prominently on racks in the back of the store (much better than DWR) and there are lovely prints from Marimekko to put a smile on your face. You may also enjoy the fact that the price points at CB2 are lower than Crate & Barrel up the street.
If you want to see how the whole shop works it's colors and furnishings together, don't leave the comfort of your aeron chair, simply take a tour through the shop in our slide show.
Jonya & Brad's Modern A–Frame 
Quick Cleaning Tip: Keep Baseboards Cleaner With Fabric Softner
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Profile Chair by Ma...
15 Essential Building Blocks for Quick Weeknight Meals
Summer Recipe: No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake
Comments (21)
i need to live in that store.
Sigh. So jealous. Anyone know if they have plans to open any stores in Southern CA in the near future?
chowbaby, I read this morning that starting early next year, they plan to open outposts in Boston, D.C., Miami, San Francisco and La La Land.
Guess where I'm going tonight after work? ;-) And in less than two weeks.... MUJI! Right next door!!
There was an informative piece about CB2 on Reuters today: here.
Man, modern interiors shopping in Canada really, really sucks. We have nothing (EQ3 is OK, Caban went under, IKEA is IKEA and everthing else is priced SKY HIGH), and no hope of getting most of these wonderful stores either.
MUJI, in Canada? Never, ever going to happen. blah. I'm in a bad mood. Obviously. Somebody prove me wrong.
Angie, the Reuters article talks about C&B and CB2's planned expansion into Canada...check it out.
Aaron, I think you just made my day. Seriously. I'm moving soon (same city, new apt) and have been really annoyed by the lack of options. Thank you!
Yes, we are pretty spoiled here in Manhattan. I was just thinking... just between 23rd St. and Canal Street we have West Elm, Pottery Barn, Kartell, multiple Jonathan Adlers, multiple Bo Concepts, APT, multiple DWR's, Room and Board, Crate and Barrel, Mitchell Gold/Bob Williams, Jensen Lewis, ABC, Armani Casa, and now cb2 and Muji. However, we don't have a single Target! I personally would much prefer getting a Target vs. another furnishings store
Hey Angie, I'm an ex-pat from Toronto living in Nashville and I still dream about Caban. I'd read about the closings in a little obit they wrote in Cdn H&H magazine and thought it was a shame. On the flipside, I hear Crate & Barrel is coming to Toronto in the new year so surely Montreal will be getting one as well. We don't have a C&B in Nashville, but just got a West Elm and Mitchell Gold so there is hope.
ps. But I sure miss IKEA!
OK hejiranyc, now I'm depressed again, we don't have Target either.
At least I still have my sense of humor... OK enough whining from me, time to go home.
I'm confused. I got an email saying that they were opening Friday the 9th with a reception the night before. They opened yesterday?
We need a CB2 in Orange County/ La Area for sure, get on it Gordon Segal!
Hejiranyc, there are plenty of Targets in New York. It just means you have to get on the subway to get there. There is Target in the Bronx (Riverdale), there is one in downtown Brooklyn at Atlantic Terminal and one in Queens. The ones I mentioned are accesible by train.
We are pretty spoiled in NYC especially if you have a car. I will check out CB2 to see what all the fuss is about.
I think domino magazine is hosting events for them this week and this weekend. I got this email about a party on Thursday and designer consultations this weekend. I'll be there to get help furnishing my new apartment.
http://www.dominodeciders.com/dmo/cb2.html
I'm so excited to check out this store later this week. This opening means just a few more days until Muji opens as well!!!
hejiranyc: Muji too? Talk dirty!!!
I truly miss living in Manhattan. Yes, we do have our picks of multiple Tar-jay locations within a 5-mile radius here in "the OC," but there's something about being in a showroom or store that's so inspiring; online and catalog shopping just don't cut it! I miss the Conran Shops, MOMA Store and even the random little shops such as Delphinium Home and Alphabets. :-/
Went here after work. Very underwhelming.. the store was small. Quality was meh. I would rate Crate & Barrel stuff as more well done. Seriously I felt like the stuff was IKEA like. That's it I'm spending my bucks on R&B and BO.
I've had my bedroom set (bisect) for about two years now, ordered it over the web and was very happy with it when I received it. Still very happy with the quality and feel of the product.
Unfortunately the store was somewhat of a letdown. My sentiments are similar to dark's. Though some of the furniture looked well built and solid, there were too many other pieces sprinkled throughout that reminded me of IKEA. And the prices for some of these pieces approached DWR's!
I'm still a fan of CB2, but you really have to pick out the good from the bad.
Trumystique, I know Target has a presence in the boros, but... well... let's just say I can count on one hand (and still have some fingers left) the number of times I have trekked out of the city on subway to go shopping. Yes, I do have a car, and I hit Target whenever I am out on the highways and byways, but there is nothing like being able to just walk a few blocks, pick up a few things on a whim and go on with my rounds. Call me lazy and spoiled... it's totally deserved!
I went to cb2 last night and I think overall they packed a lotta goodness into a little space. I was most impressed by their metal/glass/marble furniture, the upholstered pieces (which were surprisingly comfortable), and the prices of the tableware/barware. And I liked the fact that everything on sale online was on sale at the store as well. What sucked? The case goods and anything made of that wonky "wood construction/wenge"-like material that West Elm is known for. Blech! But overall I think the goodness overwhelmed the suckiness. In fact, there is so much cool, cheap stuff everywhere... it's almost overwhelming. Countless times I thought to myself, "hmmm... I'm coming back to get this next time..."
I went last night and I have to say i was disappointed, the one table I wanted to get they didn't even have! But overall their color palette isn't nearly as interesting to me up close as it is in the catalog . The most exciting thing about going there was seeing the Muji store next door - one more week!
The loss of Caban was devastating to me - I had only visited the store twice on business trips to Canada but I fell in LOVE with all their products. I even contemplated renting a van and driving back to LA with full load but it was not to be.
Caban was great-and unlike CB2, west Elm etc was not everything is made in CHINA-