Estro takes on NYC

New York has a way of making you feel like the main character — the energy, the style, the endless inspiration. So when two designers set out for a weekend in the city, it wasn’t just about sightseeing; it was about exploring, finding hidden gems, and sourcing some of the best home stores NYC has to offer.

There’s something about waking up to the sound of taxis outside your window, grabbing a coffee from the corner bodega, and walking straight into the rhythm of the city. And walk we did. We navigated the city like seasoned New Yorkers—dodging slow walkers, mastering the subway, and racking up enough steps to justify all the bagels.

It’s easy to get stuck in Soho, lured in by big-name stores, but the best parts of the city are just beyond the obvious.The best parts of the city are hidden in its pockets. One of our favorite discoveries — The East Village—effortlessly cool, a little gritty, and packed with curated shops, vintage finds, and hole-in-the-wall spots that make you feel like you’re in on a secret. Every street holds a small business worth stepping into, and just when you think you’ve seen it all, another hidden gem appears.

Below is our ever-growing, highly curated, slightly chaotic list of favorite home stores—some discovered through aimless wandering, others from friends who just get it. NYC is a city best explored with an open heart (and a good pair of walking shoes), so consider this list a living document. Add to it. Edit it. Gatekeep it. (Or don’t.)

Our Favorite NYC shops (interiors + homegoods):

• Mellow

• Fox Object

• Gem Home

• Quarters

• Nickey Kehoe

• Bomi

• RW Guild

• Roll & Hill

• Orior Furniture

• Bury Your Dead Downwind

• Apparatus

• Future Perfect

• Coming Soon

• Sun at Six

• Hoop Home

• LES Collection

• Le Mix et Cie (Closed on weekends)

• The Somerset House (Closed on weekends)

• Chelsea Flea

Because, as Carrie would say, “New York is always a good idea.”