Will Meyer and Gray Davis
Founders, Meyer Davis
Will Meyer and Gray Davis have been dominating the design scene since 1999, when the pair connected to form the boutique firm Meyer Davis. Since then, they have taken on projects for Oscar de la Renta, been the force behind major hotel openings–including the Four Seasons–and recently won a James Beard Foundation Award for their work on Atlanta’s St. Cecilia restaurant. Late last year, the duo released their first book, Made to Measure: Meyer Davis, Architecture and Interiors, a deep dive into the studio’s inner workings and the spaces that define its aesthetic. As captured in the tome, Meyer and Davis’ global portfolio spans from Mexico City to New Orleans, but it’s the Big Apple they call home. “It’s been said many times before, but New York is the international capital of the world,” Meyer says. “Because of that, it has such an enhanced, vibrant design scene.” Here, the duo lead us on a tour of their favorite purveyors close to their home base. “We tend to select items and pieces from these particular stores because they have a bit of the whimsy we’re always seeking to add to the spaces we’re designing,” Davis says.
9 a.m. Meet us in our office, at 180 Varick St., so we can show you around before heading to breakfast at the Mercer Kitchen, a Jean-Georges restaurant. The booths and side tables along the windows in the upstairs cafe are a good spot for brunch meetings.
10 a.m. After breakfast, let’s go shopping for antiques and vintage items. Start at Wyeth, which is close to our office and has extensive midcentury pieces that are well-restored. Then head to Duane Modern, which tends to focus on beautiful antique collections.
12 p.m. Sit down to lunch at The Dutch. It is in the heart of SoHo and serves delicious regional fare in a lively, modern space.
2 p.m. Not far from there, pop into The Apartment by The Line. The store is housed in an apartment, so visitors walk from room to room to discover lighting, furniture, accessories and clothing. Our favorite brands here include Luteca, Fritz Hansen, Gubi and Lasvit.
3 p.m. Go to David Weeks Studio‘s TriBeCa storefront to view beautiful lighting fixtures, upholstered seating, side tables and sculptural objects. Then head a few blocks down to the unique Studio Oliver Gustav. His approach to interiors is artisanal and thoughtful, and he creates spaces that convey a quiet yet dramatic atmosphere. Afterward, pop next door to Tom Dixon to browse the full collection of products, including his famous pendant lights and furniture.
6 p.m. Stop by The Future Perfect; it’s one of the foremost platforms for collectible contemporary design. And make sure you have an appointment to visit Lindsey Adelman‘s design studio, which is close by. It is definitely worth seeing where she fabricates her beautiful light fixtures.
8 p.m. Enjoy dinner at Lure Fishbar on Mercer Street. It’s an upscale seafood restaurant famous for its luxury yacht-like interior and owned by our good friends and restaurateurs John McDonald and Josh Pickard.
9 p.m. End the night with drinks at The Blond, the fun little bar inside the 11 Howard hotel. It’s a unique space with dim lighting that creates an intimate, cozy environment.
