SUITE NY, the premier New York design showroom, has joined forces with industry leaders Kedra Cornelske and Perrin Siegel to launch C SUITE NY, an independent, boutique contract furniture sales and distribution entity. Co-founders Cornelske and Siegel are focused on a personal, highly curated approach to help designers produce creative spaces.
The pair had worked together closely leading the newly-formed contract division at Design Within Reach, learning every facet of the business from the ground up. “Kedra and I were the New York sales team for DWR Contract, which was essentially a start-up. With so few resources, we found ourselves with our hands in just about every piece of that business in order to grow the division and make it a reliable resource,” explained Siegel.
Yet, Herman Miller’s acquisition of Knoll, and the pandemic, brought seismic shifts to the industry at large—as well as the partners, who had often thought about striking out on their own. Even under a cloud of uncertainty, they were confident that their combined experience would lead to the right opportunity. “Miller Knoll dismantled DWR Contract, and the furniture that we were passionate about we could no longer sell,” Cornelske said. “The idea of Perrin and I starting our own thing was definitely percolating.”
As the pair continued to refine their concept, they discussed it with SUITE NY founder Maria Sepulveda Kirkel and managing partner Nick Tarrico. In the luxury design business for nearly two decades, the SUITE NY vision is in alignment with the women’s own. “We have been friends with the team at SUITE for years, even though we competed for the same projects. With the infrastructure that they have, and the relationships, it just made sense. We are actually very similar. It’s a natural evolution for us personally and for SUITE NY,” Cornelske added.
Serving clientele from SUITE NY’s landmark 8,000-square foot NoMad showroom, C SUITE NY presents a selection of products from brands like Fritz Hansen, Montana, and STUA, among others. “We were really deliberate with the lineup for our launch. We know that many furniture companies shifted toward domestic-centric manufacturing during the pandemic. Of course we understand why, but we remain committed to European brands because they are more design forward, and an integrity is really evident in the products that we’ve decided to carry,” Siegel noted.
Just as there continues to be crossover of residential and commercial in our environments, there is also seamless flow in the showroom. Designers are not limited by sector, line, or furniture type. They can easily select whatever is the most suitable for a project or space they are working on. “It is a residential and commercial showroom in one, and that alone is a differentiator. We can sell anything that SUITE has,” Cornelske noted. “And the beauty of it is that the majority of our clients have never set foot in here before, so it is going to be a new experience for the contract world.”
Employees that are returning to the office expect a more personalized, resimercial-like environment, and Siegel noted that the transactions in contract showrooms have changed too, with clients expecting a new level of service. “We have a much simpler, personalized way of working, and it is in line with what we are seeing in the industry, but that’s what we have always done,” she said.
Cornelske agreed, and added that efficiency at every level is key. “I think we need to get back to the basics. All of these conglomerates are buying these small companies, and it is incredibly confusing to the clients. They don’t understand open versus closed, and we don’t have that issue with what we do.”
No longer tied to a prescriptive offering, Siegel said that their clients will be encouraged to mix and match furniture. “We have a ton of really inspiring ancillary products that we think are going to spark a lot of creativity for designers.” Cornelske added that they have had continued success with informal lounge pieces that are not only stylish, but help to foster interaction. “We have really only ever sold ancillary, and it has never gone backwards. It continues to get stronger. The type of furniture that we sell forges more meaningful relationships with friends and colleagues.”
As Siegel explained, whether at home or in the workplace, people are meant to gather together. “We want to have a cup of coffee and chat, or benefit from the mentorship and learning that occurs when we are around our coworkers. And we have a product assortment that is really designed to support areas for human connection in all types of spaces.”