It was an exciting day when West Elm officially opened in Hoboken. While the store is newer to the Hoboken-scene, West Elm’s first store opened in Brooklyn nearly 15 years ago {so they know what they’re doing}. Read on for a peek inside this Mile Square fave located at 1420 Willow Avenue, and learn why we love it:
As part of the William Sonoma Inc. family, West Elm’s furniture, home accents, and accessories carry the quality and perfection that we have come to know and expect from this brand. And while William Sonoma maybe your mother’s favorite store, West Elm is definitely its trendier, urban-chic cousin. And the best part? They have a whole section dedicated to local products.
The Space
West Elm’s expansive building includes over 10,000 square feet of retail space. The store carries the expected items, such as bedroom sets, living room furniture, and kitchenware, but their true differentiator is their home accessories. Throw pillows in bold colors, textures, and patterns, sleek light fixtures, and unique home accessories arranged perfectly on a coffee table or bar-cart truly drew our attention. And don’t even get us started on the holiday decorations. Rumor has it that West Elm’s Christmas ornaments are the perfect gift for teachers/hostesses/in-laws without having that big-box store feel.
The Brand
A coffee table with storage and a counter-top for snacking on the couch? We’re sold.
West Elm describes their brand as a blend of modern design, affordability, and community. In fact, the design team boasts that 90% of all products are designed in-house. This has also allowed the creative team the ability to source more organic, handcrafted, sustainably sourced, and Fair Trade certified products. And don’t worry – West Elm’s website even includes a Responsible Retail Glossary so you can better understand the difference between the upcycled versus reclaimed wood in your new coffee table.
West Elm LOCAL
A selection of the West Elm LOCAL merchandise. It was so hard to snap a picture because there was always a crowd looking at the items!
Perhaps our favorite part of the store was the West Elm LOCAL merchandise. Each West Elm store carries products that are sourced from local artisans and craft makers {hence the name}. Hoboken patrons will have the opportunity to purchase items created by 11 local artisans including Charley and Hudson, Coco & Blu, and Mindful Soap Co. West Elm’s corporate mission, to make a difference globally and locally, encourages store managers to tailor their store’s inventory to include items from the areas in which they are located and give back to the communities that they are a part of. Now that is a mission we can definitely get behind.
^ Not sure who Lauren is, but we’d gladly take a seat at this table.
PS: We would be remiss if we didn’t say to stop into our friends next door at Battaglia’s Home, also one of our fave home decor spots.
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