Saks 5th Avenue just opened L'Avenue, a French-art deco inspired restaurant & Le Chalet, a cozy, après-ski style lounge. Fabulous food, pastries by Chef Pierre Hermé, cocktails by Mixologist Nico de Soto and Vermont-made furniture ... what's not to love? Reservations at Resy.com or call (212) 940-4099.
Phone Call from Paris
A few weeks ago Michelle found herself chatting on the phone with an interior designer from Paris. Maxime was helping to bring a luxury Parisian style restaurant to life on the 8th & 9th floors of Saks 5th Avenue in New York. "L’Avenue" is an extension of it's namesake in Paris (an exclusive eatery filled with sophisticated French-Thai food, movie stars and celebrities). It's the centerpiece of a $250 million makeover for Saks and it was in need of some custom accent tables to round out the design... pronto. The opening was to be ASAP.
Vermont Craftspeople to the Rescue
Michelle needed to find Vermont craftspeople to build several custom made solid oak tables for L'Avenue-- in a hurry. Our friends at Lyndon Furniture rushed to the rescue & did an incredible job.
Delivery, Assembly & Installation by Jake, Kendall, Ken & Me
We were in a race against time to get everything designed, made, shipped and installed. Yesterday at dawn, Jake made the 6 hour round trip to Lyndon Furniture. He brought the tables as far as Stonehurst. From there, Ken & I ferried them to Saks. As soon as all customers had left the store we were escorted inside to start assembly & installation. Luckily, our son Kendall lives in Brooklyn and he was able to come by and lend a hand. We finished assembly and installation right around midnight. Kendall & I couldn't resist taking a selfie at the bar.
L'Avenue at Saks is Amazing
Next time you're in New York City treat yourself to L'Avenue for lunch or dinner. Hat's off to designer Philippe Starck & his team for the decor. They've managed to create a space that's modern but comfy & cozy. It's got a gorgeous view of Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue, St Patrick's Cathedral, Radio City Music Hall and many of the other NYC landmarks you know and love. The vibe is pure luxury but it's warmed by thoughtful pieces of authentic memorabilia. This memorabilia reminded me of the old skis, sleds and snowshoes we discovered in hidden nooks & crannies at Stonehurst. They're destined for "Le Chalet", a casual lounge area that's at the foot of this elegant stairway (below). We're grateful to Marc Metrick at Saks as well as Jean-Louis Costes and Alex Denis who brought their L'Avenue restaurant to this side of the pond. With Amazon changing the game of retail, many iconic 5th Avenue department stores have closed up shop. It's wonderful to know that Saks is still here, leading the next generation of retail.
Vermont is the World's Boutique
The L'Avenue project was a fun one for us but not unusual at all for Vermonters. The Green Mountain state is home to some of the world's most creative craftspeople. Unique Vermont made furniture, pottery, toys, textiles, paintings and other works of art provide enjoyment in galleries, museums, public spaces and private collections all around the world.
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THE AUTHOR
Peggy Farabaugh
She is a CEO who brakes for salamanders, has bottle-fed rescued squirrels and spent her vacation building furniture for a rural school in Costa Rica. She believes in the future and in the people who will build it. A former distance-learning professor at Tulane University with a master’s in environmental health & safety, she turned an interest in forest conservation and endangered species into a growing, local business. She delivers rainforest statistics at breakneck speed, but knows how to slow down and appreciate the beauty of a newly finished piece of heirloom furniture.
