Hoping to re-create that success, Cole leased the Helms building and spent $10 million on restoration, a process that revealed red brick walls and maple floors with concrete pads where ovens once stood, all flooded with sunshine from skylights in the 30-foot zigzag ceiling. Accessories include Turkish copper vessels in the Arts and Crafts style at Material Culture, Indian silk bedding from Jiti and Tuscan earthenware trimmed in pewter at Arte Italica.įor Elle Decor editor in chief Margaret Russell, that store “is a true destination for fine design created by people with a passion for home furnishings who traveled the world to find beautiful things.” Buttercup also houses 19th century European treasures from Mollen Antiques and modern white lacquered Asian cabinets lined with blue and silver brocade at Wabi-Sabi. “These,” he said, pointing to a pile of carpets with patterns derived from ancient Egyptian textiles, “are 100% wool, made with 100% vegetable dyes to give them an antique look - all at killer prices.” The rugs, he said, sell for up to $4,000 elsewhere but are priced at less than $2,000 here. While rolling out carpets, fifth-generation dealer Tony Abrahim of Khyber Pass cited rugs made in his father’s Afghanistan factory, which recently reopened after the fall of the Taliban. “It’s an incubator for little baby home-furnishing brands,” Cole said, “that really care about quality design.” Though it is housed in a former bakery and shares its name with a brand of bread, Buttercup is anything but a bargain bin for day-old design.

Buttercup furniture