By Laura Lanz-Frolio

Every once in awhile you come across such a well-curated shop that it feels as though each item inside has been painstakingly and affectionately chosen. Site, located on an unassuming block in Astoria, Queens is exactly one of those shops. Site doesn’t feel like a store exactly, in the way that mega chains or snooty boutiques do with big gleaming signs or pretentious salespeople. Instead, the shop is very clearly a place where owner and New York School of Interior Design grad Mackenzi Farquer can share with the public what she is passionate about.

Luckily for us, what Farquer is passionate about happens to be the kind of kitschy, quirky and artfully designed home furnishings that are so on point in this economic climate. You can be sure that right now, many of us don’t feel comfortable laying down big bucks for an Art Deco light fixture from Crate and Barrel, but a $95 lamp made from vintage advertisements feels much more relevant and worthy of your hard-earned money. Other well-priced and unexpected items that Farquer has picked out include painted flower coat hooks, chalkboard wall decals, mermaid-shaped bottle openers, rich olive oil soaps, old-fashioned French milk bottles and vintage aprons. Staying true to sustainability, Farquer says that the majority of the items in the store are either vintage, handmade or locally sourced. Take New York-based designer Brookadelphia’s line of laser cut jewelry that pays homage to the city with Astoria themed earrings and a Brooklyn bridge shaped necklace.

In an effort to draw people into the store (Astoria isn’t that far guys, c’mon!) Farquer frequently hosts parties including a local shopping event and sidewalk sale every second Saturday of the month; the next one will take place on September 12th.

Site
32-90 36th St.
Astoria, NY
718.626.6030
www.sitedesignnyc.com