Above: The new showroom highlights oomph’s wares in the best light.
This spring it got a whole lot easier to put a little oomph into your life, thanks to the opening of the line’s first retail showroom in Greenwich. The new shop is part of a “little design center” near the top of Greenwich Avenue that includes Circa and Waterworks, says Amy Rice, one of oomph’s three founders. “It was perfect timing for us,” she says about the previously unoccupied space. “We find that many designers are using Waterworks, Circa and oomph in projects, so the location could not be better. It’s great for local clients who want to see our collections but also more convenient for those coming from [further north], New York, New Jersey and points south.”
She and her partners—Patty Hopple and Louise Brooks—took what was essentially an unheated cement room and converted it into an inviting space with freestanding walls that are meant to create movement throughout the showroom. During the year, guest designers will be invited to create individual vignettes to showcase the line’s versatility. “The retail customer has never had an opportunity to see the breadth of our wares,” says Rice. “Now they can come in and see all the colors, sit in a chair, on a couch. We can hold their hands with design decisions.” In addition to the full collection of tables, upholstery, lighting and mirrors, the shop will have a selection of home accessories such as pillows, lacquer trays and more.
First launched in 2009, the company has grown dramatically in the past seven years. In the months ahead, look for the showroom to host a series of events, including book signings, rotating artists, educational roundtables, ASID-sponsored gatherings and trunk shows.
21 West Putnam Avenue, Suite B, Greenwich; 203-518-8068; www.oomphonline.com
BEST IN SHOW(ROOM)
KNOWN FOR ITS MODERN, WITTY TAKE ON CLASSIC DESIGNS AND BRIGHT LACQUERED FINISHES, OOMPH HAS THE SCOOP ON WHAT’S POPULAR IN NEW ENGLAND
TABLE TALK
The Tini table is “the equivalent of throwing a red pillow on a couch,” Rice claims.
BRIGHT IDEA
Their hanging lanterns add a stylish touch inside and out.
GAME ON
The backgammon tables are available in different sizes and styles.
Photographs: Paul Johnson