
Prior to founding Studio AK, Kristin Tarsi spent nearly a decade at a high-end firm. As Senior Designer, she managed multimillion-dollar interiors projects all over the United States, including an estate in Palm Beach, a lakefront home in Chicago, apartments in Manhattan, and vacation homes in Aspen, the Hamptons, and the Yellowstone Club in Montana. Here, Tarsi shares small shops and accessories she loves.

Photo Courtesy of Normode
Normode: They offer very cool Scandinavian accessories you haven’t seen anywhere else. In particular, I love Kristina Dam and Form and Refine’s muted palette and clean lines. Normode is an online retailer, and they will ship anywhere.

Photo Courtesy of Hawkins NY
Hawkins NY: A wonderful place to find a perfectly curated collection of pretty, interesting high-quality flatware and place settings from makers such as Mepra and Sabre Paris. Hawkins NY helped to fill a void left when Barney’s closed their doors for good (sigh).

Photo Courtesy of Copper Beech
Copper Beech in Bellport, NY: A one-stop shop for all things home (including some groceries!), this store is the brainchild of interior designers Thomas O’Brien and Dan Fink. In particular, I love their pillows and throws. It’s the chicest general store of my dreams.

Photo Courtesy of Notary Ceramics
Notary Ceramics: They have the most beautiful ceramics – simple in form and elegant in design. Based in Portland, Oregon, Notary Ceramics hand crafts all of their pottery, from elegant vases to beautifully glazed lamps with pleated shades. I love supporting small, woman-owned businesses such as this.

Photo by Noah Kalina, Courtesy MoMA
MoMA Design Shop: Not your average museum gift shop! Such a fun and beautiful store to explore, located on the museum’s lower level. From the amazing coffee table book collection to modern accessories and furniture from Hay and Eames, it’s impossible to leave without purchasing something! The bonus is that I love supporting cultural institutions such as NYC museums.