Simple Flair

Simple Flair started in Milan—why that city and what sparked the whole idea?

Milan felt like the most natural place to start: it's where design is part of everyday life. When we founded Simple Flair, we wanted to create a space that connected people through shared aesthetics and a certain way of living, curated but real, thoughtful but spontaneous. Milan gave us that grounding: it’s a city that understands design as culture, not just as industry.

Now you’ve got two homes: Milan and New York. What made you fall for NYC enough to open your second Simple Flair Apartment there?

New York has always had this magnetic energy, it pushes you, challenges your perspective, and somehow makes you feel at home even when you’re in motion. After spending so much time there, opening an apartment in the city felt like a way to make that connection more tangible. It’s our creative base overseas, a place to host friends, collaborators, and ideas.

Your community spans the globe—how does New York help you grow that network, feed new ideas, and connect with the right people?

New York has this incredible openness. People are constantly doing, building, experimenting. That energy feeds into everything we do. It’s a city where you can meet someone over coffee and end up working together a week later. It’s not about who you know, but how you connect and that’s something we really believe in. For people watching, we love spending time at Sunday to Sunday on Orchard Street, Café Gitane on Mott Street, and Abingdon Square in the West Village. And when it comes to networking, spots like WSA and the Simple Flair Apartment are where connections really happen.

If a day in New York had “Simple Flair” written all over it, what would the route be? Give us the dream walk, from morning coffee to evening vibes.

We’d probably wake up early at the Simple Flair Apartment, when the city still feels quiet and soft. Then we’d take a long walk from Tribeca to Nolita and spend the morning working from Elisabeth Garden. Lunch and a little grocery stop at Happier Grocery are always part of the routine. In the afternoon we'd head to the Lower East Side, around Orchard Street, where some of our favorite stores are. On the way back home, we’d stop at The Odeon for dinner and a drink, the kind of place that always feels like New York.

Creatively speaking, how does NYC fuel your vision? What are your places in the city?

It’s the constant layering of cultures, aesthetics, and stories that makes New York so inspiring. You can find beauty in the smallest detail: a storefront, a texture, a conversation. We love the energy of Tribeca for its calm sophistication, places like Shop Quarters, Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery, and The Odeon capture that perfectly. The Lower East Side excites us for its raw creativity, with spots such as Colbo and Colbo Next Door (recently opened), Gohar World, Coming Soon, BODE, Dimes, and Food Canal Street offering endless inspiration. And Brooklyn feels like a world of its own, where community thrives, we love exploring Hudson Wilder, Zarolat Gallery, and the Brooklyn Flea Market on Saturdays and Sundays.

Design runs in your DNA—so where do you go in NYC to discover the freshest pieces, newcomer designers, and unexpected finds?

The collectible design scene is the most stimulating part for us. Some galleries are always a certainty: Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery, The Future Perfect, Salon 94, Tiwa, and Friedman Benda never fail to inspire. They all have a strong curatorial voice and a way of showcasing new perspectives while setting the tone for what’s next.

Which neighborhoods are on your radar right now—from iconic hotspots to under-the-radar gems that are quietly taking over?

Downtown Manhattan feels very alive right now, so many creative realities are choosing to build their base here. WSA is a perfect example of that new wave. If we were looking for a slower rhythm though, we’d say Greenpoint has the best balance, creative energy, great food and beautiful spaces.

You're vintage lovers — what are the must-visit spots for vintage shopping?

We change all the time because we keep discovering new ones, but Vintage Twin always has great pieces, and recently we found The Consistency Project for denim, it’s such a good spot. What we love the most, though, is spending time at flea markets. The Saturday one in Brooklyn is always a must.

New York moves fast, but everyone needs a moment to slow down—where do you go in the city or maybe Upstate when you want to disconnect, recharge, or just breathe a little deeper?

Upstate is where we really slow down. Places like Inness or Piaule Catskill are perfect for that. When we take these trips out of the city, there are also so many places to find inspiration: DIA Beacon, Magazzino or even a visit to The Glass House is always such a beautiful experience.

Which studios, artists, and brands from NYC should be on our radar?

There’s so much happening right now, the creative energy in New York is incredible. Among the studios and talents we’re working with or have recently collaborated with: Alexis and Ginger, Martina Guandalini, Umberto Bellardi Ricci, Luke Malaney, Kiki Goti, Ready to Hang, Savvy Studio and Known Work. Each of them brings a unique perspective and that kind of authenticity that makes the city’s creative scene so special.