Since opening in 2010, ReImagine furniture has been growing out of spaces, expanding the spaces that it occupies, experimenting with merchandise, hitting the local estate sales circuit and working with local artisans. All of the trial and error, experimenting and testing the market has led the retro furniture and accessories store to embark upon a complete rebranding and relaunching of its business.
Being a fan of throwback designs and local artisans, I’m excited to see the direction that owners Hayley Carrow and Cortney Morrison-Taylor are heading in. “Our decision to rebrand the business, and to introduce new products, is a result of our evolving personal design aesthetic and our desire to accommodate Buffalo’s growing population of style savvy individuals,” explained Hayley and Cortney. “Our goal is to help facilitate our clients vision by developing a deep understanding of the individual’s wants and needs.”
As part of the re immersion into the Elmwood market place, the business will now be named “Ró”. The new identity brings with it a stylish upgrade in the types of home furnishing offerings that customers will find. The name Ró translates to the word “tranquil” in Danish. Boasting a Scandinavian name will seamlessly allow the owners to bring onboard lines of Scandinavian furniture and housewares that include dishware from renowned Finnish design companies such as Marimekko and iittala, as well as specialty home items from innovative Brooklyn based design firms including Fort Standard, Good Candle BK, Allied Maker and Aelfie. “We will be carrying items that until now have not been available in this area. We seek products that are unusual and exciting. We appreciate good design and we appreciate quality,” stated Cortney.
If that weren’t enough, Cortney and Hayley are collaborating with local furniture designers Sean Wrafter of Wrafterbuilt, and Michael Neffke of Neffke Designs in order to create a custom look for the store, that will play off of the Scandinavian design flavors already being stocked. The one-of-a-kind furnishings will still feature the modern lines that business has built its design reputation on, while incorporating industrial styling and reclaimed ethics into the lines (items sourced from local barns and abandoned industrial sites). “We have always had a strong commitment to providing our community with ethical furniture options, which is one aspect of the business that will never change. Our partnership with Wrafterbuilt and Neffke Designs not only supports our sustainability initiative, but also helps to promote local business. These pieces are works of art that will last a lifetime,” said Hayley.
For those clients who feel that they have no ‘eye’ for this sort of thing, Cortney and Hayley are also venturing down the road of interior design styling for both residential and commercial spaces. “Our goal is to help facilitate our clients vision by developing a deep understanding of the individual’s wants and needs,” the owners expressed. “Good design has the ability to transport people to another place, time and mood. We are not only interested in the visual aesthetics of a space, we are concerned with the entire experience.”
Ró launched its new identity and product lines on October 18th, 2013 at the shop on Elmwood Avenue. For more information visit the website at ROHOMESHOP.com.
Ró 732 Elmwood Ave Buffalo, NY 14222 (716) 240-9387