VIBE

At more than a century old, ABC Carpet & Home could be forgiven for showing her age, but there’s nothing outdated about this grand dame of the home furnishings market. The six-floor red brick emporium is stuffed with everything from elaborate chandeliers to basic flatware and elegant antiques to fashion-forward eco-friendly pieces, making for one of the city’s most diverse and well-edited home furnishings collections.

USE A PURCHASE FROM HERE FOR

Wedding or housewarming gift; home décor

WHY WE LIKE IT

It’s worth a visit for the fun of sifting through the mountains of treasure, even if you are not actually purchasing items in this temple of homewares.

GOOD TO KNOW

If you need a new rug, this is really the place to come; the selection of carpets is said to be the largest in the world. (Travelers: no worries, the store offers a range of handy shipping options to destinations worldwide, so no need to stuff that rug in your carry on.) And if that must-have item is a little bit beyond your budget, hightail it to their outlet store in the Bronx (1055 Bronx River Avenue), where there are bargains galore. Finally, when you’re done browsing the goods, take a break at popular ABC Kitchen (entrance at 35 E. 18th St., between Broadway and Park Avenue). Play it safe and make a reservation in advance because the eats come courtesy of Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

OTHER LOCATIONS

Bronx (New York); Hackensack, NJ; Delray Beach, FL; London (second floor of Harrods)

CLOSEST COMPS

MoMA Design and Book Store (New York)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to New York City.