As in a Dutch still life painting of an enchanting tablescape, there is an element of decay tucked into the elegant New York home goods store Gohar World. A holiday pop-up opened by chef-slash-food-stylist Laila Gohar and her artist sister Nadia to showcase the duo’s playful tableware brand, the Lafayette Street shop is wallpapered with grainy images of an abandoned, time-worn church in Arles, France. In several areas, portions of this floor-to-ceiling print peel back to reveal another scene entirely: a garden picnic.

A view of the Gohar World New York tableware boutique, featuring wallpaper of architectural ruins and a central display table with a frilly linen table skirt.

No matter which scene one focuses on, the effect is transportive — encouraging shoppers to dream up their own dinner party for the ages. Credit for both the design of the store and the photography that defines it goes to Rafael Prieto, the creative director of Savvy Studio (who knows a thing or two about hosting a memorable dinner party of his own). His concept perfectly captures the irreverent whimsy that defines Gohar World, which is known for wares like rubber gloves finished with frilly lace trim and candles shaped like plates of spaghetti.

A close-up of the shelving at the Gohar World New York tableware boutique, featuring yellow and pink rubber gloves with frilly lace trim. Some plates and a stack of shirts sit to the right.
A corner of Gohar World New York featuring a column podium that holds an egg candelabra. A wooden wall shelving unit holds a collection of candles that resemble fruits and other food items. The wall behind is wallpapered with a photograph of architectural ruins, and part is peeled away to show an image of a picnic underneath.

By accenting the shop with columns that mimic those seen in the store’s background imagery, Prieto introduces a trompe l’oeil of his own. Shelving built to match the scale of the ruins behind it and a wooden wall rack that seamlessly blends into the scene it backs onto further blur perceptions about what is genuine architecture and what is mere image.

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A shadowy corner of Gohar World New York. A bar on the wall holds a pair of metallic oven mitts, while a wooden display case holds a collection of antiques.
A hanging light fixture at Gohar World New York features a doily-like lampshade.

Additional finishes speak to Gohar World’s collection of Egyptian cotton linens. Display tables wear their own ruffled skirts, while light fixtures feature doily-like placemats as shades. Mixed into the product assortment are select vintage finds, which add another layer of rich texture.

The exterior storefront of Gohar World New York. Two busts sit in the left window, and the bottom half of both windows is covered with frilly tablecloths.

During this year’s Milan Design Week, Laila Gohar staged no less than three elaborate feasts — for Ingo Maurer, Hermès and Solid Nature. At the latter event, she hung a long row of salamis over top of a Sabine Marcelis table, then threw in a few car tire-sized cheese wheels for good measure. With the right presentation, a meal can be a feast for the eyes as much as the mouth. Now, Gohar’s shop invites anyone to step into one of her fantastical fêtes — no invitation required. Slated to remain open until January 2024, Gohar World is the ultimate source of inspiration for anyone looking to bring a sense of theatre to their next dinner party.

The post Gohar World’s New York Store Is a Surrealist Banquet appeared first on Azure Magazine.

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