Who?
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In addition to working as a full-time fashion and style writer at Vogue over the past four years, Christian Allaire somehow found the time to write his 2021 literary debut, The Power of Style: How Fashion and Beauty Are Being Used to Reclaim Cultures. In the book, he captures the power of representation when it comes to style and fashion, a topic that is particularly important to Allaire, as he grew up on the Nipissing First Nation reserve in Ontario, Canada.
Last year, Christian moved into a two-bedroom apartment in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. This was a massive upgrade in terms of space, as he’d spent the previous seven years in New York City living in a studio on the Upper East Side. In addition to more room, the move allowed him the opportunity to upgrade the design of his space.
What?
When Christian moved into his new space, he knew that he wanted a statement-making coffee table because it would be in the actual center of his living area. Since the eyes would immediately be drawn to the table, he wanted it to set the tone.
“I’m kind of really into ’80s furniture—kind of Art Deco, really strong shapes, and plaster,” he explains. This table more than answers that call. It features a base that looks like plaster (although Christian says it is actually really lightweight), as well as a glass top that, according to Christian, is incredibly heavy.
When and Where?
In June of 2021, Christian moved into his apartment with very little furniture in hopes of starting fresh. Luckily, his boss sent him the Instagram account for Beholder, which sells vintage furniture, where he found this table shortly thereafter. “My boss, Chioma Nnadi, is actually the one that sent it to me [on Instagram],” he says. “She was like, ‘This feels very you,’ and I was like ‘Uh, yeah.’ So it was the first thing I bought.”
The account posts photos of vintage finds, as well as the prices and measurements. Then, they allow pick-ups or deliveries in the New York City area. To purchase pieces, it’s as simple as commenting “sold” on the post.
Why?
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After choosing his coffee table, Christian basically built his living room around it. From there, he purchased his Eternity Modern couch, which he describes as having “’80s Scarface” vibes.
“The coffee table and the couch really set the stage for the rest of my living space,” Christian explains. He especially loves that the neutrals allow him to amp up the color in his art and decor.
