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 artists (and sisters) Laila and Nadia Gohar 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 setting entirely: a garden picnic.
No matter which scene one focuses on, the effect is transportive — encouraging shoppers to dream up their own dinner party for the ages. 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 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 palate. Now, Gohar’s tableware shop invites anyone to step into one of her fantastical fêtes — no invitation required.
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 the Gohar World brand, which is known for wares like rubber gloves finished with frilly lace trim and candles shaped like plates of spaghetti.
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.
Laila Gohar and Muller Van Severen Design a Table For Memorable Feasts
Plan your next six-course buffet around this design’s series of colourful tiered surfaces.
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.
Slated to remain open until January 2024, Gohar World is a source of inspiration for anyone looking to bring a sense of theatre to their next dinner party.
