I have been lucky enough to visit New York for work at least twice a year for the past 25 years. Part of my job during these visits was to go to stores and see what was new and exciting in the world of retail and to get inspired. Well there has never been a store that inspired me more than ABC Carpet and Home.

The history of this store is this...in 1897 Sam Weinrib starting selling carpets on the streets of Manhattan. His son Max then took the business and opened a permanent location as a discount carpet store. Keeping it in the family, Max's son then took over and moved it to its current location on Broadway and 19th in 1961. It grew over the years and a home store was opened up across the street.

Paulette Cole, a fourth generation family member, is the current CEO and Creative Director and she has really taken the store to a whole other level. She says the store is not about home furnishings but about loving... and with her creative team they travel the world to bring an incredible mix of furnishings (shabby chic to modern), carpets and home wares to this meca of home shopping. Many of the pieces are antiques or handcrafted by artisans around the world. Their saying is "Collect, don't decorate". I love that!

When I go in this store it's really an experience, not just in shopping, but for all of the senses. You can feel they have a passion, not only for beautiful pieces, but for the environment, health and wellbeing. Deepak Chopra host talks in the store, the restaurant ABC Kitchen has all organic ingredients and the store is committed to carrying eco products. But really at the end of the day they just have the most beautiful products that are incredibly well presented that make you dream....and really isn't that what you hope a store will make you do?