Talk Shop: Wayne Adler // William Wayne and Co.
Courtesy of Wayne Adler via Instagram
ABOUT WAYNE
William-Wayne & Co is a favorite home store of Ariel’s in the city, so we knew we had to interview it’s co-founder and owner, Wayne Adler, as part of the inaugural content for Fenimore Lane. If you haven’t had a chance to physically shop William-Wayne & Co. in person and live in the area, it is a must-see store: everything from the sisal carpeting to the smells and the music playing is downright fabulous and so classic old school New York. If you aren’t in the area, head on over to William-Wayne’s website to shop from afar, and read more below for Wayne’s wisdom and design advice.
Describe your style in three words or less:
Simple, classic, traditional.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
My mother, and most importantly William Meyer!! William was a man with incredible style. If he thought to promote himself, say, by using a PR firm, I think his impact on taste in interiors and lifestyle would have been tremendous. Strangers would stop him on the street to comment on his eyewear, his shoes, the man. It was kind of crazy. But the impact he had! And the stores...they were a big, personal statement. I learned a very lot from him.
How did you start your company, and what is your favorite thing about what you do:
William and I were living on E. 9th street in the mid to late 1980's, and a store which was an antiques store closed. It was a very special store, and William was a customer there as well. When the store became vacant, we decided that we would rent it. Rents in those days in the East Village were not particularly high, so we opened the first William Wayne in 1988. (Well, William did.) In the early days, I just kind of helped. I watched, and I learned – he was a natural and commanding talent. The best and most enjoyable part of having a store is the buying process. It’s like a true treasure hunt. We would scour through antique shops and trade shows. We left no stone unturned!!
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
We had no mentor; William worked in retail. His last job before opening William Wayne was at Wolfman Gold and Good in Soho. That was a really great store, just fabulous. I know he learned a lot about retailing during his tenure there.
What does your home say about you:
Not trendy, never trendy and sometimes amusing.
Where do you find inspiration:
I adhere to our early days aesthetic. You always know when you walk into our stores, no matter if it was 20 years ago or today, our basic aesthetic has remained constant. Not to say that we are dated – but good, classic style never is dated. And it is always really fun to shop with us.
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
Entertaining is hard work . Anyone who writes advice on how to make it easy is perpetuating a crazy myth. Food is important. The right quantity of food is important. Better too much than too little. Somewhere to sit, because eventually people want to sit down and get comfortable. Light background music so as not to interfere with conversation – and many, many drinks options. Alcoholic or not. I'm not entirely sure mixing the guests is always a great idea. I have been to many dinner parties where the new person added to a group that is mostly familiar with each other is a BAD idea. I've seen the newbie idea go far south in record time!
Do you collect anything:
There was a time when I did collect, but no longer. No more room!!
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
Design rules? What exactly is that? For me, that concept brings up a bunch of editors from shelter magazines trying to come up with story ideas: “Let's ask a well known designer what are his or her rules for decorating a room.” The average person does what makes them happy and what they can afford. The process should be fun!
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
If a vendor of mine has an Instagram account, then I follow them. I like accounts that are travel related, especially now when we are not traveling the way we once did.
Wardrobe staples:
My wardrobe staples are about comfort. Always comfort. A white shirt and navy slacks do well for me. And a good watch.
Best interior advice you ever received:
Advice on interiors...never asked! I'm quite confident in my own judgement.
Best career advice you ever received:
Best career advice was not given to me by someone – it was getting into the driver's seat and just doing it. Be confident and what you want will come to you.
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
Flowers. They make a difference. They can change a bad mood to a good one, a dull room into a happy one. I buy what I like and I always feel good for doing so.
Your greatest extravagance:
My Rolex.
Favorite places to shop for home:
My favorite place to shop is William Wayne...however, when William and I had a beach house and a country house (which was the silliest thing we ever did) we would buy accessories from antique stores – the kind we used to call junk shops. That's where the treasures were to be found.
Most prized possession and why:
The stores, William Wayne and Co., are my most prized possessions. I'll tell you why: the stores are the brick and mortar dream of two guys who were living in the East Village 30 years ago. And we are still here. Hard work and brilliant merchandising by William put us on the map of must-go-to stores. So many times we have been told by customers that the first thing they do when coming to NYC is come to one of our stores. Possessions are just things.
Your interiors motto:
If I have an interiors motto (and I really do not) it would have to be: “If you like it, buy it"; you will always find a place for it. When we get something new and take it home, it will speak to us, and it will tell us where it wants to go. It's that easy. I like it neat and tidy. I'm a Virgo – I can't help but feel that way.
Your life motto:
I would never presume to have a life motto. You get up in the morning and just do what needs to be done. Every new day brings its own challenges and rewards.
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
My advice to anyone trying to do their interiors is, buy what you need first, but what pleases you. And if you are shopping at William Wayne...buy what I think you should buy. LOL
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: I like pizza...a lot
Drink: Fresca – or on a very rare occasion, a dirty martini
Film: My favorite movies are ones that I'm entertained by and have great visual style. I will name a few: Sabrina, Murder on the Orient Express (the 1974 version), Vertigo and Rear Window. I can watch these movies over and over and I do.
Hotel: The best hotel ever is The Peninsula House, a six room hotel in Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic. It's just about perfect.
City: My favorite city hands down is New York
Bedding: I am partial to Porthault. But for a man, he may have a difficult time; it does veer toward a feminine sensibility. So I always opt for white, white and white.
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon
Playlist: Thank you Pandora, for making it easy
Weekend Activity: Weekends are very different for me for a variety of reasons, but to name a few: walking, reading and working.
Design Book: There are mountains of design books available, and I own most of them (or did anyway, I gave a lot away.) I like Carolyne Roehm's books. They are so beautifully produced. The enjoyment of her books is that they do inspire...Carolyne has amazing taste. I've been to her homes in Connecticut and NYC, and they are kind of perfect. However the single most perfect interior and home is my apartment in NYC. Twenty years ago William and I created a very special place, and I am most blessed for having it.
