A growing number of fashion professionals are shifting their creative energy into the world of interiors. Somerset House, a young company based in Queens, illustrates how this transition is unfolding. Its founder, Alan Eckstein, once worked in menswear and now dedicates his full attention to furniture, styling and home staging.
Alan Eckstein and His Passion for Vintage Design
Eckstein describes his fascination with vintage furniture as a genuine addiction. His phone fills with notifications from auction platforms and private dealers. His new showroom in Long Island City presents a large collection of twentieth century design including pieces by Jean Prouve, Pierre Jeanneret, Lina Bo Bardi and Charlotte Perriand.
Before turning to interiors, Eckstein built and closed two fashion labels. The pace of the industry eventually pushed him toward a field that felt slower and more thoughtful. Interior work allowed him to use his eye for aesthetics without the pressure of constant production cycles.
A Broader Creative Movement Toward the Home
Eckstein acknowledges that he is part of a wider shift. Many fashion creatives are becoming interested in interiors and home styling. Luxury brands now release home collections and the public fascination with domestic spaces continues to grow.
Designer Dana Arbib made a similar transition and now produces Murano glass objects. She describes the interior world as more precious and collectible compared with the fast routine of fashion.
How Somerset House Came to Life
Somerset House began during the pandemic. Eckstein had been staging homes on the side and had collected enough furniture to support a full business. When commercial rents dropped in Brooklyn in 2020, he took over a storefront and offered the landlord a share of sales along with staging support. This move attracted visitors who soon asked him to decorate their own homes.
Today Somerset House works from a ten thousand square foot former factory building in Long Island City. The space allows Eckstein and his team to present a constantly changing mix of furniture and decorative objects.
A Client List Filled With Creative Personalities
Somerset House has become popular with artists, actors and musicians. Clients include Benny Blanco, Robert Pattinson, Pom Klementieff, Zach Bryan and Athena Calderone. Eckstein also stages high value real estate listings including a townhouse in Cobble Hill priced at twenty two million dollars.
According to Blanco, Eckstein approaches interiors with the energy of an inventor. He freely rearranges furniture, shares ideas and shows new finds he is bidding on during auctions.
A Distinctive Approach to Collecting
Although Somerset House carries well known pieces such as an Ettore Sottsass bar cabinet, many items are selected simply because Eckstein finds them visually interesting. He values patina and natural signs of use and avoids the predictable look of trend driven interiors. His goal is to create homes that feel collected over time rather than assembled from inspiration boards.
A New Era of Creativity Inside the Home
For many former fashion professionals, the home has become a new canvas. The search for quality, individuality and long lasting objects reflects a move away from the pace and disposability of fashion. Somerset House represents this shift and shows how creative people are building new careers within the world of interiors.
