In Pittsburgh’s competitive world of luxury florals for weddings and events, Nathan McCarthy has carved a niche as a taste leader with his business, Hens and Chicks. Famous for his exceptional eye for detail and innovative design, Nathan knows how to transform often “plain vanilla” event spaces into breathtaking experiences. He is about to harness those powers in the retail sector with his new concept shop, Archive, opening on November 15 on Smallman Street in the Strip District of Pittsburgh.
Nathan’s career has been fueled by a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of flowers and a keen interest in design aesthetics. At Hens and Chicks, Nathan and his team meticulously curate each event, ensuring that every element aligns with the client’s vision while pushing the boundaries of traditional design. Archive is a chance for him to speak in his personal design language in ways he can share with the rest of us in Pittsburgh. We can look forward to lush textures, vibrant colors, and unexpected elements, melded together with a timeless, up to date sense of style.
4 Questions with Nathan McCarthy About His New Pittsburgh Retail Shop, Archive
TABLE: Why are you creating Archive?
Nathan McCarthy: Why else? Pursuit of beauty.
What stores around the world have inspired your design and merchandising thoughts?
NM: Well of course, Barneys…Taste/Luxury/Humor was their motto and they are, I think, words to live by. Sadly, some of my favorite stores are no longer-but I love/loved Takashimaya, TotoKaelo, Dover Street Market (specifically in London), Tortoise (LA), Maxfield’s (LA), Jeffrey…and I will always be a sucker for a Parisian store with a great dining option such as Galleries Layfayette and Bon Marché.
The look of the new JW Anderson shop in London as well as his store in store experiences are so inspirational to me. The combination of folk, luxe, craft, and curiosity is so perfect-the raw woods, and earth tones with a clash of hyper color, and then a quiet touch of antique is so fantastic.
With the store being called “Archive” I wanted the experience to feel as though this is a found space or discovered shipping container with practical and impractical finds. I used rough OSB boards for fixtures, antique curved glass display cases from auctions, industrial cavas drop cloth drapery juxtaposed with plush silk/wool carpets and velvet seating, all installed into a rough semi crumbling warehouse space.
Can you list the brands you’ll be stocking?
NM: We will have womenswear staples like Seroya, Faithfull, and Simon Miller, as well as an exciting unisex brand called Workware. I am testing out small selections of JW Anderson, Isabel Marant, and Stella McCartney as well. The vintage mix has everything from Prada to unlabeled interesting pieces. A line of in house designed pillows were handmade by a quilter and also feature antique tapestry and recycled denim. As well, heritage brands for fragrance and home from Bienaime, and d’Orsay as well as contemporary staples such as Adlan, Bjork and Berries, and Naomi Goodsir.
Henne Jewelers will be adding vintage and one of a kind pieces.
How are you finding your vintage goods?
NM: Literally anywhere and everywhere. I am an insatiable sourcer! I work with a few dealers out of Chicago (Dial M for Modern provided the gorgeous 1940’s Czech brutalist desk and Baker Ferguson for postmodern Arteluce sconces and primitive oak chairs). But I am not a snob. Things can be from a roadside shop, a woodworker from the midwest, or an auction house. If its good, its good!
Story by Keith Recker
Photo Courtesy of Nate McCarthy
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