What’s New, What’s Next—and Where to Be
The insider’s guide to navigating 200 Lex’s annual event. From the panels and showrooms worth prioritizing to strategic snacks and the perfect post-event cocktail.
Now in its 20th year, the New York Design Center’s What’s New, What’s Next is one of the most anticipated events on the interior design calendar. Held each fall inside the century-old building at 200 Lexington Avenue, the day delivers a fast-paced mix of panels, product introductions, and experiences spanning nearly 100 showrooms.
Every edition is special—and decidedly different— and over the years, we’ve learned a few tips and tricks for navigating the day with ease. Consider this your insider’s guide to the logistics, spaces, panels, and experiences worth knowing.
Logistics First
The VIPs—very important pointers—for making the most of your day.
If you’re heading into the city by train, we cannot underscore enough how much easier it is to reach NYDC from Grand Central than from Penn Station. From Grand Central, it’s a beautiful 15-minute fall walk or a slightly stuffier seven-minute ride on the 6. Take your pick.
Next up: the powder room. We’ll state this as delicately as possible—a good powder room on a design-event day is key. The best in the 100-year-old building is on the 16th floor, directly adjacent to the 200 Lex Café.
Which brings us to snacks. Many showrooms provide light bites and refreshments throughout the day. However, there is something particularly delightful about a solo, secret snack and refresh—preferably involving one of The Pastry Box’s sea-salt chocolate chip cookies and a quiet private reset. You’ll find both on the 16th floor.
Where It’s At
While the morning Focus panel with Elle Décor’s Stellene Volandes and designer Ken Fulk has been waitlisted for weeks, you can take advantage of the quieter morning hours at spaces such as Thom Filicia’s Sedgwick & Brattle, where his furniture collection plays particularly well with a curated mix of vintage and antique pieces. Each year, Filicia hosts Sips in Style, a relaxed open-house event offering the opportunity to connect, browse and socialize. Suite 815, 10 a.m.–noon
We’d be remiss not to urge you to attend the panel on color and profitability at the Julian Chichester showroom. Design News Now editor-in-chief Rachel Fasciani will moderate a diverse group of design leaders—Cathy Purple Cherry, Katie Gutierrez, Ruben Gutierrez, Clara Jung and Isabel Ladd—in a conversation about how the industry’s shift toward bold, color-forward design can create new paths to profitability, opportunity and commercial success. The panel will be followed by signings of Purple Cherry’s “The Design of a Country Estate” and Jung’s “Storied Homes”. Suite 604, 11:15 a.m.
If you’re looking for something more experiential, Threads Soft Goods is offering guests the opportunity to create a custom pouch using textiles from its vintage and antique archive. The showroom has also partnered with sister company Currey & Company to give away a table-lamp base paired with a Threads patchwork shade. Suite 430, 12:30–2 p.m.
Arteriors is also serving up an experience—this one with Cambria and acclaimed baker and author Lucie Franc de Ferriere, founder of From Lucie. De Ferriere will demonstrate how she creates one of her signature tiered cakes, followed by a signing of her debut cookbook, “Cake from Lucie”. Very little convincing needed with the offer of cake. Suite 201, 1:30 p.m.
After cake, we recommend heading to the Nasiri showroom for the Behind the Rooms panel. Alessandra Branca will moderate a conversation with Kips Bay Decorator Show House designers Peter Dunham, Eve Jean, Kelly Zerbini and Andrew Torrey, who will reveal the ideas behind their rooms—and what it’s really like to design under one roof and against a shared deadline. Suite 711, 2:15 p.m.
Last, but certainly not least, close out the day with FAIR x The Hudson Company, co-hosts of When Design Meets the Table. Moderated by Sarah Chabot of the Blackberry Podcast, the conversation will bring together Mary Celeste Beall of Blackberry Farm; designer, FAIR owner, and Field + Supply founder Brad Ford; and James Beard Award-winning chefs Missy Robbins and Michael Anthony.
Together, they’ll explore the art of creating an unforgettable table: how a room is composed, how a table is set, and how a menu can complement a space rather than compete with it. Suite 1601, 4:15 p.m.
The Proper Close
If you’re going to do WNWN, do it right—with a proper evening close at one of these establishments.
Leonetta, an esteemed Mediterranean bar and restaurant just a two-minute walk away, will have you thanking your lucky stars—especially if you capitalize on its 4–6 p.m. happy hour, when you can enjoy a full meal and a cocktail for under $50.
Because you followed our advice about which station to arrive at—and depart from—The Consulate is a convenient and, might we add, lovely place to close the day à la française. Reservations are recommended for dinner, but if you’re after a light bite and un cocktail, The Consulate delivers, with choices ranging from its French 85 to foie gras terrine and fries. Its the perfect girl dinner.
This final option gives you permission to lean into “basic.” No matter how long it has been around, the names it has held or the menu changes it has weathered—RIP, favorite chicken tenders—a meal at Hillstone reliably hits the spot. Lucky for you, there’s one just a hop, skip and a jump from NYDC. Spinach and artichoke dip required.
Consider your WNWN day officially mapped—from the conversations worth hearing to the showrooms worth lingering in, with a strategic cookie and well-earned cocktail along the way. We’ll see you at 200 Lex.
