new york's 'nice house' boutique takes it to the web
West Village Home Furnishings Store Brings an Eclectic Mix of New and Vintage Must-Haves to Cyberspace with New E-Boutique
(New York, NY August 14, 2000) -- The world of e-commerce just got a little nicer with the August debut of the Nice House online boutique, located at www.nicehouseny.com. The e-boutique is an extension of the retail store, Nice House, which opened in Fall 1999 in New York's West Village, quickly establishing itself as a nice place and a trusted source for stylish furnishings for the home, both old and new.

Says Nice House founder/owner Michael Doneff, "With the onslaught of the generic superstores and megasites, I wanted to help preserve the notion of the neighborhood boutique; a cool little shop with a clear point of view that was very personal, intimate, friendly and had a sense of humor. That was the idea for opening Nice House and also what I want to do with our online boutique. We will not be selling everything under the sun or try to cater to a multitude of tastes; we just offer a clever, edited selection of stylish and fun things to beautify your home or offer as a gift. And we give you free shipping to boot."

Much like its "bricks-and-mortar" New York City counterpart, Nice House Online features an interestingly eclectic range of furnishings for the home, focusing on accessories and lighting both one-of-a-kind vintage pieces and new items -- all chosen by Doneff. Fast, efficient customer service is another cornerstone of the Nice House site with orders processed, in most cases, within 48 hours and all purchases shipped free of charge by ground service (or by 2nd-day express service for an extra cost). To answer any questions or special requests, a friendly, knowledgeable staff is on hand by phone (877-488-2648) or email (nicestaff@ nicehouseny.com).

For the impatient shopper, the Nice House e-boutique's newest discoveries and hottest sellers are just one click away in the hottest finds section, accessible from the home page or from the menu bar at the top of the screen. This section will be updated regularly as new items are added to the website.

The e-boutique's home accessories section features the works of some of today's most talented designers and artisans, including

hand crafted mango wood vases from Thailand ($49-69), glass votive candleholders wrapped in handmade Japanese veneers and papers ($9.95), elegant nickel-plated tealight columns ($15-21), modern lucite block picture frames ($32), and a beautiful set of striped fabric-covered boxes ($29-59). For the more whimsical, there are funky alarm clocks with nodding chickens, pandas or cuckoo birds ($18).

In lighting, an equally stylish variety of beautiful table, hanging and floor lamps is available, featuring several simple and elegant looks: Glass, Modern & Ethereal, Desk, Sculpted Wood, Woven Paper, and Vintage. Some examples of the lamps offered include a modern spindle-shaped hardwood floor lamp ($369), an undulating frosted glass table lamp ($179), and cloudlike hanging and table lamps made from space-age polypropylene plastic in soft white, orange and red ($99-229).

All of the lamps were chosen to be interesting accents in themselves, as well as to provide ambient or task lighting, and fit a variety of decors. "I am crazy for lamps," says Michael, "and there are so few

Ioptions out there that are truly interesting and different. I've tried to assemble some very beautiful yet affordable options."

In Nice House's vintage section, shoppers will find an eclectic variety of mid-century treasures focusing on the 1930s -1970s, everything from the classic and timeworn to the fun and funky. The vintage items featured on the site are chosen more for their personality and je ne sais quoi rather than their provenance or pedigree. ("Fancy and precious we are not," says Michael.) The current vintage offerings, both lamps and accessories, include such one-of-a-kind gems as a set of "Pussycat" highball glasses ($29 for six), 1950s Royal Haeger pottery ($39-55), a pair of delicate 1940s celadon boudoir lamps ($195), and an elegant 1933 etching of a Russian ballerina ($275)

"Our homes are increasingly important to us, both as a live/work environment as well as a creative reflection of our personalities," says Michael. "With Nice House, I really wanted to offer a great, affordable selection of beautiful things to enhance where we live; somewhat eclectic but all embodying a modern, casual aesthetic. I especially

like the mix of old and new -- there's so much great design and so many incredible new materials available now and yet, at the same time, nothing can compare with the warmth, history and character of a vintage piece." Hence, Nice House. Simple, straightforward, modern, timeless. Dedicated to personal style, individuality and a point of view.

The Nice House website was designed with a casual, "retro-modern" feel in a very intuitive, straight-forward style making it not only fun to look at but also easy to navigate for even the most novice cybershoppers. The site's various sections are organized by the colors of the distinctive and perky four-dot Nice House logo. Shoppers can learn about Nice House and its policies in the About Us section, and share their delight with the site by choosing the Tell a Friend option and sending an email to up to three of their friends or colleagues. As many of the boutique's items make for great gifts, a custom gift enclosure card with a personalized message will be inserted on request. Gift wrapping will also be available beginning in Fall 2000.

The Nice House boutique was founded in 1999 by Michael Doneff, who left a 14-year career in public relations and marketing to pursue his long-held dream of opening a store, as well as to satisfy his passion for home design and serious addiction to flea markets, yard sales and antique malls.