Step inside one of Michael Uvanni’s showrooms in Rome, and you’ll immediately understand why “just looking” is almost impossible. With a designer’s eye and a collector’s instinct, Uvanni curates furniture and home décor that blend timeless style with irresistible originality. His pieces—ranging from classic Adirondack to striking Art Deco—aren’t just furnishings; they’re statements.
Uvanni has an uncanny ability to find pieces that surprise and delight. A coffee table that doubles as an ottoman—with room for your feet and your cocktail. Lamps in unexpected materials like brushed brass, glossy porcelain, or hand-forged bronze. Mirrors that curve and angle in shapes you’d never expect but instantly want in your home. Even the burled wood tables in his showrooms seem to whisper stories—each grain and finish chosen with care, often featuring subtle nailhead details that elevate them from practical to showstopping.
What sets Michael apart isn’t just what he carries, but how he sources it. He doesn’t just shop—he curates. He told me a story about a chandelier he admired at market, one he praised so highly that it sold out before he could secure one for a client. (Fortunately, he tracked one down for his client and one for himself!) It’s a testament not just to his taste, but to his influence.
From hand-stitched leather chairs to faux snakeskin fabrics and unexpected finishes, Uvanni’s inventory is diverse—but never random. Every piece is chosen with intention. And while the quality is unmistakably high-end, the price points are refreshingly accessible. During my visit, I found a pair of bedside lamps—gold and porcelain beauties—for just $129 each. I asked Michael to wrap them up for me and couldn’t stop picturing how every room might look with pieces like these.
Even the environment he’s created reflects his exacting eye. The showroom itself is a masterclass in atmosphere—from the perfectly styled vignettes to the elegant sisal rug underfoot, custom-designed and installed by Enjem’s Flooring. It’s a space that feels as thoughtfully composed as the furniture it houses.
His eye for detail doesn’t stop at furniture—it extends to history itself. While restoring his showroom on Court Street, Uvanni unearthed the building’s long-forgotten cellar and discovered what can only be described as artifacts: a delicate parasol, personal items, and a pair of eyeglasses dating back to around 1805—believed to belong to the home’s original owner. These relics offer more than just a glimpse into the past; they reflect a time when this corner of New York was still shaping its identity, just beginning to thrive along the Erie Canal.
Michael Uvanni’s showrooms don’t just offer furniture—they offer inspiration. The kind of inspiration that turns houses into homes—and makes you fall in love with design all over again.
