Think a Jonathan Adler chandelier would look classy in your condo, or that empty corner in your apartment needs an antique armchair, but don’t have piles of cash sitting around?
Enter Viyet (pronounced VEE-yet), an online destination for selling and buying designer, vintage and antique pre-owned furniture, lighting and accessories for 50-80 percent below retail prices with fast, white-glove delivery. Viyet’s merchandise is sourced from individual homes, interior designers and designer showrooms.
This fall, it's launching in Dallas with a team of curators to intake and inspect local pieces.
Viyet is a play on the design term “vignette,” an arrangement of various decorative objects to add character to a living space. The company is the brainchild of Rachel Rodin, a San Antonio native and New York City fashion stylist. It's seen huge success in New York, where it started in 2013, as well as New Jersey, Connecticut and Los Angeles. Dallas is location No. 4 because of the Design District and a "culture that reveres a beautiful interior," says Viyet VP of business development Jen Koen.
“We were in LA launching and we connected with some Dallas designers and looked at the market here — it’s a great spot, very up-and-coming on the design scene,” she says. “We are currently meeting with Dallas showrooms that are interested in partnering with us.”
About half of the items on Viyet are previously owned by individuals, and half are showroom samples. All are designer brands with a minimum retail price of $1,000 for furniture, $500 for lighting and $100 for accessories.
You’ll find everything from vintage velvet Louis XVI fauteuil chairs and a Jan Showers velvet Carleton Club chair, to a Ralph Lauren cherrywood tray coffee table and a Hinson & Company tripod chrome floor lamp designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings. Once Viyet expands to Dallas, you'll see even more items, many from local designers.
Have a treasure you're looking to sell? You do the paperwork and Viyet does the legwork, with curators reviewing the online info you've submitted and then coming to do a free in-home inspection and prepare an estimate. Once you approve the suggested price, Viyet takes care of all the marketing and the eventual buyer handles all shipping costs.
Listing with Viyet is free if the items you're selling remain in your residence until sold, but the company does have a storage facility where your furnishings can await their new home for a fee.
Vintage restored mohair armchair, $1,950.
