Designing a showroom for Herman Miller is a daunting proposition, but Vincent Bandy’s portfolio included one for Vitra, so he was up to the task. One challenge was the seriously out-of-date, 1909 office building that serves at the company’s New York headquarters. To provide a cohesive envelope, Bandy kept finishes simple. Wide-plank flooring with a chalky finish unifies the spaces. Modular dove-gray carpet tile allows reconfiguration of display and office areas. Both allow furniture–and not architecture–to shine.

On the Geiger International level, designed by the firm BassamFellows, a sea of a blue sectional holds a meeting with a pair of slung-back chairs.