Smilow Design is a third generation family-owned design company with a commitment to simplicity, functionality, and natural materials. Mel Smilow (1922–2002) designed and retailed modern furnishings through his six independently owned stores from 1949 through the late 1970’s. A champion of American-made, affordable, finely crafted, modern design, his work has been recognized and coveted by collectors and well appreciated by his loyal customers for over 50 years. Judy Smilow (1958-2018) spent many years developing her expertise as a product designer. Her glass designs have been included in numerous publications, museum collections, and exhibitions.

We are proud to be members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council and beOriginal, doing our part to support an environmentally sound and ethical future.

Smilow® Furniture and Smilow® Lighting are customizable and appropriate for residential, hospitality, contract, institutional and retail applications. Smilow® Glass is available for retail or wholesale. Our designs can be ordered on a custom basis or in quantity, and can be shipped to any location. We are proud to manufacture Furniture, Lighting, and Glass in America using responsibly sourced and produced lumber and partially recycled glass.

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Logo of the Sustainable Furnishings Council with a green globe and leaf design, and text indicating membership.
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History

A collection of three vintage photos featuring the furniture designer Mel Smilow

1922

March 5th 1922, Mel Smilow was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York

1939 - 1945

Smilow Enrolled at the Pratt Institute but shortly withdraws following the death of his father. He begun selling wholesale furniture to retail stores in New York and Pennsylvania at the age of 17.

Smilow enlisted in the army and after basic training was shipped to Europe.

After an honorable discharge from the army, Smilow returned to his job selling furniture.

Mel Smilow and Morton Thielle standing outside their storefront, smiling, with signs that say 'COMING SOON!' and ' Smilow modern interiors' in the window behind them.

1949

in partnership with a colleague, Morton Thielle, he founded Smilow-Thielle, a manufacturer and retailer of modern furnishings

Black and white photo booth strip of Edith Smilow and Mel Smilow, originally smiling in the first frame and smiling more broadly in the second frame.

1953

Smilow married Edith Kern, whom he had met at a furniture trade show where they were both exhibiting

Black and white collage of storefronts for Smilow-Thielle, Mel Smilow's modern furniture store, showing signs and display windows.
A split black and white photo of a city street with storefronts. The left side features a sign reading 'smilow-thielle' and parked cars, while the right side shows a modern furniture store called 'Smilow' with people walking on the sidewalk.

1950’s

As the Smilow-Thielle furnishings became increasingly popular, the number of their retail outlets increased: at its height, there were five Smilow-Thielle stores around the metropolitan New York area and one in Washington, DC

A black wooden chair with a woven seat casting a dark shadow on the ground. Designed by Mel Smilow.

1955

The Pratt Institute included an ottoman designed by Smilow in its 1955 exhibit of well-designed furniture available for under $25.00

Two pages of a vintage Smilow brochure about furniture on the left, and a diagram showing different furniture styles on the right.

1956

this review of Mel’s work appeared in The New Yorker

A vintage black-and-white photograph of Mel Smilow and his wife Edith Smilow and their children Pam and Judy, posing together, with two children in separate smaller black-and-white photos (Judy Smilow and Pam Smilow)

1956 & 1958

The Smilows had two daughters, Pamela, born in 1956, and Judy, born in 1958, both of whom have become artists and designers in their own right.

Black and white photo of a living room with a fireplace, a bookshelf filled with books, and a small statue on the hearth. There are two chairs and a coffee table on a shaggy rug. Framed art hangs above the fireplace. An inset map is to the left, showing roads and landmarks in Pleasantville, NY, titled "The Smilows Orchard Brook Dr. Usonia Homes."

1963

Smilow and his family moved to Pleasantville, New York, in 1963 to live in Frank Lloyd Wright's planned community, Usonia Homes

A man sitting on a red rocking chair in the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 67, with several empty rocking chairs designed by Mel Smilow around him, and framed artwork or signs on the wall behind him.
Two vintage photographs, one showing Mel Smilow on a city street in front of a store with a blurred car in the background, the other showing a city street with parked cars and a building with a sign for 'mel smilow modern furniture'.

1967

Smilow's Wooden Rocker, designed in 1960, was chosen as seating in the United States Pavilion, designed by Buckminster Fuller at Expo 67 in Montreal

1969

Smilow and Thielle dissolved their partnership. Smilow retained sole ownership of both the company, operating as Smilow, Corp. and later as Contemporary Classics, as well as his flagship store at Lexington Avenue and 64th Street

A bedroom set designed by Mel Smilow with a wooden bed, a bedside table, and a Japanese-style shoji screen wall.

1970’s

During the 1970s, he developed a growing interest in Japanese principles of art, specifically the concept of Shibui, the Japanese design philosophy. Eventually, he would create a Shibui collection of furnishings, which featured shoji screens, and finely detailed joinery on a simple floating platform bed, and accompanying low cabinets.

A two-page magazine spread with the left page featuring a colorful interior with plants and a Mel Smilow chair, labeled as a conservatory.

1975

The Woven Rush Lounge Chair was featured on the cover of New York Times Magazine 

Three art sculptures and a framed painting by Mel Smilow. The left sculpture is a wooden abstract piece, the middle is a still life painting of a violin, a lamp, and pottery, and the right sculpture is a dark-colored, abstract torso of a human body.

1981

by 1981 Smilow retired and closed the business, but continued to offer custom furniture, cushions, and covers to his loyal customers while he pursued his passion for sculpting, painting, and printmaking.

Portrait of Mel Smilow with white hair, smiling and wearing a blue sweater over a collared shirt, seated indoors in front of wooden wall and framed artwork.

2002

On December 26, 2002, at the age of 81, Mel Smilow died after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Close-up of a Mel Smilow WAC 33 Rail Back Lounge Chair upholstered with wooden armrests and frame, positioned against a plain wall.

2012

Determined to reestablish and reintroduce Mel Smilow’s designs to the world, Mel’s daughter Judy began a months-long process of prototyping a selection of pieces and sold the first of many WAC 33s to an architect who was working on a model apartment.

Three chairs illustrating different styles all designed by Mel Smilow: a vintage wooden chair labeled 'Enduring,' a modern chair with rounded arms, and a classic black wooden rocking chair.

2013

In May 2013 a collection of 10 Smilow Furniture pieces were reintroduced at ICFF in partnership with contemporary and vintage showroom ReGeneration. The selection included classic pieces from the Woven Rush and Railback collection.

2014

In January 2014 the reissued Woven Leather Lounge, Woven Leather Ottoman and Classic Pedestal Extension Table were added to the Smilow Design collection. Showroom Suite NY had picked up the entire line.

Side-by-side view of a furniture display. Mint Shop in London featuring Smilow Design furniture.

2015

Smilow Design’s furniture line was picked up by London-based Mint Shop. In May Smilow Design teamed up with Makelike and Cedar & Moss for ICFF.

Suite NY's Showroom with modern furniture, shelves filled with books, and people standing near seating area under large hanging lights. Featuring Smilow Design's new Woven Leather collection.
Collage of modern furniture by Smilow Design including a close-up of a brown wooden chair with a woven backrest, a mid-century style table with a slatted top, a beige upholstered chair, and a living room setting and wooden coffee table.

2016

The reissued Slatted Stacking Tables joined the Smilow Design collection at ICFF alongside Robert Long Lighting—another reissued brand from the mid-century. Along with the Stacking Tables, The Woven Rush Daybed joined the modern collection, and Smilow Furniture was featured in the lounge of the Architecture and Design Film Festival. To close out the year, Suite NY debuted the new Woven Leather Collection.

Interior of a modern office or gallery space with two black woven chairs, a large wall-mounted mirror, and various styles of floor and table lamps. All by Smilow Design and Mel Smilow.

2017

Hewn X in San Francisco joined the selection of showrooms representing Smilow Design, the Six Drawer Dresser was added to the collection, and select pieces were chosen to be part of the Center of Architecture’s exhibition Kaneji Domotos at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonia

In October, Smilow Lighting was reintroduced in a 5 piece collection

Judy Smilow with dark hair, smiling and wearing a black leather jacket and green scarf against a blue background.

2018

After a 2 year-long battle with ALS, Judy Smilow passed away. Smilow Design was taken over by Judy’s children and husband—Maia, Aaron, and Steven—who had been working with her throughout her illness.

Split image showing Smilow Glass by Judy Smilow and a bedroom set designed by Mel Smilow with a wooden bed frame, matching nightstands, and minimalist decor.

2019 – 2021

Smilow Glass, designed by Judy Smilow in the 80s, begins full production again and is picked up by Need Supply and The Brooklyn Museum Shop.

The Smilow Bedroom Collection featuring the Floating Platform Bed, Classic Bedside Tables, and Wall Sconce is reintroduced and added to the collection.

Person planting a tree sapling in a black pot in a grassy outdoor area, celebrating Earth Day with text overlay and a section of informational text about tree planting in Oregon.

2022

Smilow Design partners with One Tree Planted to plant trees for each piece of furniture sold and as of March 2022 had added 750 trees to the Oregon Planting Project. 

In July, the Slatted Collection was expanded with the reintroduction of the Slatted Tea Cart.

Image featuring two modern armchairs by Smilow Designed and Mel Smilow, one in black and white and the other in natural wood and beige upholstery, with the text 'celebrating 10 years in business' above.

2023

In 2023 Smilow Design celebrated ten years in business and 74 years since Mel started producing his own furniture designs.