Matter

Sure, I got sticker shock first thing; but then I looked closer & saw that there were plenty of cheaper items besides couple hundred dollar lamps or knife racks or whatever. In fact– the place has the same taste as my wife. Seriously– they sell a lot of things here that she’s picked out individually from other stores over there years. There are the garland lamps from the MoMA, there is a key-​shaped flashdrive that she got online, there is a wooden screwdriver that she gave a friend as a gift… the list goes on. The moral is, I felt comfortable buying ANYTHING here, since it is all very tasteful. Then they wrapped all my stuff up all nice & neat for me! Man, I’m sure spoiled on Park Slope boutiques, aren’t I?

NEATO TOLEDO!
OMG — they have so many interesting things in here.
Like a phonofone for your iPod to green little Army Men bowls!
Not to mention they have something here that I’ve been wanting FOREVER… so yes, me got myself a present!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

After I moved to Park Slope last year, I made several trips around the block to see what was out and about around me. Matter was the first store to catch my eye.
It’s definitely sparse, but they do have some very cool things. I was obsessed with this giant hinged task lamp to be used to light up the room (think about that Pixar lamp, but big enough to fill your floor-​to-​ceiling windows). They had cool bone-​shaped salt and pepper shakers that lay on your table, as well as some cool lighting and home décor items.
If I had an unlimited design budget, I’d purchase a few things here. Alas, I’m not, so I go to Ikea. At least they have cool giftable trinkets and things that I CAN afford.

ehhhh.
i was thoroughly underwhelmed by this physical outpost of matter.
their website is a much more entertaining spot to shop.
the selection IRL was rather lacking, and i am always DESPERATE for something to buy. they seemed to not have updated stock in a while-​nothing appealed and everything was something i’ve seen a zillion times in blogs and other shops.
BORING!

i want everything

A magnificently organized store with a fantastic inventory, Matter makes your home decorating even more difficult by the array of products they sell and in their inherent levels of quirkiness.
Quirkiness extends from graphite sculptures (think statues you can write with), collapsible bikes, and robot framed kid mirrors, to gorgeously modern lighting, and pig banks.
They also sell these smart ecobags with Matter mottos — insert pun here — irony being that most anything you buy in the store will probably be worth more than any number of ecobag purchases you transact.
Nine steps up from Ikea, and about the same in price range, Matter makes you want instead of need. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, mind you.

Coming in here with a credit card is borderline dangerous because the selection is SO wide yet carefully curated… and all-​around makes you want to spend exorbitant amounts of cash on beautiful objects. Whether there’s $ 10 or $ 1,000 in your pocket, you’ll find something worth trading dollars for.
If you’re decorating a new home or searching for that perfect unique gift, Matter always has the good stuff. The people are very nice and accommodating too.