Where Elle Magazine's Kyle Anderson Finds Crystal Bowls in Soho

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New York City has more stores than anyone could physically tackle, but somehow we always keep returning to the usual suspects. To break out of the rut, we've asked some local shopping and fashion gurus to provide their hidden retail gems—those unique stores around our fantastic city that we might not all know about. Cue the Beatles: We're about to get a little help from our friends.

Image via Jessica Claire's World

As the Senior Accessories Editor at Elle, Kyle Anderson has made a career out of having a good eye, especially for detail. Since 1996, he's been shopping at Distant Origin for a unique array of home decor accessories from around the world, including throw pillows, animal-skinned mirrors, and lamps made out of horns.

I first discovered this store when I was looking for things for Elle's gift guide back in 1996. I remember we shot a bunch of products and I was amazed by all of the cool and unusual items and furniture they carried. Just like the name says, Distant Origin really does carry a unique mix of things from all four corners of the globe. They specialize in a lot of things like rock crystal, fur pillows, unique objects and things like zebra skin mirrors or furniture from R&Y Agousti. I remember thinking the day I become a grown-up and actually decorate an apartment I will definitely be back.

Over the years, I've accumulated quite a few pieces from Distant Origin including furniture, mirrors, boxes, and crystal bowls from the Czech Republic. I also scored a custom-made antler table, framed insects and butterflies, horn lamps, fur pillows and blankets and "captured" real spider web plates. Every single piece that I own has visitors who come to my Times Square apartment saying "Wow, Where the hell did you get that?

· Distant Origin [Official Site]
· All Shopping Confidential Posts [Racked NY]

Distant Origin

540 Broadway New York NY 10012