A Ralph Lauren Alum Opens a Dreamy New Home Shop in Louisville

When the longtime Ralph Lauren Home design director Tate Reynolds opened his eponymous shop in Louisville this past fall, he took his cues from his fellow Southerners. They “tend to use more decorative objects in their homes in general,” he says, “and they like a good story behind each object.” Inside, visitors will find a jewel box of a store layered with the interior designer’s favorite things—among them, a foyer enveloped in wallpaper by artist Wayne Pate, Parsons stools upholstered in fabric by Jennifer Shorto Textile, a pair of quirky antique zinc topiary trees, and other found objects and antiques from a recent trip to Paris. “I don’t bring in anything to the shop that I wouldn’t use in one of my projects,” Reynolds says. “So there is a more ‘found and gathered’ sensibility to the offerings.” 

Reynolds, whose experience in New York cemented his love of textiles and warm, inviting spaces, intentionally built this ethos into the shop, which also houses his design studio. “I wanted it to feel as though you were walking into my home rather than my office,” he says. “The first three rooms are styled and merchandised to show different vignettes, and it was also very important to me to have original art, because I always had such a hard time finding art and accessories to finish off my design projects. When I moved back to Louisville, I wanted to utilize the space to display an assortment of things I have collected that I can ultimately use for clients, but to also make them available to anyone that comes in to shop and to other designers looking for a unique piece to put in a room.”

Throughout, Reynolds has neatly stacked smaller items like personal collections: custom pillows, lamps, rugs, candles, art books, and more. He even created an area for arranging flowers using a vintage farm sink. 

Reynolds is a big believer in brick-and-mortar. “I get that today people want things immediately, and shopping online allows you to do that from the comfort of your own home,” he says. “But there is nothing like walking into a shop and picking up a special object and seeing the beautiful patina and age it possesses. I also like being the face and person behind the brand, as it helps people to get a personal connection to the pieces they are purchasing. It’s an experience every time you walk in. And that can’t be replicated online.”

To that end, this spring Reynolds is planning to host several trunk shows showcasing some of his favorite artists and artisans, including ceramicist Rita Bunny and artist Tania Vartan.