M. Alexander, Formerly Marvin Alexander Inc., Has a New Name and a New Home

M. Alexander has officially re-branded and opened the doors to their new showroom in the D&D Building NYC.

In the summer of 2017, Charles S. Cohen, real estate mogul and owner of the D&D Building NYC, acquired M. Alexander.

Mr. Cohen is a long-time customer of the brand. According to Mr. Cohen, “I had been shopping at Marvin Alexander for my homes and properties for years! I bought the company simply because I loved the products!”

After Mr. Cohen purchased the brand, he invested in upgrading the showroom space and brand identity, by moving to the D&D Building, and rebranding the logo and name to M. Alexander.

David Reitner, Managing Director of M. Alexander, says “the decision to move to the D&D Building was an easy one. Not only is the D&D Building known globally as the premiere design destination in NYC, maybe even the world, but M. Alexander also prides itself on its in-house wiring and restoration studio located just a few blocks from the D&D Building.”

The M. Alexander showroom, in which Town and Country magazine memorably dubbed “the crystal cave” is recognized by distinguished designers, decorators, architects and their clients as the renowned source for quality antique and reproduction lighting, ranging from the Renaissance through to the Mid-century Modern period.

In 1958, Marvin Alexander opened a small, eponymous showroom specializing in antique lighting fixtures. They have now become one of the leading sources of antique lighting exclusively to the interior design trade!

Over the years, Mr. Alexander became the nation’s most sought-after source for antique lighting, acting as a consultant to private residences and state rooms of the White House (such as the “Red Room”), working along with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy on the presidential mansion’s collection of museum-quality lighting and its restoration.

In the early 1980’s, with the expansion of people’s households, it became harder to find multiples of antique lighting. In response to increasing demand, Mr. Alexander created The L’Etoile Collection of fine reproduction lighting.

The L’Etoile Collection is a reproduction line of sconces, chandeliers, table lamps, and floor lamps; All hand-crafted small European ateliers – and carrying on traditions spanning the centuries.

David continues, “M. Alexander started crafting couture shades in 2015, commissioning the most skilled artisans to create bespoke lamp shades. The artisans were trained under Patricia Sullivan of the long-established shade company Abat Jour.”

One of the unique processes that sets M. Alexander apart in the D&D Building, is their team of artisans that create lamp shades by hand. Designers can come in-person to the showroom, see the products being made, and provide direction to the artisans to customize the product specifically to their clients’ needs.

David explains, “the process is very convenient to designers! They are already shopping in the D&D Building, and can stop by and choose specific colors and take part in the process.”