Photo: Angela Hau

Before becoming business partners, Sharon Rembaum and Cécile Hanau had first met at a design-focused continuing education class. Their meet-cute soon turned into a business plan, recently leading to the opening of their Tribeca design studio cum gallery, Rembaum Hanau. There, visitors can find vintage European furnishings and accessories mixed with artisan-made original pieces curated by the duo.

“Having a showplace for our finds was something we have both always wanted to do,” Rembaum says. “It seemed like the right time to jump in.” Rembaum, who hails from London, had a design business in Westchester before she moved to Manhattan, while Hanau, who studied textile design in her native Paris before moving to New York, was working as a design consultant.

Their varied backgrounds and depth of experience gave the partnership a clear vision. “We wanted to make something meaningful,” Rembaum reflects. “It’s not about us taking on as many projects as possible; it’s about making it a very personal experience for each client.” To which Hanau adds: “We combine periods and materials. When you walk in, you get a sense of our style.”