It’s the end of the world as we knew it, and it feels fine. Several years ago, World of Rugs started carrying home furnishings. Last year it added a custom design center and accessories. It was clear this burgeoning side of the business deserved more than “and Furniture” in the moniker, so the company changed the name to a much hipper brand: the Foundry.
Although the store is located in a former Ellsworth-Industrial metal-fabricating warehouse (train tracks ran right through the back), the name is more emblematic. “It’s a nod to the past,” says marketing director Stuart Spencer. “But it’s also a nod to the future. It symbolizes strength.” The label applies to the store’s proprietary line of upholstery and case goods as well, which range widely from marble-topped farmhouse-style tables and button-tufted headboards to Empire-style consoles.
In addition, the Foundry carries national brands such as Century, Bernhardt, Vanguard, Kravet, and Lauren by Ralph Lauren—all at bargain prices, such as $1,760 for a nailhead-trimmed, tight-back Bernhardt sofa that normally retails for $3,520. Of course, as befits its Best of Atlanta–winner status, it’s a great place to buy rugs. The Foundry carries 12,000 rugs, from shags to exotic Oushaks, most of which are hanging (even the twelve-by-eighteen-footers)—so there’s no tedious flipping through piles. Prices range from under-$300 machine-made bargains to one-of-a-kind, hand-knotted antiques. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the Yumbii Korean taco truck out front.
This article originally appeared in our February 2011 issue.
The mix is modern, timeless, and, best of all, affordable. Sofas, for example, start at $799. One-of-a-kind accessories, such as vessels made from recycled glue or framed vintage museum banners, provide warmth and personality. A few iconic brands, including Herman Miller seating and Artemide lighting, add extra style.
