Meet Caitlin Maestrini | Owner of Teak New York

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caitlin Maestrini and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caitlin, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
My love for design started when I was in undergraduate school near Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house. I ended up working there as a tour guide for three years and discovered my love of architecture and furniture. At the time, I was studying to become an art teacher, which I did do for 4 years following graduation. After I left teaching, I pursued a master’s degree in Art Business at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art. At this time, I had the opportunity to go to London for one semester and I took it! While in London, my goal was to visit some countries on the weekends using their budget airlines in Europe. One of the places I went on a whim for $20 was Oslo, Norway. I had a moment once I stepped off the plane and onto the runway. I can only describe it as feeling like I was returning home. It almost felt as if I had deja-vu. I spent 2 days in Oslo and 2 days in Stavanger to hike at Preikestolen. In Norway, I was greeted with interior decor and a culture that I fell in love with. I went back to New York, completed my master’s degree, and started working in the design industry. I completed renovated my apartment and started looking up “scandinavian decor” and “nordic style” online. I couldn’t get enough. Finally, I was ready to start investing in some better furniture and I looked for a store that specialized in Scandinavian only furniture, lighting, and decor, and I couldn’t find it. I realized most of the Scandinavian goods were mixed in with other European brands, or people were just utilizing the style, but the products would be made in the US or in Asian countries. With this in mind, it was 2021, and I was feeling like I needed to start something of my own.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Teak New York is a Scandinavian furniture, lighting, and home decor shop. We have an e-commerce marketplace along with an in-person pop up in Manhattan. We aim to have our permanent shop in 2023 in Brooklyn. What sets Teak apart from other design brands is our commitment to authenticity. We work with brands that are located in the five Scandinavian countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. We prefer to work with small, artisan brands, so they can grow alongside us. We can expose their products to a new group of people. I always feel proud when a small brand gets the opportunity to shine in NYC through our space.

Besides my own personal journey to starting the business, I had to learn how to start a business from the ground up. I applied for all of our legal paperwork to register the brand in New York City back in November 2021. Then I built my first website. From there, I found out about a pop-up space called Little Market NYC that features only women-owned brands. We’ve been in the pop up since March 1st, 2022. It’s been a great way for us to start small and see what clients gravitate towards. There have been some products that we are excited about, but then they never sell. We’ve had to learn how to adapt to our location and our customers. We’ve had to learn how to send in our sales tax. We’ve created our own marketing plan and social media accounts. There is just so much to do on a day-to-day business, but I’ve been lucky to have my friend by my side, Bianca. She is my first and only full time employee at the moment. Her background is in retail, so it was a great transition for us and she’s my styling professional.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is to ask for help when I need it. I have a tendency to keep adding to my to-do list, but then I will run out of hours in the day. I’ve been learning to trust my business in the hands of others. It helps when Bianca is in charge for the day, because I can breathe a sign of relief. Surrounding yourself with people you trust and who are as passionate as you is key. I can’t work 24/7, even though I wish I had the energy to put more into my business each day. You can only work so much.

What I want people to know about my brand is our set of goals and our mission. Scandinavian design is very democratic. Scandi people believe that everyone should have the possibility of owning good design and feeling good in your space. They focus on quality materials like wood, stone, and textiles. In the nordic countries, your home is your sanctuary. The Danish people call this “hygge.” Hygge is all about feeling cozy and comfortable inside of your space. For them, it usually means soft blankets, a cup of cocoa, scented candles, a good book, a fireplace, and fuzzy socks. They prioritize this idea that your home is an important place. I think this is something that Americans can learn. Many Americans just pick a couch, tv stand, etc, and call it a day. They don’t realize how prioritizing your home decor can actually improve your mental health and well-being. When I come home from work or a trip, I immediately feel relaxed at home. I wake up and light a scented candle, make a cup of coffee, and sit with a soft blanket. I value these small, quiet moments. I want to educate others on this lifestyle and help people to live a better lifestyle at home. While they don’t have to love the Scandinavian style, it’s all about choosing items for your home that make you happy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If anyone wants to visit New York City, I have a few suggestions! I would grab lunch at Smor in the East Village of NYC. Smor is owned by two Danes and they have the flavors to back it up. They just opened a bakery where the cardamom buns sell out every day. For lunch, grab some of the open faced sandwiches, aka Smorrebrod! During the day, a visit to the Swedish Photography museum, Fotografiska, is a must. They always have gorgeous exhibits and many floors to get lost on. Photography is a modern concept, so they have a lot of topics to focus on that showcase our everyday or recent history. After the museum, you can get a solid plate of Swedish meatballs at the Scandinavian House. This is the Nordic Center in America, the leading center for Nordic culture in the United States, and they offer a wide range of programs including language classes. My last place to recommend is a book store. I have quite a few favorites, but you’ll most likely find me at The Strand or at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square. Union Square is also a great place to hang out to people watch, play a competitive game of chess, or go shopping at the Farmer’s Market on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Mom and Dad have always been my biggest fan, and not just because I’m an only child! During my youth, I was always told that I could follow my dreams. If an idea sounded crazy to other people, my parents would give me the support for any decision I made. They are the ones who really see my strengths and weaknesses on a day to day basis. I also wouldn’t be the person I am if it weren’t for them. My mom has given me a huge heart and a voice for my opinions. My dad has given me my love for the mountains and the viewpoint to appreciate the small things in life. Both of my parents grew up in Western Pennsylvania, my mom to Italian American immigrants, and my dad’s family traces back to the original settlements. We spent my childhood going camping during the summers, fishing, hiking, making smores and mountain pies. These are the fond memories that I look back on today, and also the reason why I connect with the Scandinavian culture so much. Scandinavian people respect and love the outdoors, specifically the mountains and forests. They are concerned with wildlife and the environment. When you grow up planting small seeds and growing them into vegetables, there is something about that experience that connects you with the earth. I can only thank my parents for allowing me to grow up with my hands in the dirt and my feet in the forest.

Website: www.teaknewyork.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/teaknewyork

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teaknewyork

Image Credits
All images taken by me! The image with myself and the brown curly haired woman is Bianca, my employee. The image with the couple and baby is one of our brands, Saana ja Olli, a designer couple located in Finland.