casaBAN’s Cool Style

A glimpse of what casaBAN offers

Older antique furniture

Mid-century modern selection *swoon*

Antique lamp base

Curvy and classy

Owner Ban Leow

I recently got a chance to visit casaBAN, the stylish furniture shop on Tompkins Avenue, and catch up with the shop’s owner, Ban Leow. Ban has one of those truly wonderful personalities — after you’ve known him for five minutes you feel like you’ve known him your whole life. He’s funny and energetic, and, like me, he has a fondness for mid-century modern furniture, so we got along like a house on fire. I chatted with him while checking out casaBAN’s current collection of modern and antique pieces and I learned a lot about him and his store.

How long has CasaBAN been in Bed-Stuy?

casaBAN is a year and a half old.

How did you get into the business?

I have lived in Bed-Stuy for 6 years and I love it here. I moved to Bed-Stuy from Tribeca in Manhattan. I wish that I had discovered Bed-Stuy 15 years ago. There are so many different brownstones within a block. The brownstones are so beautiful and some of them house some of the most beautiful antiques dated back to the early 1900′s.

I’ve always had a passion for antique furniture. In 2005, I bought a brownstone in Bed-Stuy and had it fully renovated and restored. It was then that I frequented antique stores in Brooklyn to find pieces suitable for a brownstone. My passion for everything antique grew even stronger, so I put my passion to good use — I opened up a store!

Once you knew you wanted to open a store, what made you choose Bed-Stuy for your business?

Having lived here for awhile, I realized that there are no high quality antique stores in Bed-Stuy. There are treasures to be found in some of the stores here, but it’s not very consistent. Also, people are looking for pieces that are ready to be placed in their homes. They do not have to re-finish these pieces. Most of the pieces at casaBAN are home ready.

The neighborhood is very supportive of casaBAN and vice versa. I think Bed-Stuy is underrated and thank God for that! Bed-Stuy is NOT trying to be the next hip Park Slope or Fort Greene. Bed-Stuy is Bed-Stuy and it’s real. It is a very close community neighborhood. Everyone still has the time to say ‘hello” when you meet them in the streets.

How would you describe casaBAN’s style?

Orginally, casaBAN was a classic antique store. After 3 months into the business, I saw the change in the demographics. Younger people moved into the neighborhood and they are not all too familiar with the ‘old ‘pieces’. So, I decided to add some mid-century and modern pieces into the mix. And, it works. Half the store features some of the most collected mid-century pieces, and the other half antiques from the neighborhood and beyond.

casaBAN style is to reflect your own personal style. It’s your home and you make your own bold and fabulous statement. Don’t be scared to mix and match – it’s so much more exciting. All antiques in one room
makes the room feel and look ‘heavy’. Lighten it up with some colors and minimalist design and will have an interesting balance.

Do you have a favorite furniture designer?

It would have to be Ray and Charles Eames. Loved their minimalist style, and they really think about the form and function.

I saw those Eames chairs in the window. I love them! Are there any special offers/sales going on at CasaBan?

casaBAN is offering a 10% neighborhood discount if they mention Bed- Stuy Blog when the visit the store. Great time to get those beautiful pieces that you have been eyeing!

Cool! That might be enough to get me to start looking for pieces for my living room. Are there any other services that CasaBan offers?

Referral services for furniture re-finishing and re-upholstery. Since I work with these people and know their quality of work, I am more confident in referring them to my customers. And, oh yes, anything that you want to explore in Bed Stuy. I really enjoy giving recommendations to the local the ‘newbies’ in Bed Stuy.

What’s your favorite piece in the shop?

I have four early mid-century ‘plastic’ scoop chairs with metal base. Very clean lines and so comfortable. No makers mark, but, I think it has given inspiration to the ‘fiber glass’ Eiffel tower base chairs. They’re practical for use indoors and out, and the colors are cool–2 in dark gray and 2 in blue. Their priced $90 each. A discount will be given if you purchase all four.

Also, I have an antique 3-tiered portable library table that the hostesses would use while hosting reading get togethers in their grand brownstones back in the old days. It has 3 slots for books, a tier for cookies and another tier for teapots, etc. It’s priced at $400. It is a collector’s piece. I have not seen anything similar to that.

It really sounds like an original piece. I’ve never seen a library table before. Since it is the start of the year, I have to ask you the usual question about resolutions. Do you have any New Year’s resolutions that you want to share?

To encourage small business to grow in our neighborhood particularly on Malcolm X, Lewis, Marcus Garvey and Tompkins row. It’s Bed Stuy–not “Do or Die” but “Rent or Buy”!!

casaBAN
397 Tompkins Avenue (at Jefferson)
Brooklyn, NY 11221
(917) 607-3838
email: casaban@optimum.net
Winter Hours: 10am to 6pm Tuesdays to Sundays. Closed on Mondays.
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Related Links
Just Opened: casaBAN [Brownstoner]