Design Lab
Design Lab is a privately held, founder-owned modern and contemporary furniture, lighting, rugs, and accessories showroom and consultancy operating in Cincinnati and Chicago, serving homeowners, interior designers, and commercial clients through retail, contract sales, and design services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Design Lab does
Design Lab is a privately held, founder-owned modern and contemporary furniture and lighting showroom and consultancy established by Barbara Neyer in 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company operates two physical showrooms — one in Cincinnati's O'Bryonville neighborhood (1985 Madison Road) and a second in Chicago's Fulton Market (216 N. May Street, Suite 3B) — and represents an exclusive portfolio of over 60 designer brands spanning Italian, Danish, French, Dutch, American, Canadian, and Australian manufacturers including Arflex, Gubi, Moroso, Meridiani, Moooi, Ligne Roset, Carl Hansen, Roll & Hill, Fritz Hansen, Haworth Collection, and Foscarini. The product offering covers furniture, lighting, rugs, and accessories.
The company operates through three commercial channels: (1) direct-to-consumer retail sales and residential design services from the Cincinnati showroom, (2) a contract sales and trade program offering FF&E specification, procurement, budgeting, sampling, installation, and warranty services to corporate, hospitality, restaurant, retail, and healthcare clients, and (3) a 2,000 sq ft space rental offering in the Over-the-Rhine district. Customer segments include individual homeowners, interior designers and architects (Gensler, FRCH, KZF, BDHP, Vocon), and corporate/commercial buyers (Macy's, Pizzuti Companies, GREC). The company is WBENC-certified as a women-owned business and uses digital marketing (website, journal, Facebook, Instagram, Houzz) and participation in international design shows as awareness channels.
The business model is commission/resale-based retail and contract sales of designer furniture, lighting, rugs, and accessories, supplemented by fee-based design services and event rental fees ($650 weekday / $750 weekend per event). Design Lab is single founder-owned with no disclosed institutional investment, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no recorded funding rounds. The company defines its core technology as "not applicable" and has no AI/ML capability, proprietary software, or digital product. Operations are concentrated in the Midwest United States, with activity spanning regional and national clientele for contract projects.
Design Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Design Lab
- Legal name
- Design Lab
- Website
- https://design-lab.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Design Lab is a privately held, founder-owned modern and contemporary furniture, lighting, rugs, and accessories showroom and consultancy operating in Cincinnati and Chicago, serving homeowners, interior designers, and commercial clients through retail, contract sales, and design services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Design Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Modern Furniture Showroom
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (541410)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI), Exhibition, Retail & Experiential Design (BPAHAKAL)
Keywords
Where Design Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Design Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Retail Sales: Direct retail sales of modern and contemporary furniture, lighting, rugs, and accessories through the Cincinnati showroom. Consumers can browse, select, and purchase items with support from the sales team.
- Contract Sales: Sales to corporate, workplace, and hospitality projects with services including FF&E specification, purchasing/procurement, installation and delivery. Targets interior designers and architects with trade account program.
- Residential Design Services: Comprehensive interior design services including concept design, spatial design, material and finish selections, furniture/lighting/rug/decor coordination. Works with third-party interior designers, architects, and contractors.
- Space Rental: Rental of the 2,000 square foot showroom for private events including corporate events and parties. Located in Over-the-Rhine district with commercial-grade kitchen.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Weekday evening event rental (Mon-Thu, 6-11pm) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Weekend evening event rental (Fri-Sun, 6-11pm) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Design Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Design Lab is a modern and contemporary furniture, lighting, rug, and accessory showroom and consultancy. The company retails curated collections from over 60 international designer brands through physical showrooms in Cincinnati and Chicago, and provides complementary retail, residential design, contract sales, and FF&E specification services to homeowners, interior designers, architects, and commercial buyers.
Product overview
Design Lab is a modern furniture and lighting showroom and consultancy offering a curated collection of contemporary furniture, lighting, rugs, and accessories. The portfolio includes furniture categories spanning seating, tables, storage, office, bedroom, and outdoor; comprehensive lighting options; designer rugs; and home accessories. The company provides complementary services including retail sales, contract/trade sales for commercial projects, and residential design consultations, along with showroom space rental for events.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Design Lab
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Design Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Design Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
56 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ArflexcoreItalian furniture manufacturer represented by Design Lab for furniture sales and contract projects.
- GubicoreDanish furniture and lighting brand represented by Design Lab for furniture and lighting sales.
- MorosocoreItalian furniture manufacturer known for collaborations with international designers. Represented by Design Lab.
- MeridianicoreItalian furniture brand represented by Design Lab for furniture sales and contract projects.
- MoooicoreDutch luxury furniture brand represented by Design Lab. Known for whimsical and innovative designs.
- Ligne RosetcoreFrench designer furniture manufacturer represented by Design Lab. Known for contemporary and lifestyle furniture including the iconic Togo sofa.
- Carl HansencoreDanish furniture manufacturer representing heritage craft. Design Lab carries their collection of chairs and furniture.
- Roll & HillcoreAmerican lighting manufacturer representing Brooklyn designers. Design Lab carries their contemporary lighting fixtures.
- BoccicoreCanadian lighting manufacturer known for handblown glass designs. Design Lab represents their lighting collections.
- Tom DixoncoreBritish designer lighting and furniture brand. Design Lab carries their contemporary designs.
- FoscarinicoreItalian lighting manufacturer representing international designers. Design Lab carries their pendant, floor, table, and wall lighting.
- &TraditioncoreDanish brand connecting Nordic traditions with contemporary design. Design Lab carries their furniture and lighting.
- MuutocoreScandinavian furniture and lighting brand. Design Lab carries their contemporary designs.
- Ferm LivingcoreDanish design brand for furniture, lighting, and accessories. Design Lab carries their contemporary products.
- Fritz HansencoreDanish furniture manufacturer known for classic designs including the Series 7 chair. Design Lab represents them.
- FredericiacoreDanish furniture manufacturer with heritage designs. Design Lab carries their furniture collection.
- Haworth CollectioncorePart of Haworth brands including Buzzi Space, Cassina, Cappellini, Emeco, Janus et Cie, Gan Rugs, Poltrona Frau. Design Lab represents these brands.
- CC-tapiscoreItalian handmade rug manufacturer. Design Lab carries their contemporary rug collections.
- NanimarquinacoreSpanish rug designer brand. Design Lab carries their contemporary rug collections.
- AudocoreDanish brand combining furniture, lighting, and accessories design. Design Lab carries their collection.
- ClassiConcoreGerman furniture manufacturer representing independent designers. Design Lab carries their furniture.
- De La EspadacorePortuguese furniture manufacturer with artisan craftsmanship. Design Lab represents their furniture.
- Living DivanicoreItalian furniture manufacturer known for minimalist design. Design Lab carries their furniture.
- Stellar WorkscoreFurniture brand bridging East and West. Design Lab carries their contemporary furniture.
- PedralicoreItalian furniture manufacturer for contract and residential. Design Lab carries their furniture.
- TacchinicoreItalian furniture manufacturer. Design Lab carries their furniture collection.
- VondomcoreSpanish furniture brand for indoor and outdoor. Design Lab carries their outdoor furniture.
- USM ModularcoreSwiss modular furniture system. Design Lab carries their iconic USM Haller shelving.
- Serge MouillecoreFrench lighting designer known for articulated wall lamps. Design Lab carries their lighting.
- IittalacoreFinnish glassware and home goods brand. Design Lab carries their accessories.
- LobmeyrcoreAustrian glass and lighting manufacturer. Design Lab carries their lighting fixtures.
- TaschencoreGerman art book publisher. Design Lab carries their design and architecture books.
- AssoulinecoreLuxury book publisher for fashion, art, and design. Design Lab carries their publications.
- PhaidoncorePublisher of books on art, design, photography, and architecture. Design Lab carries their books.
- Volker HaugcoreAustralian lighting designer. Design Lab carries their contemporary lighting.
- Sirocco LivingcoreLighting and home accessories brand. Design Lab carries their products.
- Populus ProjectcoreLighting and furniture brand. Design Lab carries their products.
- FatboycoreDutch brand for innovative interior accessories. Design Lab carries their products.
- Bassam FellowscoreDesign brand for furniture and objects. Design Lab carries their furniture.
- Bend GoodscoreAmerican wire furniture brand. Design Lab carries their chairs and lighting.
- BitossicoreItalian ceramic manufacturer. Design Lab carries their accessories.
- BzippycoreAmerican ceramic lighting and accessories. Design Lab carries their products.
- Catherine DixcoreCeramic artist creating handmade ceramics. Design Lab carries her work.
- FogiacorePolish furniture manufacturer. Design Lab carries their furniture.
- GancoreSpanish rug and textile brand. Design Lab carries their rugs.
- GolrancorePersian and contemporary rug brand. Design Lab carries their rugs.
- HowecoreDanish furniture manufacturer. Design Lab carries their furniture.
- Ikon KobenhavncoreDanish design brand. Design Lab carries their furniture.
- Lambert & FilscoreCanadian lighting manufacturer. Design Lab carries their lighting.
- Mad et LencoreFrench home fragrance brand. Design Lab carries their candles and fragrances.
- Matter MadecoreAmerican lighting and furniture brand. Design Lab carries their products.
- Norr11coreDanish furniture brand. Design Lab carries their furniture.
- PuntcoreSpanish furniture manufacturer. Design Lab carries their furniture.
- RS BarcelonacoreSpanish brand for furniture and accessories. Design Lab carries their products.
- Anthom Design HousecoreFurniture and accessories brand. Design Lab carries their products.
- A-N-DcoreLighting and design brand. Design Lab carries their products.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Design Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Design Within Reach: Multi-brand modern and contemporary furniture showroom and retailer operating company-owned and partner showrooms. Direct competitor to Design Lab across overlapping designer brands, A&D trade program, and consumer residential base.
- Roche Bobois: French luxury furniture brand with a global network of franchised brand showrooms selling high-end contemporary European designs. Comparable as a multi-brand-adjacent modern/contemporary showroom serving both residential and contract clients.
- Ligne Roset: French contemporary furniture manufacturer with its own mono-brand showrooms and dealer network in the US. Comparable as a Design Lab partner brand that also competes for the same A&D specification and consumer footprint.
- Cassina: Italian luxury furniture manufacturer (part of Haworth) with brand showrooms in the US serving similar A&D and high-end residential clients. Comparable positioning to Design Lab's curated European contemporary assortment.
- Room & Board: US-based modern furniture retailer with own showrooms nationwide; serves both consumers and the A&D trade with curated contemporary brands. Closely comparable business model, customer mix, and showroom-led GTM motion.
- Poliform: Italian contemporary furniture manufacturer with mono-brand showrooms in key US cities and a strong A&D specification presence. Direct competitor/partner comparable to Design Lab's high-end Italian brand offerings.
- BoConcept: Danish modern furniture franchise with showrooms in major US cities, offering contemporary design with in-store design consultation. Closely mirrors Design Lab's curated-modern showroom + design service model.
Broad incumbents
- Knoll: Established contract furniture manufacturer with its own showroom network (Knoll Showrooms) and deep A&D trade relationships. Overlaps with Design Lab's contract sales business but at significantly larger scale and as a manufacturer rather than multi-brand retailer.
- Herman Miller / MillerKnoll: Large contract and retail furniture conglomerate (MillerKnoll) with showrooms and a deep A&D trade program. Serves the same corporate, healthcare, and hospitality buyers as Design Lab's contract arm.
Regional players
- Cowtan & Tout / Donghia Showrooms: Multi-brand luxury interior furnishings to-the-trade showroom with DC and NYC flagships serving interior designers. Comparable to-the-trade showroom model and A&D focus, but with primary New York/Washington presence rather than Midwest.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Design Lab social profiles
Digital presenceDesign Lab compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Design Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Design Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Design Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Design Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Design Lab
What does Design Lab do?
Design Lab is a modern and contemporary furniture, lighting, rug, and accessory showroom and consultancy. The company retails curated collections from over 60 international designer brands through physical showrooms in Cincinnati and Chicago, and provides complementary retail, residential design, contract sales, and FF&E specification services to homeowners, interior designers, architects, and commercial buyers.
Is Design Lab a public or private company?
Design Lab is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Design Lab founded?
Design Lab was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Design Lab based?
Design Lab is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Design Lab make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Sales are the primary driver. The others are contract Sales, residential Design Services and space Rental.
Who are Design Lab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Design Within Reach, Roche Bobois, Ligne Roset, Cassina, Room & Board, Poliform and BoConcept. Broad incumbents are Knoll and Herman Miller / MillerKnoll. Cowtan & Tout / Donghia Showrooms is listed as a regional player.
Does Design Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Design Lab.
What industry is Design Lab in?
Design Lab's product category is Modern Furniture Showroom. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAB, Interior Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAI, Space Planning & Workplace Design. Its NAICS code is 541410.