CB2 opening February 16 in Birmingham

By Lisa Brody

CB2, a modern furniture and contemporary home décor store, is opening its doors at the corner of Maple and Old Woodward in the former Panera location in downtown Birmingham on Thursday, February 16.

CB2 is a sister brand to Crate & Barrel, considered “Cool and edgy, CB2 is a modern furniture store for lofts, apartments and houses of all sizes,” its website says. “From velvet sofas to chrome coffee tables, CB2 has a wide selection of fresh, fun furniture for playful personalities. With the brand’s signature urban twist, pieces are often designed with city living in mind, often small in scale and multifunctional. With the affordability of CB2 furniture, you can even decorate a first apartment in style.”

CB2 features collections of iconic works from important names in design. “Valued for their enduring appeal, each piece is a true collector's item. Available to a wide audience for the first time in decades, or in some cases – ever,” CB2 said. Iconic designers include Gianfranco Frattini, a leading figure in the transformative Italian design movement of the 1950s and 1960s; Paul McCobb, a leading voice in American midcentury design, whose works are characterized by striking geometry, purity of form, with a rock 'n roll undercurrent; Clara Porset, an award-winning Latin American designer who blended traditional culture and craft with brutalist and Bauhaus influences; and Robert Wengler, a celebrated name in fine wicker furniture.

In addition to modern furniture, CB2 carries a range of quirky kitchenware and creative home decor. They offer an eclectic selection of lighting, art and accessories which can add a little eccentric flair to cabinets, tabletops, ceilings and walls. Unique finds can include black flatware, animal-shaped accessories and iridescent serveware.

Crate and Barrel opened its first CB2 store in Chicago in 2000 – the new downtown Birmingham store, located at the corner of Old Woodward and Maple will be its 16th store. From New York's SoHo to Los Angeles' West Hollywood, Crate and Barrel says CB2 always positions itself in the heart of urban areas known for their artistic flair and modern style.