The new Tui Lifestyle showroom at 136 Greene Street in Soho and (left to right) brokers Brenda Powers and Louise Sunshine, who are fans of the brand; designer Tui Pranich

Less than two months after the debut of their Soho showroom, the founders of Miami-based Tui Lifestyle, the two-year-old interior design start-up that promises turn-key luxury home furnishings in a span of 72 hours, are thinking about moving their corporate headquarters to New York City.
Tui, the brainchild of entrepreneur Jason Atkins and designer Tui Pranich, timed its 2008 launch with that of Jorge Perez’s Icon Brickell in Miami and has since made a name for itself in the South Florida region by marketing its affordable, yet high-end, furniture and accessories collections to developers who use them to furnish their model apartments and incentivize buyers.
Among the takers so far: Canyon Ranch Miami Beach, Trump Hollywood, Trump Towers in Sunny Isles Beach and Miami’s Viceroy condominium. But in Atkins’ own words, “Miami is nothing compared to New York.” … [more]

A down market might not seem like the best time for a one-year-old
company offering luxury furniture and accessories packages for luxury
apartments. But Tui Lifestyle has carved out a place for itself in the
downturn by marketing its services to New York City and Miami
developers, who can then offer the company’s interior design packages
as an incentive to buyers. In New York, the company has set up packages in 75 Wall and is in
negotiations with several other New York developers, according to Jason
Atkins, president of Tui Lifestyle. He would not disclose the
developers’ names. In some buildings, the packages are included in the unit purchase
price. At 75 Wall, though, the packages are available for purchase,
said developer the Hakimian Organization. In Miami, the company’s
packages have already made it into Icon Brickell, 500 Brickell, Trump
Hollywood, Trump Sunny Isles and other developments. The Real Deal spoke with Atkins to find out more about what
services Tui Lifestyle has to offer and how it is marketing itself in
the recession…. [more]