THE BUYER
MAX FRASER
In London’s retail scene, independent businesses increasingly struggle to cope with inflated rents and fierce competition. But Aria, a stalwart selling quality furniture and homeware, has endured in the north of the capital for more than two decades. It recently opened Aria One.Six.Eight, an extension to its Islington showroom that offers fashion accessories and the kind of London-flavored gifts that make great alternatives to standard touristy souvenirs. The store has always embraced whimsical, colorful and affordable contemporary design, and its current buyer, Carl Blücher, has stayed true to this ethos while combining it with a more pared-back aesthetic. Here, he picks three of his favorites. —MAX FRASER