Brass Monkey Brings Home Decor From Around the World to Cold Spring

By   |     |  The Source

Step into Brass Monkey Home in Cold Spring and you’ll discover pieces from around the world. A wavy Lombok-style bench handcrafted in Java might sit beside blockprinted cotton dishtowels from India. The boutique carries furniture, lighting, wall art, ceramics, textiles, tabletop pieces, and a rotating lineup of small-batch pantry goods. Owners Gina Larson and Brian Stoller curate items from their travels—from Bali’s artisan workshops to Tulum’s boutiques and India’s salvage stores. “It’s global design for modern living,” says Larson. “We want it to feel like you’re finding treasures—a way to travel without traveling.”

Larson and Stoller didn’t set out to open a home boutique when work first took them to Asia. “I was fortunate to have a job at one of the big Madison Avenue ad agencies that took me overseas,” Stoller says. “I had studied Chinese, so I was running the agency out of Hong Kong, but traveling all over Asia. Gina would often join me on trips.” While abroad, they began collecting furniture and home goods and met makers who left a lasting impression.

Brass Monkey Home’s mix of global modern pieces—rattan, teak, hand-printed textiles, and sculptural lighting—creates a layered, traveled-without-traveling vibe.

“It was amazing to travel around and find these great things,” Larson says. “As we were collecting and curating, friends and visitors would always ask, ‘Where did you get that?’” When they moved back to New York, they shipped a container of homewares and rugs for friends who requested items. “That’s when we thought maybe there’s something there,” Larson says.

The idea lingered until they started taking weekend trips to Cold Spring. “We just fell in love with the town,” Stoller says. Larson found a suitable space, and they opened Brass Monkey Home in June 2024.

The boutique offers a curated mix of furniture, home decor, and specialty goods from around the world, alongside select local products. That includes furniture, tabletop items, barware, and lighting. There’s also a line of soft furnishings—couches, chairs, and ottomans—that customers can design themselves. “A lot of Cold Spring houses are smaller,” Larson says. “So we work with suppliers who can make pieces to scale.”

Brian Stoller and Gina Larson opened Brass Monkey Home in Cold Spring in June of 2024.

The store’s style reflects both owners’ global travels and the Hudson Valley’s architecture. “Gina and I have different aesthetics, but the region’s mix of Mid-Century Modern and Colonial homes works really well with these international pieces,” Stoller says. “A lot of what we carry is modern mixed with older, international pieces. We stay away from the Victorian look; there’s plenty of antique stores already for that.”

When selecting items, Larson and Stoller aim to balance novelty with affordability. “We’re not super high-end, but not HomeGoods either. Somewhere in between,” notes Stoller. Some of the owners’ favorite curated items include a hand-carved bone inlay desk with a floral motif and a mid-century teak console table with woven rattan drawers.

Beyond furniture, Brass Monkey Home’s rotating “global pantry” showcases seasonal products from around the world. Past themes have featured Oaxaca and Morocco; the current one is Japan. The couple recently hosted a pop-up with Misomaru, makers of giftable miso ball sets. “We want everything we carry to have a story,” Stoller says. “The little miso balls are based on what Samurai warriors used to travel with.”

Hand-carved candlesticks, patterned napkins, and artisan glassware show the boutique’s focus on pieces that feel collected, not purchased.

Larson and Stoller find many of their makers through travel, research, and trade shows. Some favorites come from artisan collectives like the Indian Asha Project, where women makers sign each of their handmade garlands. But not everything is international. They also carry local products like Hudson Valley Marshmallow Company hot chocolate and candles from Beacon-based Cantique. “It doesn’t always have to be from overseas,” Stoller says. “North Carolina has a really strong heritage for some of the best furniture made anywhere.” Domestic sourcing also avoids steep import tariffs.

This past July, Brass Monkey Home moved to a larger storefront at 101 Main Street. The new spot is about 35 percent bigger than the original space, giving them more room for furniture displays and storage. Larson manages daily operations and social media, while Stoller handles weekends and the website. They’re also working with designers and architects to source or customize pieces. “We don’t market ourselves as interior decorators,” Stoller says, “but we’re happy to help decorators find something specific or have it custom built.”

Being in the center of Main Street has brought more foot traffic and visibility. “We definitely have a lot of repeat customers—people who come in looking for a hostess gift or changing up their decor for the season,” Larson says. “We’re really grateful for the town’s support. It’s been amazing to see people come back again and again.”

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