FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
clé Opens NYC Townhouse as a Living Design Studio
The beloved female-founded brand’s gallery space offers an immersive look at craft, material, and design.
New York, New York (April 7, 2026) – Deborah Osburn, founder of the beloved artisan tile house clé, is pleased to announce the completion of the clé Townhouse, located in the historic Turtle Bay neighborhood of midtown Manhattan. The Townhouse unfolds as an intimate, design-forward immersion into the brand’s material world; part showroom, part working studio, part living archive; where designers, collaborators, and trade partners can engage directly with clé’s artisan surfaces, fabrication processes, and forthcoming collections.
Originally built in 1899 and later reimagined by Charlotte Hunnewell in the early 1900s, the historic Townhouse was conceived as part of Turtle Bay Gardens, a unique enclave developed for artists, writers, and musicians. Two adjoining residences were joined to create the expansive five-story home, which retains many of its original European materials and architectural details, along with a ballroom, terraces, and a garden. Over the years, Turtle Bay Gardens has counted cultural icons such as Bob Dylan, Katharine Hepburn, and Stephen Sondheim among its residents. The planning and design of the Townhouse’s latest transformation were led by architect Ann Bool.
The Townhouse embodies clé’s philosophy that material, craft, and context are inseparable. Known for its hands-on, highly personal approach, clé works directly with global artisans to reimagine historically rooted materials for contemporary interiors. Rooms and hallways showcase full-scale installations, and a curated sample library offers tactile insight into every fabrication decision. A private garden extends the Townhouse experience outdoors, where installations from OUTERclé’s collections demonstrate the brand’s versatile capabilities and approach to craftsmanship in an open-air setting.
"The Townhouse is where I experiment and refine ideas every day," says Deborah Osburn. "It is shaped by how I work, with attention to craft, materials, and the people I collaborate with. I wanted a space where living and making could coexist, where the work itself guides the design; a space that reflects the hands-on, thoughtful approach we have carried at clé since the beginning.”
The clé Townhouse collapses the boundary between domestic life and artistic practice. By-appointment visits, intimate salons, and small gatherings will provide designers and collaborators with direct access to clé’s creative process, highlighting the stories behind each artisan, technique, and surface. Visitors will also have the opportunity to preview experimental surfaces and upcoming collections, seeing how ideas evolve from concept to fully realized installation.
To learn more about clé’s collections, please visit www.cletile.com.
About clé:
Founded in 2012 by artist and designer Deborah Osburn, clé tile brings nonpareil style and artisanal craftsmanship to spaces worldwide. Created in collaboration with designers, craftsmen, and artisans, clé draws on the rich history of tile making and the belief that good design is evergreen, and that well-crafted and artfully designed surfaces are timeless. As the premier online tile resource, clé’s exclusive offerings adorn residences, restaurants, offices, and hotels around the globe.