Everyday I look forward to meeting fascinating people and discovering interesting finds on the side streets of Manhattan, and this shop on 27th met all of my expectations. From the windows outside, I gazed at stunning furniture, but it was not until I was buzzed in that I realized the full scope of what Devon had to offer. Founded in 1929 as a company that imported furniture from Europe, it was taken over by the charming Charlotte Barbakow in 1980. Today, she carries custom classic and transitional French (and English) furniture created by in-house designers. In the six thousand square feet of space that I walked through, I found a few antique hand-carved gilded armoires and mirrors, but standing along side these were equally stunning replicas. "We keep these antique pieces for inspiration," Charlotte explained. "...and we have our signature armoire, that can be altered to the client's specification." In addition, there are beds, chairs, tables and numerous other pieces, each with intricate details. Charlotte went on to tell me that she has a "factory" downstairs with several different craftsmen who carve the solid wood, or hand stitch and stuff the upholstered sofas, creating one-of-a-kind, signed magnificent furniture. Charlotte spends a tremendous amount of time with all of these people. She oversees every single item that is being made - all of it "the old fashioned way." Some thirty plus years later, Charlotte still adores what she is doing, and exclaimed, "I put 110% into every client that walks through my door."