Dennis Duffy is nervous, but in a good way. The celebrated South End interior designer, whose high-profile clients include Manny Ramirez and Rocca Kitchen & Bar, recently opened D Scale, his first retail store, which features 40 of his own creations and imports from South America and Europe. As excited as he is about the new Harrison Avenue venture, he admits it's a bit stressful. "It's also scary," he says. "Will they like me?" Better question: What is the designer himself liking these days? We asked Duffy to select his five favorite items in the store and tell us a bit about them. - SUZANNE C. RYAN
The Vimla Chaise, cotton velvet. $3,525. "This is a recamier, a fainting couch. This is our 21st century version. I like it because it's sleek. It's sculptural. It's a great place to put your feet up and read a book. There's a sense of style to it. A lot of chaises are so small. This is about 4 inches longer than the typical chaise. It's 6 feet long."
The Surprise Table, mahogany. $3,500. "There are three nesting tables that fold into each other. When it's closed, you expect it to be a solid triangle. Then it unfolds, like origami sculpture."
Autumn Leaf by Amanda Brisbane, cast glass. $1,300. "I love glass. I love how this is very organic, translucent, and sculptural. It feels like a leaf that had folded up and is beginning to open again."
The Lola Cocktail Table, poured resin top, gray veneer base. $5,200. "This can be ordered in a variety of colors and patterns. It's durable, yet it has a sense of translucency and depth to it."
The Preston Cocktail Table and Ottoman. Ottoman: cotton, linen, rayon blend; table: reconstituted mahogany veneer. $4,435. "We often don't have a lot of space. This is about having flexibility."
