It all began in 2002—that was the year Doug Henderson and Roy Otwell opened Poliform Atlanta in an emerging neighborhood (now known as the Westside). There was a void for “high-end contemporary kitchen and closet sources to meet our own design needs,” says Otwell. Two years later, they added “high-quality, progressive furniture and lighting lines and changed the name to Switch Modern,” he continues. Today, that means 25,000 square feet of premier indoor and outdoor furniture brands, lighting and a shop-in-shop for Poliform. The team services the entire country: “We’ve been a national resource since the beginning,” he says. “Well over one-third of our products ship outside the Southeast.” As for what to expect, it’s a lot of Italian brands, to which Otwell says simply, “the Italians make great designs. It’s a whole culture of design.” In addition to the store, there’s a heavy online presence. “We’ve rebuilt the website from the ground up,” he continues. “There’s also an expanded focus on the contract market, market, tapping the architects, architects, designers and developers.” developers.” When combined with their series, series, a lecture series that’s influential throughout the Southeast, Henderson and Otwell are unstoppable. Here, Henderson calls out the duo’s recommended pieces, all on offer at Switch Modern. 670 14th St. NW, switchmodern.com