Building Block Etc. Expands the Building Block Design Collection
Amy Duong — June 2, 2026 — Art & Design
References: bbetc.shop
Building Block Etc. is a retail space created by sisters Kimberly and Nancy Wu in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake neighborhood. Building Block Etc. follows the design approach established through their Building Block brand, which became known for minimalist leather accessories and objects.
The store features products by the founders alongside a curated selection of items from independent makers. Materials throughout the collection include leather, stainless steel, glass, ceramic, wood, and rubber. The space opened after Building Block paused its original operations in 2023 and serves as a continuation of the founders’ design practice.
The collection includes leather coasters, trivets, stainless steel vessels, flatware, tableware, and home accessories. Kimberly Wu describes the selection process as focused on material clarity, utility, and long-term use. Many products are sourced from makers whose work aligns with the studio’s design values.
Image Credit: Building Block Etc.
The store features products by the founders alongside a curated selection of items from independent makers. Materials throughout the collection include leather, stainless steel, glass, ceramic, wood, and rubber. The space opened after Building Block paused its original operations in 2023 and serves as a continuation of the founders’ design practice.
The collection includes leather coasters, trivets, stainless steel vessels, flatware, tableware, and home accessories. Kimberly Wu describes the selection process as focused on material clarity, utility, and long-term use. Many products are sourced from makers whose work aligns with the studio’s design values.
Image Credit: Building Block Etc.
Trend Themes
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Curated Design Retail Spaces — A resurgence of small, brand-led storefronts that curate complementary independent makers around a cohesive aesthetic presents opportunities to reconfigure retail as a platform for design storytelling.
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Material-driven Minimalism — An intensified focus on material clarity and long-term utility foregrounds textiles, metals, ceramics and leathers as central differentiators in product design and lifecycle narratives.
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Maker-centric Collaborations — Closer partnerships between studio brands and independent artisans are enabling hybrid collections that blend studio identity with handcrafted provenance, reshaping value propositions for discerning consumers.
Industry Implications
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Home Goods Retail — Physical and online homewares sellers with tightly curated assortments centered on durable materials and minimalist design stand to redefine premium mass-market offerings.
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Luxury Accessories — Small leather goods and object-lifestyle brands emphasizing material honesty and understated forms are positioned to disrupt fast-luxury dynamics through permanence and craft.
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Interior Design and Architecture — Design professionals and firms that integrate curated material-led products and maker collaborations into projects are redefining spec and sourcing practices toward longevity and narrative-driven spaces.
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