Sneak peek at Room & Board

The new Room & Board store in the former Helms Bakery building doesn’t open until Monday, but a sneak peek revealed that it’s making the Culver City complex -- already home to H.D. Buttercup, Thos. Moser and Vitra -- an even more compelling destination. While employees hung photos, ironed drapes and arranged a lot of Pellegrino bottles throughout the 36,000-square-foot showroom (Pellegrino: the new accessory), there was much to admire, such as modern sectionals with clean lines, affordable bookshelves and handprinted Galbraith & Paul pillows. But why launch a store in a recession? Creative director Jill Byrnes said Room & Board has a huge customer base here. She also said the showroom, though new, will have “a lot of tenured staff who wanted to be in L.A.” 8707 Washington Blvd.; (310) 736-9100; www.roomandboard.com.

-- Lisa Boone