About Us

At Decor Direct, founders Anthony Minicucci and Celeste Gruenstein blend artistry, global experience, and a shared love of craftsmanship.

Anthony’s journey began at the Ritz-Carlton, where he was celebrated for his culinary artistry, including awards for ice sculpture. 

His creativity soon carried him beyond the kitchen, leading him to launch his own catering company and later partner with an import/export business. There he met Celeste Gruenstein, the company’s attorney. Earning her law degree from the University of Florida in international trade and already having lived in Asia, Celeste was inspired to bring her strategic creativity to the enterprise. Together, they struck out on their own, expanding operations into three Northeastern states.

After enduring years of long Northeast winters, they chose to relocate back to sunny Sarasota, where they took a sabbatical to study art and furniture history, travel to world-class museums, and refine their vision for blending sustainability with functional art. In 1996, they began working on the relaunch of Decor Direct with that renewed purpose.

By 2009, the business had evolved into a 50,000 sq. ft. campus, a collaborative hub where artisans and clients design custom pieces, reclaimed slabs are transformed into functional art, and creativity and logistics come together on a single campus.

Today, the artistry and precision once seen in Anthony’s ice carvings and Celeste’s legal deals has found lasting expression in furniture. Together, they now create functional art designed to inspire and endure — each piece a reflection of their love of art, culture, and timeless design.

For three decades, Decor Direct Wholesale Warehouse has been Sarasota’s destination for artisan-made, one-of-a-kind furniture.  Come explore our campus and enjoy the creative flow.

Decor Direct Wholesale Warehouse was named one of the top furniture stores in the United States! 

Home Accents Today included us as one of the top 50 Retail Stars for 2017. That's within the whole country and only three stores in the State of Florida... What an honor!

The editors singled us out for creative products, merchandising, sustainability, and community involvement.
Thanks to all our fantastic customers who have helped us keep creating and selling award winning sustainable furniture for over 28 years. You guys are the best! We are humbled to be included on this list by the premier trade magazine for the home furnishings industry.

​As Home Accents Today so eloquently phrased it, "Creative retailing is a labor of love, a tale of passion and a testament to truly inventive entrepreneurs".

Decor Direct Awarded Best Outdoor Design in 2017 by Sarasota Magazine!  The Jewels on the Bay 2017 was a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club.  Competing with interior design firms throughout Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice and around Southwest  Florida, Decor Direct Wholesale Warehouse & lead designer Celeste Gruenstein walked away with the award for "Best Outdoor Space Of The Year" in 2017 in Sarasota's Jewels on the Bay competition.  

Sarasota Magazine's judges described the Decor Direct Team's design as “fun”, “creative”, and a “great use of sustainable materials.”  

Community 

At our heart, we are more than just a business; we are a committed member of the Sarasota, Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch Florida community. We proudly support a variety of local charities, including: Habitat for Humanity, American Legion, Leukemia Society, the DWWC Beast Cancer & Beyond,  Gulf Coast Legal Services, & Boys & Girls Clubs.   Our goal is to help build a bettter future for our local community.