Turkish Delights

Discover unique, handmade gifts and home décor from the Mediterranean at HAN Design.

October 24, 2016

Catherine Walters,

Just two blocks from Bosphorous, Winter Park’s popular Turkish restaurant, sits another import from the Mediterranean: HAN Design. Owners Turgay and Selin Tahhan opened their distinctive shop one year ago on Park Avenue’s south end with little fanfare, but they already have loyal patrons from Florida to New York to Great Britain. “We want to build relationships between ourselves and our customers,” says Turgay. “Mediterranean people are very warm-blooded. When we have a customer, we like to talk with them.”

Most days, the Tahhans can be found at their shop, showing customers their latest finds from their native Turkey: clothing and accessories, rugs, jewelry, home décor, furniture pieces and handmade trinkets. Selin is the creative mastermind, designing and making most everything by hand—or she purchases it herself. Each item in the shop is truly one-of-a-kind—nothing is factory-produced.

Owners Turgay and Selin Tahhan (ROBERTO GONZALEZ)

“In Turkey, she would design her own jewelry, and friends would ask, ‘Where did you get this?’ ” says Turgay, interpreting for his wife who speaks halting English. Selin’s talents also extend to home décor. She had a small business and gained a following decorating the homes of several prominent people in Turkey. Her design sense is warm, says Turgay, combining old and new elements to complement one another.

The charming couple have been frequent visitors to Central Florida ever since their teenage daughter began to attend summer camp at Rollins College. They first vacationed in Winter Park nine years ago, “and nothing on Park Avenue has changed,” Turgay says. “We’ve known some of these merchants that entire time. Winter Park is just exceptional.” And now, in one short year, HAN Design has become part of Park Avenue’s retail landscape. HAN Design, 308 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-960-4780