In praise of DWR
Compared to most other modern design stores, Design Within Reach is quite affordable.
My wife and I have picked out a couple of pieces there for our new home (Albero Sectional/Chaise and a Barcelona Chair), but what really chaps me about them is, you cannot do advance orders. Most of their large items take 6 to 9 weeks for delivery, and you have to take delivery the day they receive the item, whatever day that happens to be. They won't work with you on a delivery date at all. So we have to really time our order syncronized with the completion of our renovation.
Compare their prices to the MoMA store. In the past, MoMA and DWR use to carry a lot of the same furniture products, but MoMA couldn't compete with DWR's prices and had to drop most of the Bauhaus items, and slash prices on other. DWR has also driven down prices at Moss. Moss will often get new, unique items first, but as soon as DWR introduces it to their product line, Moss has to lower their prices on the same items to stay competitive.
DWR might not be "cheap", but modern designer furniture of quality construction isn't cheap. They have been a big influence in both pushing down prices across the industry, and through the catalog order side of the business, in bringing modern furniture to the masses, so to speak, by making it much more accessible in any part of the country, not just the centers of our great metropolises.
Hi David--I went to a funky store in Soho NYC
..and talked to the people in the store about some of their original retro 1960s "finds" in their store (for example Krenit bowls and different lighting). They found these things on Ebay. Don't you think you have to be fortunate to find a reputable seller over there? People aren't always as forthright as we'd like.
Glad for you if you've done well on Ebay. I've looked for certain pottery over there and sometimes I luck out.
Sohochic (unfortunately, I can't always shop at Soho city prices..too expensive)
Aram Store London is fantasti...
Aram Store London is fantastic.Some good sale offers too.
http://www.aram.co.uk
another great site
This site is worth a visit or two (or three) www.retromodern.com
http://www.retromodern.com
mod livin
I love www.modlivin.com for their 'under $100' section. i found gifts for everyone in that section!
classic designs, and since it is an independent business, you can feel good about supporting them!
http://www.modlivin.com
dwr 🙁
The bad thing about dwr is that they put small businesses out of business! dwr has the ability to buy in cases or crates, but small independent businesses can't, so they can undercut everyone. I understand bargain hunters, but supporting local and small businesses is extremely important for the backbone of this country.
"Layaway"
I've found that most online stores of good quality and reputation will allow buyers to purchase items through several payments, usually over 30 to 90 days. It's how I've been able to afford some beautiful pieces that I couldn't pay for in one payment but could in three or four. Actually, only one on-line seller (swankarama) every said declined "layaway". I've used payment arrangements for items as inexpensive as $150 and as high as $900. The more expensive the piece, the more understanding sellers are likely to be, and the longer the payment arrangement.
new products
There seem be endless options for buying new design online. I don't see that as a particularly good thing. It's probably not a good idea to continue manufacturing all that new product in this day and age of excessive carbon emissions. It might be better to foster recycling good past examples, rather than adding to the garbage heap. But if you must participate, there is a store in SF that adresses it with the bigger picture in mind: Branch. See the link.
http://www.branchhome.com
Unica Home
Although DWR is great, the selction can begin to border on bland after a while. Their main advantage is their fairly inexpensive prices. For more adventurous stuff by Artifort, Moroso, Cappellini, etc., Unica Home has a great website.
http://www.unicahome.com
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