In an article this past May, the Wall Street Journal profiled Restoration Hardware CEO Gary Friedman and his strategy for rebranding and expanding Resto stores, and now several of those stores are opening. This Saturday, Friedman and Town & Country editor-in-chief Jay Fielden celebrated the opening of Restoration Hardware – The Gallery at East Hampton, with a celebrity guest list that included Nate Berkus, Steven Gambrel, Victoria Hagan, and others. More news and links below.
DESIGN NEWS OF THE DAY
• Restoration Hardware Celebrates Grand Opening in East Hampton | The Editor at Large
• Peter Zumthor: In Pursuit of Perfection | The Guardian
• John Thackara on Good and Bad Faucet Taps | Design Observer
• America's Dirtiest Cities | Travel and Leisure
Photo: Restoration Hardware's New Gallery in the SF Design District
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The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
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Hunslet Dinner Plate
A Beginner's Guide to Superb Stir-Fry: Quick, Healthy Meals from a Wok
Easy Pitcher Cocktail Recipe: Strawberry Basil Margaritas
Comments (8)
I usually don't post comments, but I would like to note that my consumer experience with Restoration Hardware has been quite poor. Restoration Hardware is refusing to honor my purchase of furniture via its website from four months ago. I have sent several letters to voice my concern, but with no response from the company. Be warned when you decide to purchase from this company that the customer service is atrocious.
I've heard about their poor customer services including not getting items on time, lack of customer services, etc but luckly, my order went smoothly when I ordered a bed on sale about 4 months ago. I think it was one of the best purchases I've made...they called to schedule a delivery within a few days and was very happy with their whole service and product.
Thanks, HouseOnClintonAve. Unfortunately, I am still waiting for that call.
dakota, This happened to me as well. I used to be the biggest RH fan and shopped there almost weekly. I purchased items in store and online and in the outlet. I ordered a bed online and have been sleeping in it happily for at least 8 years. BUT I decided to order diningroom chairs online a year(?) or so ago maybe longer. I ordered them and then they simply never arrived. My order was pending online, when I called they said my order was cancelled and the product was unavailable but they still had the item online for months afterward (I checked). And my account still had the items as pending. I was concerned about RH chargeing my accout at some future time, I had to make them go in to wipe out the order which for some reason was practically impossible for them to do. I was so PO'ed i can't even tell you. That was the last time I dealt with RH.
While I find the new look of RH compelling I frankly don't see it as a winning proposition. The investment had to have been huge and retail at this point is sluggish. Kudos to them for not going into hunker down mode like the most have but I'm frankly a little bit worried for their future.
Labchick, that is the same experience I am having...I have a distinct feeling we are not alone in our dissatisfaction.
labchick, wow...over a year? what the...are they making the set from scratch, one carving at a time???
Another institution rebranded for the rich. Next time I'm in East Hampton (sarcasm), I'll stop by.