We'd been looking forward to this past weekend's floor sample sale at the San Francisco Design Center as a first peek at this resource for AT SF readers, but only a handful of showrooms were actually open for the sale.
The Center, located at the edge of Potrero Hill, is home to oodles of design resources. Aside from occasional sample sales though, its two vast buildings are only open to members of the trade, so you have to hire an interior designer or architect to get access. We'll be returning in the future to get a better sense of the resources there, but in the meantime, here's a small selection of places that caught our eye.
Well, they weren't part of the sample sale, but next time you're in the center, be sure to check out the newest tenant, Garden Court Antiques (http://www.gardencourtantiques.com/), right on the first floor. Jim, who runs the place, is a major sweetie!
the "DESIGN CENTER" is everything i hate about having a true obsession for interiors...because it means that i am sometimes exposed to the snooty, exclusivity that passes for 'to the trade only' This concept needs a total re-think (esp. in San Francisco [!?])One can only imagine the marginalized, class-ist, piss-elegance that surrounds other such 'CENTERS'in the less 'liberal' bastions of taste, culture and privilege...
I've left this place feeling that there was poo on my shoe the whole time, and no one had the courtesy to inform me. Destroy this paradigm...
Sean, I love Garden Court Antiques. And the best place in the Galleria is, IMHO, Shears and Windows. They are on the top floor with skylights so the lighting is the best of all showrooms. And besides, a dear friend of mine is the manager of the showroom. There are so many good showrooms in the design center. I wish I were on the left coast so I could go thru them right now. I miss them. (don't miss the parking situation, though!)
Does anyone know when they have their sample sales?
Starquisha's comment got me thinking...What's the benefit of selling to the trade only? Is it really that much more financially advantageous? Just curious.
So, I found out it is finacially advantageous in that there are less taxes. Very interesting. All I know is that I would regularly go to a furniture mall open to the public any day! I wish there were more of them!