There’s more than meets the eye at this Portland Danish-modern furniture reseller. Three warehouses more. We were tipped off by the kind shopkeeper at Canoe, where we were lured initially by the fantastic coffee tables (not for sale, and we don’t blame them) visible through the windows from the sidewalk.
Having learned that Look Modern was the place to go to get our own tables, thanks very much (the shopkeeper emphasized the sheer volume of great pieces), we rushed there 20 minutes before closing on Sunday.
We weren’t disappointed; overwhelmed is more like it, presented with every inch of two large warehouse rooms filled with beautiful, unique Danish pieces, many name brand (as in Peter Hvidt, Larson Juhl, Hans Wegner) and in fantastic condition. The prices were on the higher side, but frankly we’ve seen worse. One of the owners confidently informed us that if there were ever a specific piece we were looking for, he probably has it.
It should be mentioned that the showroom is only open on weekends, Friday through Sunday. It’s a little tricky to find, since it is on the second floor of the building bearing the address numbers. But just go around the back and throught the orange door — and pray you get out with your savings.
| Location: |
SE 8th & Clay
Portland
,
OR
97214
|
|---|---|
| Phone: |
503.232.5770
|
| Website: | lookmodern.com |
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Funny that you posted this today. I actually visited this place for the first time yesterday, too. The owners were super friendly. They actually had two chairs I'd tried to buy on craigslist a couple of months ago.
view brittanykate's profile
I found a chair on CL and had made arrangements with the owner to pick it up when the dealer from Look Modern bought it right out from under me by offering more than the sales price and using the line, "...but it's my DREAM chair."
Rather than keeping the "dream chair" for himself, he is selling it for $1950 vs. the $50 that was asked for on CL. I'd add that the chair and ottoman pictured above were for sale on CL at the same time for just $75 and he's now selling it for $895.
This is why I can't stand dealers. I was the first to contact the owner and, if she hadn't caved to his persuasion and $$, it would be sitting happily in my living room right now. The only people who can afford to pay MORE than the asking price on CL are those who know that they'll turn around and try to sell it for even more than that.
That's why I'd rather shop at Shag or Era or Hawthorne Vintage -- better prices and better ethics.
view liseah's profile
My god, my parents have almost that chair and ottoman! And they bought it new..
view dn's profile
I'm not quite sure how many people in Portland can afford that stuff (who are also into it). While the store is stocked with mostly quality pieces, the prices are through the roof. (I can't even imagine LA or NYC even touching those prices.) There are similar but more affordable stores in the same neighborhood, such as Lounge Lizard, House, Hawthorne Vintage and that place on Sandy & 28th that I can't seem to find a name for. I strongly suggest saving yourself a few hundred dollars and finding somewhere else to shop.
After seeing those prices, I already felt like the owner was a bit of a rip-off artist or scammer & liseah's story confirms it.
view j_pdx's profile
Wow! I wish that I would have know about Look Modern sooner. I wasted way too much time sifting through the scratch and dent crud at other Portland “modern” stores. Unfortunately, I even bought a few not so great pieces because I am such a junky for Danish modern. Now I will be unloading those pieces on Craigslist to make room for a more sophisticated, truly Danish modern setting w/ the designer pieces I got from Look Modern.
Don’t think I’m just some sucker either. I did my homework. Look Modern has incredibly competitive prices – if you’re looking for top of the line design. Usually around Portland and other cities, “modern” stores have like one or maybe two really good pieces. Not so at Look. They have an enormous inventory that includes so many different great designer pieces. I’ve never been to, or for that matter even seen on the web, a store with such a huge selection to choose from.
Also, the owners are incredibly nice and fun to talk to. They have a lot of knowledge about all the furniture and the designers who created them. I’m not kidding. Just ask them about Hans Wegner, Finn Juhl, Arne Vodder, Peter Hvidt. It’s like getting a history lesson.
If you don’t believe me, check it out for yourself. You won’t find another store out there that has this kind of selection – unless you go to Denmark! And every piece looks like it’s brand new; how do they do that? There website is even packed w/ great stuff: www.lookmodern.com Look Modern is definitely where I will be purchasing all of my furnishings from now on!
view benson's profile
Very blatant shilling by the owner/s in the above post.... not cool.
view trillium's profile