Décor at the Core - Page 6

Top-10 modern décor sources

Mid-century homeowners know good design when they see it. They spend a lot of time searching for just the right furnishings, art, and decorative accents. There’s no need to scour every web site, shop, and flea market in the state. We’ve come up with a short list for great modern design right here in our own backyard.

1. Branch
branchhome.com
If you care as much about where something comes from as you care about what it looks like, then Branch is the online store for you. Everything they sell, from bedding and furniture to lighting and tabletop items, has a playful, modern vibe and is also sustainable in one way or another. 

2. Echo Furniture
3769 24th St. - San Francisco
415-643-3845
Minimalist, chic, and elegant, here you’ll find the hippest modern furniture at reasonable prices. They boast an extensive fabric selection, and if you don’t see what you need, their seasoned designers will seek out the perfect fabric for you. They also do custom work for clients who cannot find exactly what they need, often in as little as four to six weeks.

3. Gingko Furnishings
2496 West El Camino Real - Mountain View
650-396-7455
gingkofurniture.com
For those of you that appreciate a bit of an Asian flair, Gingko offers contemporary Asian home furnishings without the heavy embellishments found in traditional Asian furniture. The store will customize the pieces without a huge added expense so that you can get well-made furniture that is just right for your home.

4. HD Buttercup
290 Townsend St. - San Francisco
415-820-4788
hdbuttercup.com
HD Buttercup says that shopping for that one-of-a kind piece should be a special experience. The shop, with locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, has furnishings for every style and budget, and perusing the shops are like taking a very special field trip. We particularly like their Mad Men-inspired collection.

5. Ohio Design
630 Treat Ave. - San Francisco
415-647-6446
ohiodesign.com
Handcrafted furniture in a pared down and streamlined aesthetic is what you’ll find at Ohio Design. They offer furnishings in classic mid-century proportions that have a fresh new twist in either finish or material.

6. Urban Mercantile
85 Carl St. - San Francisco
415-643-MERC
Sumptuous linens, bright ceramics, and unusual accents. Urban Mercantile focuses on the softer, more livable side of contemporary design. For those of you outfitting your home from scratch, or for those who need an update, look to Urban for a well-edited collection of everyday essentials for your home. Extra bonus: your neighbor probably won’t already have them. 

7. Typhoon Kitchenware
3749 Redwood Hwy. - San Rafael
415-884-9060
Spend a lot of time whipping up Julia Child-worthy dinners? Then make Typhoon Kitchenware a destination on your next shopping excursion. The UK-based design firm focuses on colorful cooking tools that will double as design-savvy accents on your counter and shelves. These kitchen gadgets are like pop art for the home cook.

8. Form Vintage Modern
5330 College Ave. - Oakland
510-420-1950
This family-run store is in its sixth year of business, and the proprietors have mastered mixing new with vintage modern. Both the new and the vintage pieces are chosen for their classic and timeless design. Here you’ll find collections by Alessi, Bombast, Cherner, Flos, Modernica, Tonelli, and Vitra.

9. Retro@Home
3811 San Pablo Ave. - Emeryville
510-435-4710
This shop specializes in vintage Scandinavian design and has a large selection of mid-20th century furnishings, textiles, and decorative arts from designers such as Eames, McCobb, Panton, Saarinen, Lazlo, and Nelson. Try their for a free consultation on what fabrics and seating sizes will work best in your space.

10. Meteor Lights
3505 17th St. - San Francisco
415-255-6700
meteorlights.com
Meteor Lights designs and fabricates mid-century modern styles and also restores authentic MCM light fixtures. Highly regarded by dealers of authentic modern lighting.