Design Within Reach
Before 1998, mid-century modern design was not well-known or well-regarded within the general public. Those who were in the know depended on interior designers’ specification perks, vintage stores, or inheritances to get their hands on an Eames lounge chair or a Noguchi lamp. Design Within Reach (DWR) brought these and other icons of design back into the limelight, and over the years has been a leading force in mid-century modern’s global renaissance (the brand is now owned by MillerKnoll).
Product(s) in use
Info
Type
Retail
Client
Design Within Reach
Location
Multiple
Designer
DFA Studio
DWR’s brick-and-mortar studios are intended to exemplify the exacting standards and ineffable aesthetic qualities that define mid-century modern design. Since 2011, DWR has worked with architecture studio DFA on several studios across the country. DFA turned to B+N Industries early on in this partnership, asking for a custom display to showcase carpet samples. B+N designed a solution — a ladder-like shelving system with downward tilting trays for the samples — that saved space, flaunted the product, and fit into the studio’s overall look. DFA then specified B+N’s modular System 1224 to replace the custom millwork used in Lighting Gallery. Switching to System 1224 reduced tens of thousands of dollars in cost and eliminated hours of complicated installation time.
The foundation of B+N Industries’ design solutions — both its systems and its custom work — is modularity, an approach that ensures consistent aesthetics, scalability, production, and ease of installation. We believe in the discipline of systems to deliver innovative design solutions that save our clients’ time and money. Our brand shares that appreciation for modularity with the greats of mid-century modern design, which led DFA to commission B+N to design-develop custom, modular displays and millwork. These included DWR’s free-standing chair displays and its fabric swatch walls, two now-ubiquitous features of all DWR stores. We pride ourselves on several success stories like these, wherein one of our systems opens up and establishes a long-term relationship with a client, educates them of our values, and creates opportunities to create new, bespoke products.
