Design Within Reach

Design Within Reach (DWR), the Connecticut-based modern furniture retailer, is set to open a new store in downtown Birmingham at 214 W. Maple Road—the former home of Anthropologie. The company was founded in 1998 by Rob Forbes. At the time, iconic pieces by designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, Le Corbusier, and Eero Saarinen were largely inaccessible to the average consumer and had extremely long wait times for delivery. Forbes sought to change that by offering these classics directly to the public. One of the first companies to recognize DWR’s vision was Michigan-based Herman Miller. Within its first year, DWR was selling Herman Miller’s iconic pieces like the Eames Lounge Chair and the Aeron Chair directly to retail customers nationwide via catalog. The relationship came full circle in 2015, when Design Within Reach officially became part of the Herman Miller family.The company provides complimentary design services, including room planning, personalized furniture and fabric recommendations, and 3D renderings to help customers visualize their space—all at no cost. Design Within Reach has over 70 locations nationwide, including standalone stores, Herman Miller stores, and DWR Outlets. An opening date for the new Birmingham store has not yet been announced.

Business Matters for the Birmingham - Bloomfield area are reported by Gigi Nichols. Send items for consideration to GigiNichols@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.