On location with architect Michael P. Johnson.

Architect: Michael P. Johnson. The Bradley residence, Scottsdale, AZ.
Photo: Bill Timmerman, Timmerman Photography, Inc.

“One percent of buildings are architecture,” says Michael P. Johnson. “The rest are just stuff.” Standing six foot four with a mop of white hair and a lot to say, Johnson has a rugged elegance that’s a lot like the juxtaposition between his sleek streamlined buildings and the rough terrain of the Arizona landscape. He drives a red pickup, drinks his coffee black and likes his scotch on the rocks. He’s married to the documentary filmmaker Suzanne Johnson, and the two of them live in a house that Michael designed in Cave Creek, Arizona. Inspired by Suzanne’s dream of living in a loft in New York City, Johnson gave his wife “a loft in the desert.”

Architect: Michael P. Johnson. The Johnson residence, Cave Creek, AZ.
Photo: Richard Mack

The Johnson house is set in a remote area north of Cave Creek, keenly attuned to the changing light throughout the day and subtle shifts of the seasons. It has luscious views of mountains, cacti and sky, and one of the few houses that can be seen is the Ellsworth house, which Johnson also designed (talk about taking control of your view).

Architect: Michael P. Johnson. The Ellsworth residence, Cave Creek, AZ.
Photo: Bill Timmerman, Timmerman Photography, Inc.

The Ellsworth was one of the houses where we photographed the DWR March catalog, and we chose the space for its bold simplicity, balanced proportions and sleek industrial surfaces. In other words, we knew our furniture would look fantastic in a house designed by Johnson.

Moby sings the praises (and not) of L.A. architecture.

The musician, DJ and photographer known as Moby (aka Richard Melville Hall) has more in common with DWR than he knows. His first studio, circa 1987, was in an old factory in Stamford, Connecticut, located next door to where our corporate offices and Stamford Studio are now. He's also a huge fan of architecture, and his latest video is about the "mind numbingly complicated" built landscape of Los Angeles.

 

Mad about Midcentury Modern.

In honor of the Knoll Classics Sale at DWR, we're sharing some of our favorite Knoll Blog posts from the archives.

Originally posted April 2, 2012: The return of Mad Men has us buzzing about midcentury modern decor even more than usual. The AMC series pays incredible attention to recreating 1960s details and the sets don't dissappoint. We've rounded up three of our favorite Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce looks for your Don Draper-worthy home or office.

Photo Credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC

Knoll® Classics Sale begins today.

It’s the Knoll Classics Sale at DWR! For one week only, save 15% and enjoy Free Standard Shipping on iconic works by Saarinen, Mies, Breuer and other modern masters. Orders over $5,000 will also receive a free upgrade to White Glove delivery. These are authentic classics produced by Knoll, most of which are in stock and ready to ship.

 

 

Why Wellesley women live at the library.

The brilliant students at Wellesley College probably don’t need a reason to go to the library, but if they do, I suggest they spend time in the room filled with Womb Chairs. Eero Saarinen designed this chair in 1948, after Florence Knoll challenged him to create a chair that she could curl up in. Florence didn’t go to Wellesley College, but the result of her challenge to Saarinen should earn her an honorary degree.

FYI: The Womb Chair is included in the Knoll Classics Sale beginning February 25.

Stunning Schultz - now at DWR.

Even this model can’t keep her eyes off the beautiful 1966 Collection Chaise in our most recent ad in T Magazine. Richard Schultz designed this stunning collection for Knoll in – you guessed it – 1966.

Nordic Cool begins today.

Today is the first day of the month-long Nordic culture festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The festivities include panel discussions on architecture, exhibitions by 30 innovative and acclaimed Nordic designers and, of course, Legos. Building block trivia: Lego was founded in Billund, a small town in Denmark, by carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen in the 1930’s. Today they are the world's third largest manufacturer of play materials.

Oslo Opera House, designed by Snøhetta. Craig Dykers, a senior partner at the firm, will be a panelist at the Feb. 24 forum.

A few highlights from the calendar:

Forum: Master Builder/Master Builders Performing Architecture
Forum: Living by Design: A Holistic Approach to Everything
Lego Exhibition and Play Space: open daily in the Nations Gallery
Exhibition: Nordic Design Illustrated in the North Atrium Foyer

Making weekend plans? Go to the DWR Outlet Sale!

Here's another sneak peek of what you'll find at this weekend's DWR Outlet Sale. These photos were taken today at the DWR Outlet in Secaucus, New Jersey.

This Saturday through Monday, save an extra 20% on already drastically reduced prices on over-stocked, returned and scratch-and-dent furniture. Prices are up to 75% off original retail.

The DWR Outlet Sale also includes Herman Miller furniture from Art Basel Miami. As the show's furniture sponsor, Herman Miller furnished lounges and VIP areas for people looking to take a break from the show.

You can also shop our Online Outlet at dwr.com/ebay.

 

Type away, my valentine.

We’re celebrating a different kind of Valentine – the Olivetti Valentine Typewriter designed by Perry King and Ettore Sottsass.

Feel the love ... in 3–D.

We’re feeling the love today … in 3-D.

We used the DWR Room Planner to create this rendering of a studio loft with a space for dining (and after dining). Featured Pieces: Saarinen Round Dining Table, Panton Chair, Min Bed, Pelican Chair, Nelson Sunburst Clock, Lampe Gras Task Lamp and Random Pendants.

For more design advice, give us a call – 1.800.944.2233.

Love, Chairs.

This Valentine's Day, we're celebrating our love for chairs. No matter what your relationship status is, an iconic chair is always there to greet you after a long day. And you don't have to buy it dinner (but if you do, we know that most chairs like stuffing).

Welcome to NYFW, weary fashionistas.

Who needs the front row when you’ve got the best seat in the house? DWR is the official furniture provider for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. We’ve seen you at the tents and hope you’ve had a chance to relax fashionably in our official lounge.

Huge savings at DWR Outlet, Feb 16–18.

Here's a sneak peek of what you'll find at this weekend's DWR Outlet Sale. These photos were taken today at the DWR Outlet in Secaucus, New Jersey.

This Saturday through Monday, save an extra 20% on already drastically reduced prices on over-stocked, returned and scratch-and-dent furniture. Prices are up to 75% off original retail.

Looking for a belated Valentine's Day gift? Express your love (of modern design) with a red sofa or chair.

Verner’s Pantower Power

I’ve always been a little obsessed with Verner Panton’s Living Tower (nicknamed “Pantower,” above), and today, what would have been his 86th birthday, seems like a great time to take a look at it. Panton’s work brings a bit of play to the midcentury modern milieu and this “living wall” epitomizes that. Hip and versatile, it evokes swinging ’60s parties where beautiful people lounge languidly, while stacked vertically, sipping classic cocktails. (Either that or a cat tree.) According to the Vitra Design Museum, Panton was envisioning a “new form of communal living.” Introduced in 1969, it was made by Herman Miller briefly before Fritz Hansen took over production in 1970. Difficult and unwieldy to create, though, only a handful were made and the Danish master’s Pantower was out of production by 1975. Learn more about Panton – and see more of his bright and brilliant work – here.

A letter from our president.

Dear Readers,

At Design Within Reach we make authentic modern design accessible. Sometimes I feel as if we have not explained what that actually means. Authentic means it is the real thing. We don’t do “inspired by” or “just as good as” or “in the spirit of.” If it’s a Milo Baughman piece, you can be assured that he designed it and that the company that has the rights to produce his work is making it. The same goes for pieces by Saarinen, Eames, Mies, Bernett and the rest of our designers. If you buy it from DWR, you know it’s the real thing. We value our designers, and it’s our job to protect the future of these modern pieces.

Mr. Jacobsen’s big 111th.

“The key thing is seeing everything grow, setting out with a small sketch and seeing the whole and details spring to life,” said Arne Jacobsen. “It is the act of creation itself, and it is equally exhilarating whether one is working on a teaspoon or a national bank.” The midcentury Danish master sprang to life himself 111 years ago today and we salute him. From the Ant Chair to the Swan, Egg and SAS Royal Copenhagen Hotel itself (as well as the hotel’s coordinating teaspoon, pictured above), Jacobsen’s contribution to the modernist milieu is unparalleled. Learn more about him here.

Get "Stollerized" at the Yossi Milo Gallery in NYC.

Chamberlain Cottage by Marcel Breuer and Walter Gropius, Wayland, MA | Gelatin Silver Print by Ezra Stoller (1942)

The stunning work of photographer Ezra Stoller is on display at Yossi Milo Gallery through March 2, 2013. Michael Kimmelman reviews the show and discusses Stoller's work in today's New York Times.

General Motors Technical Center, Eero Saarinen, Warren, MI | Gelatin Silver Print by Ezra Stoller (1950)

A very grand Grand Opening.

We send a very warm "thank you" to all the folks who joined us for the Grand Opening of our new Costa Mesa Studio in California. Many familiar faces were in the crowd, including designers Sean Yoo, Christopher Farr, Jeffrey Bernett and Nicholas Dodziuk. Eames Demetrios joined us from the Eames Foundation and architects Sayigh+Duman, who designed the space, were also there to soak in the praise for their beautiful work.

DWR CEO John Edelman with Eames Demetrios, grandson of Charles and Ray Eames and Chairman of the Eames Foundation.

The dream team: DWR Area Managers.

Keep reading to see additional photos >

A Grand (Central) Centennial.

 
Flickr

Happy anniversary to Grand Central Terminal, New York’s favorite Beaux-Arts style building.

Today marks the centennial of the historic New York landmark. We’re particularly excited because many of us use it to get to and from the office. In fact, of the 750,000 or so travelers who pass through Grand Central every day, many are DWR employees. We like to think of it as an old friend you can always depend on – or are sometimes stuck with for a while. Nevertheless, we’re truly happy to celebrate it.

Check out the Gothamist for a breakdown of Grand Central restaurants and shops that are rolling back to 1913 prices on food and more throughout the day.

Five Fun Facts

1. Grand Central is the largest train station in the world by number of tracks and of platforms.