San Francisco Design Sources – Niche Interiors

Top Landscape Architecture Tips

Jennifer Jones — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 21:48:38 +0000

Landscape Architecture Firms are in demand right now, with the importance of private outdoor spaces becoming even more crucial during the pandemic. We tapped two of our favorite collaborators, Kate Stickley of Arterra Landscape Architects and Dustin Moore of Strata Landscape Architecture, to pick their brains on the key ingredients for a successful landscape project.

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Bay Area’s Best Vintage Furniture Shops

Jennifer Jones — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 07:00:14 +0000

As you know, we are huge fans of incorporating vintage furniture into our Bay Area interior design projects. A vintage piece adds character, personality and an indefinable quality to a room – it’s that unique, sculptural armchair or statement chandelier that oftentimes becomes the focal point of a home.

As eco-friendly designers, we also appreciate that re-using and extending the lifecycle of a furniture piece is kind to the environment. Tracking down the perfect vintage piece can be quite the challenge, but have no fear, we’ve done the legwork for you! Read on for our insider designer tips on where to score the best vintage furniture and accessories in the San Francisco Bay Area!

Almond & Company Showroom in San Francisco

Almond & Company is our first stop for high-end vintage originals and collectible furniture and lighting spanning a range of decades. Their expansive showroom in the Bayview is a treasure trove of beautiful pieces ranging from re-upholstered originals, casegoods, lighting and artwork by local artists.

Coup D’Etat Showroom in the San Francisco Design District

If you are looking for inspiration on how to expertly combine vintage with modern pieces in your home, Coup D’Etat is your place. With an ever-changing showroom full of curated vignettes, Coup D’Etat carries both vintage and new furniture and lighting designs. Their Coup Studio line offers modernized riffs on vintage designs with the ability to customize the upholstery and finishes – win, win!

Narrative Oak in Oakland’s Jack London Square

Narrative Oak is our favorite hidden gem for finding those special finishing touches such as one of a kind accessories and artwork! Their charming shop features a mix of dealers offering ceramics, glassware, artwork, and textiles mixed with vintage furniture.

Mid Century Mobler Showroom in Berkeley

You won’t find a wider selection of mid-century Danish sideboards or Scandinavian dining chairs than Mid Century Mobler in Berkeley. Our Principal Designer Jennifer’s son comes prepared during vintage sourcing trips with his tape measure in hand!

Still can’t find the perfect piece? Head over to our custom furniture page to see examples of what Niche Interiors could design for your home!

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Inside San Francisco’s Hottest New Gallery!

Jennifer Jones — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 06:00:34 +0000

Our team recently enjoyed an inspiring private tour of the newly opened Carpenters Workshop Gallery in SOMA. It's located on the mezzanine of the Saint Joseph’s Arts Society – a new arts space housed in a 1913 Romanesque Revival building which was formerly Saint Joseph’s Church. This marks their second location in the States, joining New York, Paris, and London.

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Gift Guide for Bay Area Design Lovers!

Jennifer Jones — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 05:13:58 +0000

The gift giving season is upon us! We've pulled together a few of our favorite presents for the home decor lover on your list.
Bonus: You can purchase all of these goodies from local San Francisco boutiques and makers. Happy holidays!

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Showroom Spotlight: De Sousa Hughes

Jennifer Jones — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 07:25:26 +0000

Christian Liaigre at De Sousa Hughes

Next up in our Showroom Spotlight series – an interview with Erik Hughes and Geoffrey De Sousa, the owners of the acclaimed De Sousa Hughes Showroom in the San Francisco Design Center. De Sousa is our first stop for top notch contemporary furniture and lighting – representing lines such as Christian Liaigre, Caste, Kimberly Denman and John Pomp. Read on to learn about Erik and Geoff’s inspiration and their debut collections for 2019!

Left: Geoffrey De Sousa, Right: Erik Hughes

What prompted you to open your showroom?
Geoff and I opened De Sousa Hughes in 1999, after working together for several years with the great Agnes Bourne. We had a vision for a multi-line showroom that was modern and extremely well-edited, and that honored craftsmanship. Those are still our core design values, and its more exciting than ever to collaborate with the next generation of designers and makers.

What’s coming up in 2019?
We’re celebrating our 20th anniversary next year, so it’s been a great moment to reflect on our history, and the future! One of the most inspiring and fulfilling aspects of our work is discovering and developing new talents. We’ll be debuting several artful new collections this year, including new fabrics from James Malone, new wallcoverings from Fliepaper, PAULpaper, and Clay McLaurin, and we’re beyond excited to be launching Tibor, the collections of visionary midcentury textile designer Tibor Reich.

Building Blocks wallpaper by PAULpaper

What is it about a brand or designer that excites you?
We are so inspired by innovative use of materials, quality materials and finishes, from woodworking to glassblowing to bronze casting to weaving. For example, next year we will debut the collection of Alexander Purcell Rodrigues, whose work marries traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge design in sculptural furnishings. We’re proud to be his first US showroom.

What’s the best advice anyone has ever given to you?
Trust your instincts!

Describe your showroom in three words.
Edited, modern, inspirational

Name three new furniture pieces that you are particularly excited about…
[1] We love Caste Design’s Boneau Dining Table, which is so sculptural and reflects the hand workmanship of traditional craft.

Caste Boneau Dining Table

[2] The clean lines, edited use of materials, and quality details of Troscan’s Lars Chairs make them a favorite.

Troscan Lars Armchair

[3] Link Outdoor’s Adams Tables are fresh and versatile–great for use indoors or out.

LINK Adams Tables

What do you love about the design community in San Francisco?
The friendships, openness and mutual support. Beyond their wealth of talent, designers here have such an enormous commitment to causes, and are so supportive of local craft.

You can visit the De Sousa Hughes Showroom at 2 Henry Adams Street, Suite 320.

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San Francisco Design Center Spotlight: HEWN

nicheinteriors — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 14:30:24 +0000

We’re excited to kick off our new Showroom Spotlight series – highlighting the personalities and inspiration behind some of our favorite trade showrooms in the San Francisco Design Center! First up, Jeff Holt and Peter West, the savvy, stylish and gracious owners of HEWN in the Galleria. Let’s jump right in with our Q & A!

How do you decide to carry a certain brand/designer at your showroom?

Is it fresh and exciting? Something our customers will like and/or need? Can they deliver as promised? We generally feature small, family owned and operated manufacturers. Dealing directly with the creators is very important to us.

What design trends have you seen on repeat that you’d love to leave behind?

Bamboo silk rugs do not wear well! Don’t do it. Soulless gray interiors that look like 3D renderings in photographs. Reclaimed wood used as wall covering.

What are you hoping to see more of in 2018?

Mixing styles – modern and traditional. More individuality, less Restoration Hardware and more Chairish…and great wallpapers.

Which HEWN furniture lines and products are you most excited about right now?

Ted Boerner’s Hedge Series of casegoods and his Regatta sectional. Ted’s designs are so thoughtfully considered and all the details are expressed perfectly.

Woven Rugs. They are the next big thing in rug brands – super fresh and innovative designs and a commitment to customer service. We love all their great textures especially the “Noah” rug (named for the owners young son) and their collection of limited edition artist-designed rugs, especially the Legacies rug by Gregory Siff.

Stacklab’s square cut burl table tops feature wood that is thousands of years old – they are breathtaking. It takes many weeks of pouring layers of resin in a vacuum chamber to achieve the final product.

Give us your top tip for spotting quality in a furniture piece.

If quality is the most important factor in the piece of furniture you are seeking, don’t try to find it online. You can only see the depth of the finish, the quality of the joinery or the feel of the proportion by viewing the piece in real time in a showroom or store.

What do you love about the design community in San Francisco?

It really is The Best. It is filled with wonderful and creative people of all ages and backgrounds – our clients and customers often become friends. There is a feeling that we are all in this together, it is collaborative and so creative. Just like this blog!

A huge thank you to Jeff and Peter for sharing their insights. Be sure to stop by the HEWN showroom at 101 Henry Adams, Suite 480 to see their full range of collections.

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Must-Know Bay Area Makers

nicheinteriors — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:00:06 +0000

What better way to kick off the New Year than with some inspiring new creations from local Bay Area designers! We curated a few of our favorite recent discoveries for handmade goods for the home – the perfect way to add style to your life and to support local designers. Win, win!

Earthen // Berkeley

Earthen is a local pottery studio selling handcrafted ceramic dishware inspired by natural forms, simplicity, and traditional craft. We especially love the beautiful matte blue thistle mug and the crackle oatmeal bowl shown above. You can order from their online shop or through select San Francisco boutiques such as The Podolls and The Perish Trust.

Jenny Pennywood // San Francisco

Jenny Pennywood is a home textile line focused on created small batch, locally made, everyday products. Napkins, tea towels, and pillows are screen-printed in whimsical, painterly patterns using water-based inks in her Bayview studio. Shown above: See Sun for Jenny Pennywood Napkins in Midnight/Pebble + Dashes & Moons Tea Towel in Charcoal.

West Perro // Oakland

West Perro is a collection of American Southwest-inspired hats, wall hangings, and jewelry. All pieces are handmade by artisan Jimmy Brower at his Oakland studio using cotton threads, leather cords, maple wood, and polymer clay. The simple graphic shapes and fresh color palettes of blush and black are very on trend. The Sonoran sunset wall hanging and Sabino Canyon Necklace (shown above) are two of our top picks.

Zelma Rose // Marin

Zelma rose specializes in unique jewelry pieces made from natural fibers. She weaves every piece with hand-dyed cotton and hemp fibers at her studio in West Marin. Her designs can be found in partnerships with West Elm and Anthropologie and on her website. Our favorites are the Saguaro Fringe Necklaces and the Estero Handwoven Necklace in indigo.

Melanie Abrantes Designs // Oakland

Melanie Abrantes Designs sells handcrafted goods made from natural cork and wood. She also offers woodworking kits and carving workshops at her Oakland studio. We love her geometric, Bauhaus-inspired coasters and trivets and her petite cork and wood candleholders (shown above).

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Statement Wallpapers for Every Room!

nicheinteriors — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 15:07:49 +0000

The wallpaper resurgence is stronger than ever, with more manufacturers popping up offering everything from removable wallpaper to delicate, hand-painted patterns. With so many options it can become overwhelming to decide which style is right for your home. Never fear – we included tips below on how to effortlessly incorporate wallpaper into every room!

DINING ROOM: A dark, moody wallcovering is a fantastic way to make your ivory furniture pop! We love the subtle shimmer of this Omexco wallpaper in our client’s dramatic Pacific Heights dining room. Tip – paint the baseboard to match the dark wallpaper for a seamless look!

POWDER ROOM: Bold, graphic wallpaper is perfect for tight spaces such as powder rooms or closets; it creates an unexpected surprise for you and your guests! We used Cole & Son’s Hicks Hexagon in this tiny San Francisco powder room.

BEDROOM: Grasscloth is a great way to add a texture to your bedroom, but who says it has to be neutral?? Phillip Jeffries offers plenty of saturated colors like this beautiful apricot that we installed in our client’s condo in SOMA.

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Swoonworthy San Francisco Home Decor Shops

nicheinteriors — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 18:30:38 +0000

Do you have any interior design lovers on your holiday shopping list? You’ve come to the right place! We rounded up our favorite San Francisco home decor shops where you’re guaranteed to find unique and stylish gifts for your loved ones (or yourself!) this year. Happy holidays and happy shopping!

Black & Gold // 2200 15th Street

Black & Gold is one of our favorite destinations for vintage accessories, lighting, and furniture. You’ll find a fabulous mix of mid-century and Hollywood Regency gems at this boutique nestled on a quiet street in the Castro. And don’t miss Super Simple, another great shop located downstairs!

St. Frank // 3665 Sacramento Street

St. Frank is the go-to source for global, bohemian textiles and accessories – perfect for your travel-obsessed friends. Added bonus: All products are ethically produced and your purchase supports artisans all over the world.

Heath Ceramics // 2900 18th Street

A California institution, Heath has been hand-crafting simple and beautiful ceramics since 1948. The spacious San Francisco showroom showcases a wide array of dishware, vases, and tile, all within viewing distance of the factory.

Industrious Life // 1095 Tennessee Street

Looking for unique wares created by local designers? This is your place! Head to this well-curated shop in Dogpatch to find handmade pottery, utilitarian (but beautiful) kitchen items, artwork, lighting and jewelry.

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Designer Guide: Collecting Art in San Francisco

nicheinteriors — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 15:00:36 +0000

Finding the perfect art piece to complement the interiors of our clients’ Bay Area homes is such a rewarding (and fun!) part of our job. We are extremely lucky to live in San Francisco, with a vibrant art scene full of diverse galleries, contemporary art fairs, and open studios. There are too many talented local artists and amazing galleries to list, so we’ll just skip right to our favorite sources, both for purchasing and for inspiration!

Dolby Chadwick Gallery is our first stop for large scale contemporary artwork from a range of international artists. You can see Lisa Dolby Chadwick’s refined mix of artists on display in their expansive, light-filled Union Square gallery at 210 Post Street, Suite 205.

The art consultants at Simon Breitbard Fine Arts have helped us find and commission countless pieces for our Bay Area clients over the years. They represent a variety of artists and mediums, including photography, sculpture and abstract work. Make an appointment to check out their new gallery at 843 Montgomery Street in Jackson Square to see a sampling of the artists they represent.

Founded by art collectors, the Minnesota Street Project offers affordable and economically sustainable spaces for art galleries in an effort to strengthen the contemporary arts community in San Francisco. You can visit ten permanent galleries and a number of rotating exhibits in their Dogpatch space at 1275 Minnesota Street.

The much anticipated, newly designed San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA) was well worth the three year wait! Peruse some of the most revered modern art collections in the new LEED certified building designed by architecture firm Snøhetta. The new expansion provides triple the exhibition space – which still houses favorites from the permanent collection alongside a trove of new works from the Fisher collection (such as the Chuck Close self portrait above). 151 Third Street, San Francisco.

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