Design Within Reach

Berkeley, United States

3.4

20 reviews

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Telephone:
Not provided
Website:
www.dwr.com
Address:
1770 4th St, Berkeley, CA, 94710
b/t Virginia St & Hearst Ave
Fourth Street, West Berkeley
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
740 ft6th St & Delaware St
970 ft6th St & Virginia St
0.2 miBerkeley Amtrak
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Today

Today –
Local time (Berkeley) 11:56 AM Friday, May 23, 2025

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Tuesday –
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Description

Specialties

Our Berkeley Studio is located on historic Fourth Street, which has been a local design destination for the East Bay since the ‘80s. The Studio space features exposed wood-​beam ceilings and reclaimed ship-​planking wood floors and is home to a large selection of designer furniture and accessories from DWR’s exclusive assortment.

History

Established in 1999.

Design Within Reach is the source for smart solutions. Our business started when our founder tried to furnish his apartment with the classics he’d come to appreciate while living in London. What he discovered was that acquiring these clean, simple and well-​designed products was neither clean nor simple.

There had to be a better way, so in 1999 we bought 20 containers of product, mailed out a catalog and waited for the phone to ring. (It didn’t for 24 hours, until we realized the nighttime answering machine had been accidentally left on.) The rest, as they say, is history. By giving customers access to these items, which are brilliantly conceived, simply executed and consistent with the enduring principles of modernism, we made design within reach.

Visit any of our DWR Studios and you’ll never see a «do not touch» sign. We invite you to linger, bring your dog or kids and join us for design events.

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«Traditional American & California fare»

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«Home & lifestyle»

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Flooring

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Kitchen & Bath

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«Ecological & healthy home improvement products»

Vicinity

Near this location:
20
ft
Flight 001
1774 4th St
50
ft
Emerald City Gowns
1822 4th St
60
ft
Earthsake
1772 4th St
60
ft
Peet’s Coffee & Tea
1776 4th Street
70
ft
The Pasta Shop
1786 4th St
70
ft
Jest Jewels
1791 4th St

20 reviews of Design Within Reach

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Place rating: 1
Santa Clara, CA
Extremely disappointed. We ordered a lamp via the studio over a month ago. Last week, it was delivered but damaged. While the studio representative was initially responsive, I’ve received no updates for over 3 days despite numerous follow-​ups. so now I’m stuck with an expensive broken lamp, in a state of limbo about a replacement or a refund. this is unacceptable customer service. hopefully contacting their HQ will lead to a resolution. having purchased several pieces of furniture from here before, I will never come back to this location due to this awful experience. I will also likely avoid DWR altogether in the future.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Quality items and helpful sales people.
Its not cheap, but sometimes it is worth the extra cost to have nice things.
Place rating: 3
Emeryville, CA
Went in looking for a lounge chair and desk for my office and desk for my office. The staff is helpful and courteous.
The shop itself has a nice contemporary layout.
I’m quite happy with the stools I purchased here previously but design wise, the furniture selection could use some updating especially given the DWR price points.
There is more interesting stuff out there for similar or lower price points with similar quality in build.
Place rating: 1
San Jose, CA
Just moved into a new place and needed a bunch of modern furniture. Walked around inside for 10 minutes and no one greeted me or asked if I needed help. Ended up spending over $ 5000 at CB2 next door instead.
Place rating: 5
Emeryville, CA
We just completed a very complicated special order with Vernon at DWR in Berkeley. He was patient, professional and stood beside us every step of the way. The order, to begin with, was for a unique piece with an overseas furniture manufacturer, so the specifications were crucial. Once we decided what we wanted, Vernon triple checked with us that the order was correct before submitting. However, we had two rounds of issues with the manufacturer. Vernon treated us as clients, advocating for us with DWR management. I want to also add a complement to that management, who moved to resolve the issue quickly. In the end, we have a beautiful piece of furniture that we are very happy with. Thank you, Vernon, and DWR customer service.
Place rating: 2
Waukesha, WI
I was in this past Monday in the afternoon, I was in the market for an office chair by Herman Miller and some chairs for outdoors. I walk in, 4 people at their desks no one would bother to say hello or ask me if I need anything.
I am purchasing the office chair online the outdoor chairs can wait since I am moving back east, the weather is going to change.
I don’t know where these people get off as being so high and mighty, that job doesn’t pay much, high turnover. I doubt they could afford in their salary to even afford that Eames chair they sit on. There are so many buying options nowadays I wanted to buy but I suppose me wearing cargo shorts and birkies didn’t make me worthy of their attention. Herman Miller got my cash instead. I’ll buy what I want from Cassina directly also.
The SF locale is much friendlier they even offered me a bottle of water a few weeks ago. It’s also better merchandised and put together.
Place rating: 3
La Mesa, CA
Great product very unique. However I walked the whole entire floor as 4 or 5 associates say around talking to each other without even acknowledging me. I spent a total of 6 minutes in the store without even a breath, hello, goodbye. Nothing.
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
I recently purchased a recliner from DWR. When the chair was delivered there was a very subtle issue in that in the most reclined position, a head nod or slight shift would be enough to move the back form its fully reclined position. I talked with Vernon, the salesman, about this, and he immediately contacted DWR and insisted that they send me a replacement. I actually felt bad because it was really just a minor annoyance, not that big a deal.
The replacement arrived today and it’s great. Thank you Vernon for great customer service.
Place rating: 4
Berkeley, CA
I want to thank Bill for good customer service this past week in helping to adjust a piece of furniture that I wanted to buy, but that we couldn’t get to work properly. The adjusting needed tinkering, and he succeeded. It is an elegant piece and I’m glad to have it.
Reading the reviews below, let me add…
DWR is at the moderate high end as furniture stores go, and hopefully the pieces they carry are not only classic but study, as well as reasonably green and not built by underpaid global labor. That makes them good value for people who can afford them.
People who can’t afford DWR deserve better choices than they now have. Plain but nice furniture was made in the US a few decades ago, but now is gone. Ikea’s stuff may look nice, but it is the Walmart model, relying on underpaid overseas labor, non-​sustainable resources, and economies of scale whose cheapness threatens local and even national furniture outlets.
Place rating: 4
Saint Paul, MN
Whether the price point of this store is within reach or not is perhaps debatable. However, the products offered for sale are without a doubt interesting, unique and of quality. I think it is fantastic that quality modern furniture and accessories are available for purchase and inspection here. Try going to a typical furniture store and all you will see are faux colonial vs. chrome 1980s garbage. I must also compliment the staff. Our group was clearly «just browsing» however we were pleasantly greeted and all of our questions answered.
Place rating: 1
Oakland, CA
DWR=Dogsh!t Within Reach.
Bought a couch for $ 8K – had to return it didn’t keep its shape (and we aren’t fat asses). Worse, the cushions wouldn’t stay in position, making the couch, and our living room, look very sloppy.
To go with the couch, we bought:
–A lamp for $ 3K. Had to return it since it didn’t fit the room. Sales person should have asked for measurements.
–A rug for $ 800. Very poor quality – doesn’t hold its shape creates fur balls that make Bill the Cat freak out. Would have returned it but our dog pooped on it (perhaps doggie’s opinion?).
In fairness, we did buy blankets and a side table that were decent. But for big ticket items, I’d never trust the quality of the products. Never.
Overall, I get the impression Dogsh! t Within Reach is more about marketing than providing quality. I will say that the return process was easy. But I caution anyone from doing any serious designs with products that are not built to last. We took our return money and went to Roche and that was a smart investment.
Place rating: 5
Davis, CA
Yay!!!
I have just received shipment — ahead of estimated schedule — on a purchase that began with a most positive browsing experience at DWR in Berkeley!
If there’s one thing that drives me out of a retail store, it’s a salesperson who doesn’t take the time to listen to what I want. Liz Landrum was so friendly, UNpushy, helpful, knowledgeable and seemed to be in no rush to push me to a decision. Her telephone and email followup were the best!
I purchased patio furniture which, although made in China, seems very sturdy and built to last. The small bit of assembly was a piece of cake, with no missing parts, and the one tool required was included.
This puzzles me – how can you give a bad review to a business that carries higher-​end furniture for the reason that the products are expensive? You are not required to shop here, right? I am willing to spend more to get high quality and great design, which is why my old patio furniture, purchased 31 years ago, is still alive and well. Much less expensive and more environmentally friendly in the long run than replacing it every 4 or 5 years.
I’ll return to Fourth Street’s DWR even if I’m not looking for something to buy. It’s a refreshing place to visit, and the people are warm and friendly.
Place rating: 1
San Francisco, CA
Came in here while the bf and I were walking by because we were on a mission to buy new furniture. It looked cool enough from outside to lure us in. Hmm… no hellos or acknowledgement. Bad customer service will always trump a business, no matter how good the product-​which btw, their stuff was way too expensive for what it was.
Place rating: 5
Emeryville, CA
I have been sitting on my new desk chair for two weeks now and I l-​o-​v-​e it. As all of us that sit at a computer desk know, a high-​quality desk chair is essential. I searched high and low for the right solution for me. Design Within Reach had the perfect solution (and lots of other options too). Their customer service was top notch too. I was notified a couple days before my chair arrived so I could be sure to be home when it arrived. My only complaint… My new desk chair puts my other office furniture to shame. ;-)
Place rating: 3
Berkeley, CA
Ok — this should be a fair review. The follow up by DWR was impressive to remedy the shipping situation. So thank you DWR for that. The products are here and hopefully loved for a long time.
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
Yes, it is pricey. But I do believe you pay for great quality and craftsmanship. Also, I have been in the shop many times and everyone has always been so warm and helpful, not at all pushy or snobby. (Hard to come by in the retail world!)
They even put up with my wild toddlers, graciously offering toys and water. Lisa has spent legitimate time helping me to pick out a single chair and gave me just as much love and attention as if I was a big spender furnishing an entire home. She even contacted me via email to help with design ideas and layout. Totally above and beyond what I would have expected. Nicely done DWR Berkeley!
Place rating: 2
Oakland, CA
OK, they do have a lot of nice stuff-​although mostly over priced. That is why I give them two stars-​for the stuff only! Next time I need some pricey stuff I will definitely find another place to buy it. I have purchased two very nice items from them. Both times they were out of stock and had to be ordered. I get the impression that they are just the modern version of the catalogue store my Folks used to shop at back in the day.
Both times, I place my order and the delivery day comes and goes but nobody calls to tell me about the problem-​unlike the hand holding «keep you informed» promise I was given when I placed the orders. I could write the final chapter of Moby Dick here with all of the drama it would deserve but instead I will give you the Cliffs Notes version. Delivery promised and promise broken with absolutely zero follow-​up. The latest episode saw two delivery dates come and go with zero, nada, no follow-​up. You will have to call and hound them to get any type of delivery estimates. The final straw was the broken promise to refund the shipping charges to compensate for the aggravation, no follow-​up and waiting an extra two months for delivery. They broke that promise too!!! I will not bother to call and ask why.
Place rating: 4
El Cerrito, CA
Alan and I had lunch at Café M today and after lunch I walked over to Sur la Table to look for a kitchen gadget to replace the one I have that’s grown old. They didn’t have it, so while I was in the neighborhood I walked over to the Crate &Barrel outlet across the street to look for a decorative acrylic glass for the bathroom. I didn’t like the one they had, so went across the street to CB2 at the recommendation of the saleswoman. They had nothing, so I decided to try Design Within Reach, since I was right there.
I walked in and looked around. I had never been in before, so I was unfamiliar w/​the store. They have a lot of Mid Century Modern-​like stuff, including Eames chairs, but I saw nothing resembling what I was looking for. I was greeted by a lovely young woman who had been helping another customer. She asked if I’d like a bottle of water, giving one to me and to the other woman. I told her what I was looking for and she said they didn’t have that. She suggested checking Earthsake next door, then walked me over to look. It was completely wonderful service. Earthsake smelled and looked lovely, but they didn’t have the kind of glasses I wanted, so we left and she returned to her store while I continued on my journey.
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
This is one of the prettiest DWR stores around. Spacious, well designed (of course) showroom with great high ceilings and industrial character, which is warmed up nicely with color.
The staff is approachable and knowledgeable. We needed some stools for our shop recently and Lisa Russell helped narrow our search, and include some options we had missed at first pass. She was right. Her advice was spot on, and she also placed our order and kept us up to date as to it’s progress. I wish buying furniture was always this much fun!
Place rating: 3
Sacramento, CA
Love how they shortened the name of this store. It used to be: Design Within Reach If You Have Mucho Dollars And Are Into Modern Furniture.
So if Saarinen, Eames and the like are your scene, then you’ll like it here. Just make sure that you take the plastic with you.
I have been lusting over the Philippe Starck Louis IV Ghost Chair
which my husband found hideous. It retails for $ 410, so NOT within reach for me.