Propeller scores big as one of SF's definitive sources for hip, well-made contemporary furniture and art from small, emerging designers.
The philosophy behind Propeller is that both the furniture and the price points should be "accessible, not esoteric."
Accordingly, the Hayes Valley retail space is just messy enough that it feels like someone is actually living there. Owner Lorn and his staff have packed a large and ever-changing collection of furniture, rugs, and objets d'art into fairly modest square footage, and the resulting density creates a level of approachability that's by design.
Lorn features unique items from emerging designers, folks who are small enough that their name ("and probably their hand as well") is on the piece. If you follow design in the blogosphere, chances are you will actually see the design
objet du jour (such as the
X-Pand Table) in the flesh on a visit to
Propeller.
Propeller shies away from big brands and from goods manufactured offshore. Most of what they sell is built in North America, and has a handmade feel to it. Prices reflect the higher cost of limited production and domestic manufacturing: upholstered pieces are between $2,500 and $3,500; shelving and storage from $500, dining tables from $1,700 up to $4,000, chairs from $280, and art between $600 and $800.
Among the local designers featured at
Propeller are
William Earle,
Derek Chen,
Evan Anderson and
Mebel.
Propeller is also importing the Brooklyn indie design scene via products from NY studios like
Scrapile and
Matt Gagnon.
Indie designers (as opposed to large manufacturers) offer good value because, as Lorn says, they really have to be"invested in your happiness" in order to succeed.
This porky triumverate was cast from actual fetal pigs by artist Harry Allen, best known for the design of NY's gallery-like
Moss design store.
Propeller's
website brings much of what the store has to offer to the web.
(Edited from a 06.30.06 post)
I'm loving their clean-lined sofas. If I could design the perfect sofa for me, it would look like that wide-armed orange sofa on the top, but in a different color (and it appears on their site as though there are plenty of fabric options).
Has anybody on here had experience with a sofa from Propeller? I have a nice sofa by Mitchell Gold, it just isn't quite the size that I want. However, I get disappointed when it gets 'slunchy' looking. I have a bit of obsessive compulsive disorder and I always like my furniture to look crisp even though we lounge on it and throw our legs over the sofa arms, rest our heads on the arms, etc. I am always trying to smooth out lumps and wrinkles. Is it impossible to keep a sofa, especially the backs and cushions, looking nice and crisp if you actually use the sofa as sofas were meant to be used? Are there some sofas or styles that just look new longer?
The sofas at Propeller are by Niels Bendtsen of Canada - same as the Neo sofa at DWR, but Propeller carries more styles and fabric options. The Orange sofa at the top is a Neo sofa as well, but in a color that DWR doesnt' offer.
Propeller also carries Bendtsen casegoods, etc. - far more options than DWR.
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