dwr 101
Mar 7 
all the buzz may be about the new nordstrom opening up at ala moana this weekend, however for those of us whose hearts beat for modern design, the big news is that design within reach (aka dwr) is also making its island debut in the nordy's wing today.
since dwr deals more in the mid-century classics of eames and saarinen mixed with fresh designs from around the world (i.e. pieces not typically found in the islands), and as one who is guilty of owning more than her fair share of goods scored from dwr, i feel compelled to clue you in on all i have learned over the years. a primer for the uninitiated, if you will.
first off, the ala moana dwr is a showroom so do not expect to walk out with anything you buy. not a luau lamp, not a chilewich mat. nada. let's just call the studio eye candy and leave it at that. square footage wise, the honolulu location comes in at a cozy 2000 sq ft which means you will find an edited selection of design objects from the catalog & website available for your viewing pleasure.
upholstery swatches, however, are yours for the taking so stop by the studio for instant gratification (phone requests take forever to arrive by mail). and, if you have your heart set on peeking at a specific piece, call first to confirm it is in the showroom to save yourself both the disappointment when it's nowhere to be found and the trip to town.
next, do not be intimidated by the wall of chairs. i tend to shy away from messing up store displays, but my fella, who has never met a modern chair he didn't like (or at least, unlike me, he doesn't automatically dismiss a chair for being too big, too small, too colorful, not colorful enough, or just not right, lol), has no trouble pulling down chair after chair insisting i sit on every. single. one. warning enough to never accompany us on a design scouting trip.
finally, for the price conscious, just know that dwr is often cheekily referred to as design out of reach so set aside notions of ikea-like prices before you go. that being said, it can be pricey so keep an eye out for the two paths to savings - the semi-annual sale (10% off and currently going on until mar 18th) or the occasional free shipping deal (although it remains to be seen if that will be offered to hawaii). sweeter deals are saved for those who exhibit a willingness to go on a continuous dwr spending spree.
even better bargains can be found in the sale section. case in point: my fella and i were on the lookout for extra seating that wouldn't overwhelm our little living space and eventually scored three cubes that we could both agree on for the price of one. lesson: be vigilant and your bank account will thank you. oh, and occasionally floor samples are posted on craigslist.
the official grand opening takes place next month so stay tuned for more details.
happy shopping!
[mahalo to kimberly at dwr for sending along these sneak peeks!]
Reader Comments (5)
Hey Leigh- Can't wait to see ya in the new store! Aloha, Tara.
i was a little disappointed. i thought they would at least have a lamp you could purchase.
lovely showroom though.
i will definitely pop into dwr on my next trip home, tara!
ditto, betty. patience is required, however it's still fun to wander through the studio and see the latest designs.
just wanted to say thanks for this post. it is so informative and well written. i wish we had one here on maui! even though they don't stock items, seeing and feeling swatches is important and rare in the middle of the pacific.
well, after many years navigating through the dwr experience, it seemed only right to share all i have learned with hawaii design junkies.
on the upside, john, at least dwr is now only an island hop away!