The flamboyantly yellow, 85-foot, Herbert Bayer “Articulated Wall” sculpture is one of Denver’s iconic landmarks. It boldly announces the location of the Denver Design District, an impressive resource where consumers and designers can collaborate to view and select furnishings and accessories to create interior living and office spaces.
The design center covers 250,000 square feet, offering American-made and international products and materials from 1,400 manufacturers artfully arranged in 34 showrooms to provide anything-you’re-looking-for design project options.
Open access
The DDD’s trade-friendly retail messaging is an invitation to consumers, interior designers, architects and building professionals to explore its curated showrooms. With 300 professionals on hand, consumers can easily find design experts to work with and are also able to buy direct in some cases.
“Building awareness of our products, promoting good design and warmer spaces; that is the goal. We represent a product that is an important part of our lives,” says Antonio Romero, sales manager at Porcelanosa Denver. “We should be an important destination in our city, a place to be inspired and learn the latest trends or understand different materials and styles.”
Margarita Bravo, founder and creative chief officer of her eponymous company, agrees that the Denver Design District provides exceptional value to the region. “As a boutique interior design studio, we feel so lucky to have the DDD as a partner and a resource. All of the showrooms offer unique and high-quality products and helpful and knowledgeable staff to support us every step of the way.”
In addition to the size and the number of manufacturers represent- ed, what surprises people most about the DDD is that it is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A “designer on duty” is available until 4 p.m. each day to facilitate immediate purchases, provide complimentary consultations and discuss the Designer Portfolio Program, which details the styles and areas of expertise of specific designers to help determine compatibility and make successful referrals.
Consumers and designers can also shop online by registering at denverdesign.com for 24/7 access to pricing, products tearsheets, quotes and more. The website is also a good way to take a virtual shopping trip and become familiar with the layout of the District, the names of the showrooms and view product lines available from the myriad manufacturers prior to arriving at the DDD. Browsing through photos of everything from artwork to lighting to indoor and outdoor furnishings, tile, cabinetry, antiques and the latest materials for wall treatments, flooring, window coverings and more is an excellent and comfortable way to play with new ideas, preview various pieces and styles not previously considered and help identify likes and dislikes.
Tastes, trends, expectations
Colorado is an eclectic market when it comes to interior design, displaying decorating preferences that cross lines by creative blending rather than focusing on one distinct style. Comfort is key. While interior design aesthetics arrive and then fade—some quicker than others— natural, sustainable and artisan-inspired accents are well-liked locally. Purchasing furniture and designing living spaces is really all about personal taste.
While some showrooms are wholesale only, others sell direct. Retail customers are free to browse the district. With top brands represent- ed, visitors will find the DDD convenient, easily accessible and energized by an urban vibe with an emphasis on friendly and knowledgeable customer service.
As Susan Konecny, the founder of Acacia Designs says, “Acacia Designs enjoys the one-stop shopping experience offered at the Denver Design District. With 34 showrooms featuring vast collections of furnishings, fabrics and more, this allows us to bring reputable, stand-behind product and service to our clients.”
THE DETAILS
Denver Design District
Some ways that consumers can get the most from a visit to the DDD is to organize their thoughts:
• Define the vision and scope (large or small) of the project.
• Describe lifestyle and intended use of a space or specific pieces for a space.
• Bring magazine photos that communicate preferred styles and attractive ideas.
• Clarify budget and priorities.
• Ask about using a designer and how the designer charges for his/her services.
• Talk with designers and review their portfolios to determine comfort level and a good fit.
• Get references for designers under consideration.
Denver Design Center and The Collection at Broadway Park
595 S. Broadway
Denver, CO 80209
303-733-2455
denverdesign.com
Marge D. Hansen is a Broomfield-based writer/editor who has built ten of the eleven homes she and her family have lived in. The guidance of interior designers and architects has been a mainstay in her life.
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