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Inside
Categories: Shopping Home & Garden Furniture Stores Arts & Entertainment Art Galleries Shopping Art Galleries Shopping Home & Garden Home Decor Furniture Stores, Art Galleries, Home Decor [Edit]
149 Gough St(between Lily St & Oak St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
(415) 861-5975
- Hours:
Wed-Sat 11 am - 7 pm
Sun 12 pm - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Inside
Review Highlights
"...top off the great selection, Emmett and Deanna are AMAZING."
(in 9 reviews)
"Sure, they carry great mid-century modern reproductions."
(in 4 reviews)
"I bought some really beautiful Modernica chairs here the..."
(in 6 reviews)
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28 reviews in English
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Review from Sandra K.
San Francisco, CA
9/18/2011
Looking for beautiful and well made mid-century reproductions and new modern designs? Inside is the place. This lovely store carries a thoughtful selection of well made furniture, lighting and artwork. Many pieces by local designers and manufacturers. The owners, Emmet and Deanna, are well informed on both the history, and the production of what they offer.
I've been doing business with Inside for years, and Deanna is my go to person for interior design. Her resources and contacts in the trade are seemingly endless. Her ability to select the perfect fabric from a sea of options is mind boggling. From ceiling to floor, she can pull together a room beautifully.
Orders have always arrived within the time frame estimated at purchase. Each experience was smooth, and Deanna and Emmet are such a pleasure to work with. They could not be more helpful. The level of customer service offered here is unmatched in the Bay Area. -
Review from Ariyana K.
San Bruno, CA
9/2/2011
Inside came recommended by trusted friends.
I will shorten a very long story as follows:
custom crafted table with chairs: $8,000
waiting for delivery: 8 weeks
being treated unprofessionally: priceless
Products and quality of product: 5 stars
Time to deliver: 4 stars
Customer service: 1 star
If you have money burning a hole in your pocket and you want someone else who has never even seen a photo of your home tell you why their many years of experience trump anything you can say about what you want or why you want a particular thing, this might be the place for you.
We trusted them with a significant purchase, we didn't get what we asked for, we had to argue with them to get even a partial compromise, and we're still not completely satisfied.
2 stars because they did compromise, eventually.
I got more polite and helpful customer service 2 hours later at the US Post Office, when I needed help shipping something overseas. -
Review from diane l.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2011
There are many compelling reasons to shop at Inside--it's a small, neighborhood business, owned by friendly and seemingly attentive husband-and-wife team Emmett and Deanna.
After moving to San Francisco with nothing more than a couple of suitcases, I desperately needed to furnish my apartment. Walking by Inside each day, I decided on two molded-fiberglass Eames side chairs for my kitchen eating area. After reading many positive reviews on Yelp, I felt confident about bringing my business to Inside.
I went into the showroom, where Emmett informed me that the color/model I wanted were not going to be available until January. So, after a bit more deliberation, I chose two Eames wire chairs, which Emmett assured me would be delivered in 5-10 working days. I placed the order on November 22.
I was anxious to have the chairs, but I patiently waited the 5-10 working days until I went back into the shop to check on the status of my order. Deanna entered my name and order information into the computer, but for some reason, she was unable to find the order. She promised she would email me with an update.
Two days passed and I still hadn't received an email from Deanna. So, I email Emmett (on December 6), asking for an update. Two days later, Emmett, with a vague response, says he expected them either that or the following week, and that he would let me know when he received the ship notice.
So, another week passes, and I still haven't heard anything. I went back into the showroom to ask for another update. Despite not having anyone else to attend to in the store, Emmett and Deanna completely shrug me off, offering as the reason for the slow delivery the fact that they had not charged me for shipping.
Despite placing the order on November 22, and the promise of delivery in 5-10 working days, it was not until December 31 when I finally received an email from Emmett saying that the chairs had arrived.
Throughout this ordeal, which took over a month's time, I was extremely disappointed by Emmett and Deanna's inability to provide anything but vague answers ("the chairs should arrive sometime this week, or early next week"), their inability to answer inquiries promptly, or at all, and their apathy at my obvious dissatisfaction with their customer service.
I sincerely hope that my experience is the exception, to an honest small business, but I can't help but ask others to seriously consider other options when shopping for mid-century modern furniture in San Francisco. -
Review from Connie C.
San Jose, CA
11/15/2008
If you're a fan of the Eames molded plastic rocker or Mies van der Rohe Barcelona Chair, you'll love the Modernica replicas you'll find Inside. They've also got the collection of Nelson bubble lamps that makes me nostalgic for the one that was in my parents' house when I was a child.
The super cute couple that owns this showroom is really friendly and although you might be afraid to sit on the furniture (because they are like pieces of art) they really encourage you to kick up your heels and have fun trying out all their furniture.
Check out the artwork for sale on the walls from local artists while you're there. They're great to compliment your modern home once you've furnished it with the cool pieces from here.
Make sure you check out this great shop the next time you're in LOGO (Lower Gough)! The HV Holiday Block Party is on 12/5! -
Review from jay h.
8/11/2006
So last night at the MoMa event I needed to sit down. I was over stimulated by all the cheek-kissing, laughing, talking and general fun-having.
I pulled up a short little funky little chair and sat down.
Whoooooeeeeee!!! It was a ROCKING CHAIR!!!! A funky, red, chic rocking chair!
I felt like a hipster grannie!! I was truly rockin' it out in that thing.
I totally want that chair. I must have it. -
Review from Lela K.
San Francisco, CA
9/8/2007
What a beautiful furniture store.. I love every piece in there, and I am very impressed by the comfort of the stylish designs. The greatest thing about shopping for custom furniture at Inside is the option of using fabric made from recycled materials! Very cool!
I also have to say that the owners are really cool too, and incredibly nice.
Just 2 blocks from Hayes Street, and definitely the best furniture store in SF. -
Review from Dorothy S.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2008
I so wish I could snag a dining room table and a couple of wicked looking white dining chairs with wooden dowels to finish furnishing my apartment. However, the pricing is a bit out of my price range at the moment. Perhaps, when I move into a home, I'll make an 'Inside' purchase.
To top off the great selection, Emmett and Deanna are AMAZING! They don't just sell you the stuff. For goodness sake, the stuff sells itself. I loved talking to them about everything and anything. They're a sweet couple that owns this killer furniture place and you just want to leave with everything. They've invested a lot in selling quality stuff. -
Review from Nish N.
12/9/2005
I love Inside! The owners are truly passionate about their furniture, but you never get the sense that they are just out to make a sale. When I recently went over there with The Wife, we were looking for a fun and stylish chair for our bedroom. After describing our space, we brainstormed a bit about colors, fabrics, all the while enjoying some champagne (now that's how to treat a potential customer). We found the perfect model, the Poppa Bear chair, chocolate brown, modern but cozy.
Inside carries everything from tables and desks, to sofas, to shelving units, all with modern, but not overt, touches. What I also like is that you could in theory buy furniture for your place exclusively from Inside and still not feel that you had created a contrived ennvironment; everything they carry seems to compliment nicely but without looking like a catalog.
I'd recommend Inside first and foremost for their line of furniture, but just as importantly for the staff's friendly service and obvious love for the lines they choose to carry in their store.Listed in: Let's Put the "YES" in Hayes!
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Review from April M.
San Francisco, CA
8/14/2006
After talking to Nish about his own purchase, and then seeing the furniture on display at the Yelp SFMOMA event, I had to go in and see the furniture in this store.
It really is gorgeous stuff, very clean and modern, just the way I like it. The selection seems at first minimal but then you realize how quickly you can mix and match all the pieces. One day, soon I hope, I'll be back for my first purchase! -
Review from Peter S.
San Francisco, CA
8/31/2007
As far as I can tell, this is the best furniture store in San Francisco.
On my first visit to Inside my girlfriend and I were offered champagne as we wandered the showroom. We are 23 and 24 respectively, so such a gesture is not commonplace (go on Sunday if you want champagne). I had the impression they were not just trying to sell us, but were genuinely interested in helping us find the perfect table and chairs for our application. After spending the rest of our Sunday at other unmentionables, we came back to Inside a few days later with intention to buy. Emitt was an amazing help. Not snooty at all, he suggested an IKEA shelving system for our records, and offered to personally deliver our table with his new scion xb. Somehow it came up that we have a kitten, and he rummaged around downstairs and brought up "the original scratch lounge" designed by the founder of Modernica. Our kitten loves it!
A truly great experience, we will be back for one of the amazing paper illustrations by Christopher W. Stokes in the near future. -
Review from Josh L.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2008
Just a great shopping experience! Probably the easiest money I've ever spent and left the store pretty much giddy.
This was also our first foray into the nice furniture world (nice write-up Peter S.) after swearing off Ikea. Still getting over the sticker shock that came with our choice we visited all the usual suspects in SF and were underwhelmed after about 15 or so stores. We ran into limited selection, bad staff, ridiculous pricing, bad rip-offs and occasional snobbery. Then we went to Inside...
As soon as we walked in we were warmly greeted by the owners with champagne in hand. It was so relaxed, good tunes playing, a lively discussion over SF history and Herb Caen: we felt like we were visiting friends - friends who have awesome furniture.
Both Emmet and Deon (sp?) were extremely helpful, knowledgable and friendly. They walked us through almost every piece in the store and for the first time we actually liked more than one item. The selection wasn't huge but the products shown were fantastic. They made the whole process so easy and gave us great design and decorating tips.
After settling on a couch E & D spent over an hour with us on fabric choices alone! They asked all the right questions to insure we would love our purchase and never once hurried us. Maybe it's cause they were the owners....but it was all to evident how much they cared about their products and their customers. -
Review from Carlo F.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2010
A really wonderful, independently owned company. I have driven past many times in the past, always ogling the chairs in the windows but I had never stepped in.
I was looking for a Eames armchair for my new office, and I didn't want to get the typical plastic "licensed," versions since they seem cheap and have less character. Modernica was out of the white and red, which were my two color options. Then it dawned on me to try Inside.
I emailed and received a surprisingly prompt reply from Deanna. They ended up being out of the white too, but they had one red armchair left. I went into the shop, Emmett and Deanna were immediately helpful, friendly and I had a wonderful conversation with Emmett. Who knew we had the same alma mater in common.
Red ended up being the perfect choice it's now the center piece of my office, I don't think any other color would have worked. I can't sing the praises enough of Inside. Super nice, informed and it's great to know you're not just getting a beautiful classic piece of furniture but also promoting a local business. -
Review from Margie L.
San Francisco, CA
4/8/2007
Great selection, great service.
And, more importantly,
WE GOT THE DINING TABLE OF OUR DREAMS!
I know, I know. It's just a dining table. But we'd already had a series of disappointments with a table we purchased, waited for, and then returned (see my review of Ginkgo).
We started researching Plyboo and in a roundabout way ended up at Inside. Sure, they carry great mid-century modern reproductions. But they also carry custom-made pieces by Factory1. Our table is incredible, unique, solid, stable and, well just plain beautiful. And we got it when they said we would! No calling every week saying "where's our table where's our table?" They said 8 weeks and it was ready in 8 week.
Did I mention it's beautiful? I mean tame my clutter demons beautiful? Make me eat dinner at the table instead of in front of the TV beautiful? -
Review from gene x.
San Francisco, CA
8/26/2009 3 Check-ins Here
So I randomly happened to ride my bike past Inside and since I had just bought a place I was of course intrigued. I locked up my bike and strolled inside and there was a lot of great looking stuff so I was thinking, man this is going to be expensive... Well, I pulled up a few price tags and wasn't as shocked as I thought I'd be. I am totally new to interior stuff so had no idea about any styles or genres or whatever it's called.
Anyhow, Emmett and Deanna were really nice and non-judgemental. I later realized I like a lot of mid-century modern stuff and they have some of that style here for sure. I loved these fiberglass rockers they had in all these awesome colors and later learned more about them.
Anyhow, I'm rambling, but i did end up buying one of them from Inside b/c they are a local business, independent and are cool people and provide great service. I bought mine on Sunday where they have free champagne to help you shop which is a nice perk.
My rocker is now my favorite chair and I think I will be kicking back in it quite a lot - as I am right now finishing up this review! -
Review from Ryan W.
6/30/2009
This is one of those little gems with great service and unique furniture items. I bumped into this store with my girlfriend on a trip to another store in Hayes Valley. It just happened that the closest parking we could find was directly in front of Inside.
When we walked up, we saw what turned out to be the owner inside although the posted sign said the store was closed. We poked our head in and asked if we could take a look around. Emmett said sure! We were mostly focused on the furniture during the first pass of the store, and then we saw some art by a local artist named Christopher Stokes. Too cool! We talked for a few minutes before thanking the owner for his time and headed on our way. We planned to return.
A few weeks later, I called Emmett and told him I was coming back to get a number of pieces by CS. He setup an appointment and we headed over when the store was closed to the public. The best part, Emmett and his wife Deanna arranged to have the artist there to meet us! I don't know about you, but I find that to be AMAZING customer service. Above and beyond!!! I ended up with a great collection of his art that I appreciate on a daily basis in my living room. I would recommend this store to anybody. -
Review from Amy Z.
San Francisco, CA
6/22/2009
I bought some really beautiful Modernica chairs here the other day. I wanted mismatching chairs and the nice owner lady helped me pick out some hip matching (yet perfectly clashing!) colors for my abode. I got the chairs a few days earlier than promised, and the co-owner husband stayed open a little late for me as I walked each chair by hand back to my apartment 'round the corner.
Super pleasant experience! -
Review from Adam L.
Long Beach, CA
2/6/2007
This is the best furniture store in San Francisco! I lust after many of the pieces in the showroom.
The staff is friendly, knowledgable, and good looking to boot!
Kudos to you :-) -
Review from Melisser E.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2006
In our quest for the perfect mid-century modern living room, we ended up at Inside. They carry things that a few other shops in the city carry, but I found my experience here to be fabulous. The owners were by far the kindest, most attentive people I've talked to in all the modern furniture shops I've been in. There's no snotty attitude or assumption that you can't afford things here! Our conversation went from furniture styles, to pet-proof fabrics, to punk bands crashing on your couch - very cool!
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Review from Lula Mae W.
San Francisco, CA
5/13/2005
This is where you can buy Modernica's reproductions of classic mid-century designs. Eames rockers in a wide variety of colors. The gentleman who owns the place is great. You can tell he loves furniture, but he doesn't take it so seriously that you feel compelled to kneel before all that is knoll lest you be scorned.
Listed in: Deck Your Digs
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Review from harty s.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2006
I can't afford this stuff, but to be carrying such a carefully chosen set of modern furniture, without carrying a bit of attitude, is pretty cool. I live on the next block and have to walk past the windows everyday, half the time I actually contemplate replacing my beanbag with a $2000 chaise lounge.
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Review from Helen J.
San Francisco, CA
4/9/2006
If you are unable to decide between the baby blue Eames rocker or the tangerine rocker with the walnut base, come here and see it in person. While you there, can you pick me up the white one?
Listed in: Mid century modern and beyond
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Review from Julie B.
San Jose, CA
1/10/2010
Great store & great owners! Emmett and Deanna are so welcoming, informed & just plain nice. They are unfailingly helpful and don't give "the hard sell" that so many other furniture stores do. They always remember us when we visit and show us their newest stuff. They are the best!!!
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Review from Patrick A.
Burlingame, CA
3/19/2007
Emmett is the coolest dude. We got a few Eames pieces from him and he's always helpful. Very knowledgeable about mid-century furniture. Go there for cool, unique and customizable pieces for a reasonable price.
The only knock on Inside, though it's not even their problem, is that they get their furniture from Modernica in LA. The quality of their furniture varies a great deal. Be prepared to carefully inspect every piece you get from them and don't be afraid to have Emmett take it back if you're not happy with it. He's pretty cool about that. -
Review from Margaret K.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 11/16/2008
If you need something special for your space, come here now! The owners: Emmett and Deanna will ensure that you leave with something you love, give you the best service, and will fill your head with great conversation. Their business is about selling the finest in quality and design, not trying to make a quick buck, and they truly care about their customers. Every cent I've spent has been worth it and will be cherished.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/30/2007
With today's plethora of design savvy furniture stores and web sites, it is refreshing to come upon… Read more »
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Review from Ed R.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2010
Truly as good as it gets! Not only did I get the chair of my dreams....Deanna and Emmet are wonderful fun, cool people. They are willing to listen and work with you so YOU get what you want not something you are being SOLD. I am looking forward to getting the couch that matches the chair....and of course on Champagne Sundays...the only way to shop!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
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Review from J H.
San Francisco, CA
5/21/2008
Fabulous service! Dianna came over to my house to help me choose a fabric for a settee. We have purchased several Modernica items from Inside and love them all. Great store.
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Review from matthew h.
Palo Alto, CA
4/28/2009
I just bought a sofa from them and I have to say it was a great experience! I have never felt so confident in a purchase. The quality of the lines they carry is top notch and really every piece will last a lifetime--and the classic design aesthetic ensures it will still look good years from now. Their knowledge of the pieces, manufacturers and design is amazing but above everything else, Emmett and Deanna really want to make sure you only get pieces that you love. There is never any pressure to go bigger or to get more. These two people really are following their passion with their shop--seriously the best place in SF to buy furniture!
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Review from Viola T.
San Francisco, CA
9/30/2009
I've purchased several pieces from Inside and love them. They are well made, locally crafted whenever possible, and reasonably priced, relatively speaking.
