Sister companies Baker and McGuire Furniture have opened a new showroom in a four-story former brick warehouse at the San Francisco Design Center; aptly, Baker was founded just 16 years before the 1906 building was constructed, by Dutch immigrant Siebe Baker.
In the 1920s, Baker forged into modernism with its Twentieth Century Shop, including designs by Donald Deskey; in the 1930s, the brand introduced Chinese modern furniture at the Chicago World’s Fair; and in the 1950s it put the first Danish Modern furniture collection on the American market. Now, in line with its historically globally-minded outlook on the cusp of change, Baker and its affiliated brands arrive in San Francisco – recently announced as the highest rated American city on world liveability rankings – with the 16,500 sq ft space.
Baker acquired McGuire several years ago – known for the distinctive midcentury Northern Californian aesthetic of its original founders – and the new location will aptly serve as that brand’s primary home. As for Baker, the new outpost serves one of the first locations of a global roll-out plan, to join locations in Paris, Moscow, Singapore and several cities China. Designed primarily by Baker chief creative officer Tristan Butterfield with Paul Haigh of Haigh Architects, the space also showcases Milling Road.
Midcentury Northern Californian furniture design at the McGuire Furniture space
‘We created an exquisite environment that perfectly suits the eclectic taste and preferences of our tech savvy, worldwide clientele,’ Butterfield said of the showroom in a statement. ‘We are blurring the lines of showroom, retail, hospitality and residential design to give Baker and McGuire a sophisticated sense of modern international style of utmost luxury and comfort, and service second to none.’
The launch also features collaborations from guest designers such as Jean-Louis Deniot, Barbara Barry, Thomas Pheasant, Kara Mann and Laura Kirar, as well as new selections from design history such as the Edward Wormley collection by Dunbar, bringing history full circle. §
