The first thing I did when I received my mailbox number here on campus was subscribe to Design Within Reach’s monthly catalog. The catalog, which I had reach and cherished for a few years now, is one of my favorite places to look for design inspiration. Unlike catalogs produced my other design stores or furniture manufactures which are often filled with cheaply printed photos, poorly staged rooms and overflowing with advertisements and promotions, the Design Within Reach catalog is a work of art in and of itself. Even before talking about the content itself, the printing and production of the magazine is incredible high quality; each page is printed on heavy weight glossy paper and there feels to be a great amount of integrity to the binding. What really takes this catalog to the next level however is how beautifully every room is designed and photographed, both highlighting the incredible design of every piece while at the same time creating something that is greater than and single item. The pricing and sizing information takes a back seat in this catalog in which the furniture and design shines through most heavily. Even as someone who is not looking to purchase new furniture, I find the catalog incredibly engaging and relevant to look at.
