The Best Design Shopping in Palm Springs
Each February brings Modernism Week to Palm Springs, California, and with it more than 40,000 pilgrims in search of midcentury modern design. Now in its ninth year, Modernism Week has put Palm Springs on the architectural map. Sightseeing and home tours, architectural lectures and themed cocktail parties are just some of the events that await lovers of modern design in this desert oasis. The 2014 edition of Modernism Week runs February 13 to 23.
In recent years Palm Springs has become a fashionable shopping destination as well. Here you can find not only Googie accessories but high-end examples of decorative pieces that cut a wide swath, from 1930s Bakelite jewelry to the hot, hot, hot 1970s furnishings that are swelling the trendiest of shops.
So if you need a break from home tours and architectural lectures, check out some of my favorite places to shop for design in Palm Springs.
Flow Modern Design, 768 N. Palm Canyon Dr. This premier shop is not to be missed. The proprietors, Andre and Brigitte, have an incredible eye for what their clientele requires.
Flow Modern Design carries a wonderful selection of original art, modern jewelry and ceramics. The stock is constantly changing, but rest assured it is always top-notch.
Flow Modern Design augments and rehabs some pieces that have seen better days, making them appropriate for today’s lifestyle. Their collection of objets is a testament to the owners’ great sleuthing and ability to uncover unique finds.
Just Modern, 901 N. Palm Canyon Dr. Just Modern is just plain fun. You can find a wide variety of products produced by local artists and designers. A colorful mix is at the heart of this shop.
Just Modern carries a vast inventory of limited-edition items, from pillows and locally produced furniture to area rugs and wallets. This light, airy store is an anchor to the Uptown Design District.
Support of local artists is a hallmark of Just Modern. Besides original artwork, it also has vintage and restored pieces of midcentury furniture, as well as new items designed in the spirit of midcentury America.
The Shops at 1345, 1345 N. Palm Canyon Dr. This collective of design shops is a new addition to the Uptown Design District. It’s housed in a 1955 E. Stewart Williams building commissioned by one of Palm Springs’ founding fathers, Harold Hicks.
Each shop in The Shops at 1345 has its own personality. The offerings range from organic cotton goods to restored furniture and tabletop treasures.
The Shops at 1345 also have a wide assortment of glassware and artwork. Some pieces are vintage and some are new, but all are quite interesting and have a point of view.
Route 66 West, 465 N. Palm Canyon Dr. The top source in Palm Springs for vintage handbags and Bakelite jewelry, and it has a trove of midcentury decorative glassware as well.
Warehouse sale, 653 N. Commercial Rd. This is the ultimate garage sale. A vast assortment of items from the warehouses of some of Palm Springs’ trendiest shops will be available to the public February 13 to 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More: Roots of Style: Midcentury Modern Design
