Chairish Co-Founder and President, Anna Brockway, reflects on her personal connection the the venerable San Francisco design house, McGuire. Chairish is excited to share our exclusive McGuire sample sale.
One of the most memorable spaces from my childhood was the beachside home of John and Elinor McGuire, perched on the lip of the Bolinas lagoon and the Pacific Ocean in Sea Drift, about 20 miles North of San Francisco.
John and Elinor McGuire {via McGuire Furniture}
The McGuires were our neighbors at the beach. My father and stepmother knew the couple from an old fashioned San Francisco combination of shared schools, friends and business relationships. John and Elinor were the much loved founders of the iconic San Francisco based McGuire Furniture. They launched the business as a couple in 1948 and their lifelong creative partnership resulted in a signature look combining natural materials like rattan and hide with clean, Asian inspired shapes.
I grew up eating Christmas dinner at an octagonal McGuire dining table, studying Latin (hopelessly) in McGuire chairs, and now every morning my kids set their backpacks on a vintage McGuire bench in our entry (scored on Chairish of course!). I am kind of a McGuire fanatic.
So I was really and truly honored when McGuire selected Chairish as the venue through which to sell their gorgeous floor samples, as their enduring enterprise moves from their original San Francisco factory location to a new zippy showroom in the San Francisco Design center.
But back to THAT beach house! A heavy teak front door opened into an enclosed courtyard with a huge round skylight perfectly framing a misty west Marin sky. Timeless and darn amazing. And it just got better from there:
The McGuire’s beachside home {via Seadrift Realty}
I should mention that the McGuires were exceedingly charming people. Curious, chatty and always rambling around the garden. They wore slim khakis, madras and slightly worn straw hats. I remember the clinkle of ice in their cocktail glasses, and the shushing sound the wind made rustling enormous potted orchids.
Eventually the McGuires sold their business to the venerable Kohler Co., who introduced design collaborations with heavy hitters like Barbara Barry, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, Thomas Pheasant, Laura Kirar, Robert Kuo and Michael Vanderbyl, all while staying true to the McGuire’s distinctive East meets West aesthetic.
McGuire endures today as a tastemaker favorite. Here are some particularly lovely uses of McGuire pieces in expert hands:
Christopher Coleman mixes classic rattan McGuire with modern pieces {via Dering Hall}
“I love the rich textures and finishes of McGuire furniture. They are show pieces that stand out in a room,” says New York interior designer and lover of all things McGuire, Christopher Coleman. That attention to detail – from beautiful, rich textures to natural finishes – are part of how McGuire strikes a balance between sophistication and practicality.
Kati Curtis Design mixes McGuire with worldly bold prints and colors {via Kati Curtis Design}
“Details are always very important to me and McGuire are masters of detail – from leather fringe to a tied rattan joint, they have thought of all the elements that make pieces unique and special. What excites me the most is the cultural influences in their line – everything from Mayan to African, the influences span the globe and allow us to create that collected feel for our clients,” says New York-based designer Kati Curtis.
Designers look to McGuire for the maker’s luxury-meets-California-cool look: handcrafted and versatile pieces with beautiful natural materials. Neal Beckstedt, the Manhattan-based interior designer known for his understated yet elegant designs, relies on McGuire for neutral pieces with an edge: “I strive to create modern, comfortable, and inviting spaces infused with warmth and ease. The theme of ‘natural luxury’ that defines McGuire’s furniture is 100% in alignment with my vision.”
Kathryn Scott’s use of a McGuide dining table, chairs and bench {via Dering Hall}
Brooklyn-based interior designer, Kathryn Scott, admires McGuire for its natural appeal as well. “I love McGuire’s artisanal use of natural materials, which gives the furniture an intimate, earthy sensibility.” Kathryn’s own design philosophy centers around the creation of serene, harmonious living spaces for busy lives – a complement to McGuire’s aesthetic. “They are the perfect foil to our austere contemporary environments, acting as the bridge to comfort.”
{via McGuire Instagram}
McGuire pieces, classic and versatile, have helped me to create a true sense of home. They are a link to the past, a homage to those beach house days, and to the present with the creation of my own family’s sanctuary and home.
If you are as crazy for McGuire as I am, I think you’ll want to dig into our exclusive sample sale. Enjoy!
XOXO,
Anna