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From Home Furnishing Business

Design Within Reach Opens Second NC Location in Raleigh

August 19, 2026  by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

DWR offers the best in authentic design from around the world, today. From renowned classics to icons of the future, DWR curates and creates furniture, lighting, and decor that addresses evolving needs and celebrates modern living at its best. DWR believes in creating and sourcing pieces that move with you and are meant to be enjoyed over a lifetime- from home to home, generation to generation.

For DWR, Raleigh represents more than a growing market- it is part of a state with an extraordinary design legacy. While North Carolina is widely known as the historic center of American furniture manufacturing, it also holds one of the country's richest modernist traditions. That legacy continues to shape the region's strong appreciation for architecture, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design today.

Located in the heart of North Hills, the 4,790-square-foot store was designed to reflect the values that define both DWR and the region: material honesty, craftsmanship, education, and discovery. Natural light fills the space through expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, while reclaimed oak flooring, custom oak millwork, and 100% recycled pale brick sourced from North Carolina, create a warm and welcoming environment rooted in local craft.

The new store showcases DWR's curated assortment of furniture, lighting, and accessories from leading global design brands including Herman Miller, Knoll, Louis Poulsen, Fritz Hansen, Flos, Gubi and Carl Hansen & Søn. Customers can experience iconic works such as the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Womb Chair, Artichoke Pendant, and Wishbone Chair alongside contemporary designs that continue to shape the future of modern living.

"Our decision to expand into Raleigh was driven by the region's remarkable connection to design," said Debbie Propst, President of Global Retail for MillerKnoll. "Few places have contributed more to the story of American modernism and furniture-making than North Carolina. From its world-class design schools and architectural legacy to its culture of craftsmanship and innovation, Raleigh is a community that deeply values the kind of authentic, enduring design that DWR represents."

The state's modernist roots can be traced in part to N. C. State University's School of Design. Architect and Educator Henry Kamphoefner joined the university in 1948 as the School of Design’s founding dean. He soon transformed the program into one of the nation's leading centers for modern design education, recruiting faculty and practitioners influenced by some of the most important figures of the Bauhaus and Modern Movement. Over the years, architects, designers, and creative leaders including Frank Lloyd Wright, Marcel Breuer, Mies van der Rohe, Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen lectured, taught and helped shape the region’s design culture. Many of these prominent names designed pieces that are still available through DWR today.

At the same time, the rise of High Point’s significance as the country’s furniture capital strengthened North Carolina’s enduring influence of local manufacturers, makers and craftspeople. As a result, the state has also long been a place where modern design and craftsmanship intersect.

Raleigh's prominence within the Research Triangle - one of the nation's fastest growing centers for education, technology and innovation – also makes it a natural fit for DWR's continued expansion.

Free Design Services: The Raleigh store offers complementary Design Services. DWR’s Design Services team is available to assist with projects of any scale, providing personalized guidance, material samples, space planning, and 3D renderings to help bring ideas to life.

Store Hours: 10am - 6pm Monday - Saturday, noon - 5 pm Sunday.

Where: North Hills, 4351 The Circle at North Hills Ave., Suite 103, Raleigh, NC 27609