Shop Scout: The Future Perfect

By Emily Hsieh
June 27, 2010

David Alhadeff; Manhattan store exterior

If edgy, contemporary design is your thing, The Future Perfect is your shopping mecca. David Alhadeff opened the original Brooklyn outpost of his shop in 2003, filling it with a curious, slick, wildly imaginative array of furniture, lighting, and gifts made by emerging designers. Seven years later, the boutique is not only thriving but it’s expanding, with two outposts added in the last couple years in Los Angeles and Manhattan.

Recently, when we caught up with Alhadeff to hear more about his growing empire, he revealed that his retail roots go back way beyond The Future Perfect: “I used to be a big thrift store shopper in college and through my mid-20’s,” he says. “When I was in school part of how I supported myself was by loading up my car with furniture and clothes I’d find a thrift shops and take them back to cool vintage stores in Seattle to sell it all there. I’ve always loved thrifting, and eBay is like the new version of it.” Intrigued, we pressed on, both to learn more about The Future Perfect and Alhadeff’s eBay obsession.

The Inside Source: So how’d you end up opening a shop anyway?

David Alhadeff: I opened the store out of ignorance. I had come from an internet company and wanted something more tangible and concrete. Historically I had always loved architecture and design. Owning a store was not necessarily the way I thought I’d work in design but it was a time very similar to now in terms of an economic transition. [Manhattan-based design] stores like Totem and Troy had gone out of business, and there was a hole. And then there were something really cool and fresh happening in the local design community that I stumbled on, and it started to make a lot of sense.

TIS: How are the three stores different from each other?

DA: Well, in LA we’re part of another store called Ten Over Six. There we’re more accessories and giftable things. In Brooklyn we’re that plus furniture. And in Manhattan we sell more high end and collectible.

Manhattan store interior (above) and the LA store (below)

TIS: Has your buying philosophy changed at all over the years?

DA: I still try to work with as many emerging designers as possible. But at this point a lot of the people I used to work with at the store from the beginning aren’t emerging anymore. It’s like we were all kids on the playground together but have all grown-up. But I’m still always looking for new, young fresh talent.

TIS: Are there certain things you collect?

DA: There are some things I like to buy over and over again. I buy art on eBay a lot. The last thing I bought was a screen print from Faile, a Brooklyn graffiti street artist. Though my store carries a particular kind of work that’s very new, in my interior design work I’m always looking for Brutalist ceramics from the 60’s, usually from Germany. I also love buying great Nymphenburg porcelain.

Roll over items for details

Faile Fight Vanity Hand Finished Boxers Print
(buy it now price, $795)

Rare 20th Century Porcelain Nymphemburg Dog Figurine with Hare
(buy it now price, $799)

TIS: Does eBay come in handy in other ways for your design work?

DA: For my design clients, I can find an amazing chair that might look like crap on the site, but with new upholstery I can turn it into something really nice. I actually tend to look for shabbier furniture since it can always be refinished. The first time you do it it’s absolutely scary! When it comes to finding an upholsterer, ask for recommendations—don’t just go with the lowest bidder.

TIS: Any keywords you find especially useful when you’re eBay hunting?

DA: Typing in “Eames” is really obvious but it does a great job of editing stuff out. You still get tons of options, but it’s a lot more tailored. I don’t mind spending a couple hours scrolling through pages. When I’m looking for ceramics, “Meissen” is a good search term. “Fornasetti” is another one I use a lot. I will also look up more modern references like “Hella Jongerius” but I don’t see a lot from her.

TIS: Is there anything that eludes you on eBay?

DA: I’m constantly searching for Memphis design [an Italian design collective from the 80’s]. You have to plug in specific designer names like “Mendini” or “Nathalie du Pasquier” to find stuff. We owe a lot in terms of fashion design trends to the Memphis period—everything from the Nike swoosh to colored cheetah prints to neon. But their housewares still elude the home buying market, as it originally did when it was introduced in the 70’s and 80’s. Even then, the stuff wasn’t as much purchased as it was applauded. Remember the movie Ruthless People? Pretty much everything in Danny DeVito’s house was Memphis. I’m looking for a piece of lighting from them. And I’ve never seen Memphis furniture on eBay. The Carlton cabinet is their iconic piece. I think there are only a couple hundred that are out there. It’s such a limited market.

New Shiro Kuramata Flower Base

(starting bid, $500)

Nathalie du Pasquier Tall Vase Sarri Memphis Sottsass

(buy it now price, $620)

TIS: What are some of your favorite eBay purchases?

DA: A vintage 60’s Rolex watch. I also love Tudors, which are watches that Rolex used to make. They run like Rolexes and have Rolex parts only they’re called Tudors. They’re not as collectible as Rolexes—and they’re a lot less expensive.

Tudor Oyster Prince Ranger Watch

(winning bid, $706)

TIS: Has there ever been one that got away?

DA: So many things I can’t even remember! There’s such an art to the bidding process. When I was looking for watches, I actually got the one I won after losing at least three or four in auctions.

TIS: While we’re on the subject, what’s your bidding strategy?

DA: I like to make an offer. I tend to make the offer based on what I’d realistically spend on the piece. If you bid too low you’re not going to get anywhere—these sellers are getting spammed all day and don’t have time for lowballs. It has to be the amount you’d really be willing to spend, not what you think would be a great deal for you. The people on eBay are not amateurs. 99% of the time I’ve dealt with stores, rather than individuals. And since they don’t have to pay rent, they can offer you really cool products for a lot less.

** The Future Perfect images and Alhadeff's portrait provided by the subject. **