Artefact Design and Salvage for sale

For the last 30 years, Sonoman Dave Allen has collected and created an eclectic stock of artistic home décor and outdoor design items through his business, Artefact Design & Salvage.

After 20 years in Sonoma, Allen is ready to leave the retail operation behind to focus on his passion of designing and manufacturing the unique items sold in the shop. Artefact Design & Salvage is for sale, including the store’s inventory, aside from Allen’s designs.

As his lease at 20490 Broadway was coming to end, Allen felt it was time to focus on what he enjoys most: creating.

“I’m really excited about doing bigger and crazier things,” Allen said.

The interior and outdoor design and salvage yard occupies a commodious space, featuring exceptional pieces made by artisans locally and across the globe.

Allen’s collection includes items he acquired on his many trips to Indonesia. Throughout his career in design and salvage, Allen has been drawn to architectural antiques and rare, out of the ordinary items.

The designer hopes to find a buyer who will carry on the shop’s legacy. He plans to consult and likely help out with the business during the transition while having more time to focus on his own projects.

“I’m really hoping I can pass this on to somebody who appreciates it and will take it to the next level,” Allen said. “Because there’s a lot things, like the wholesale and Indonesian stuff that I just really didn’t focus on, that would be great possibilities for the next person.”

Artefact Design & Salvage displays many of Allen’s designs as well as those sold by other tenants such as Villa Terrazza and local artists. His own products include floating wall mounts and panels, one-of-a-kind rustic objects, custom-made tables and various stone items such as fire pits, bowls and plant pots.

“Personally, I’m very creative, but I don’t like facing a blank canvas. I like the constraints of some sort of grid to start with,” Allen said.

Referring to his floating wall mounts, many of which include sand-blasted grapevines and other natural materials, and his multi-purpose panel designs, he said, “They just suit me very well. They’re very inspiring to me because of the creative possibilities as well as the constraints. I’ve always said I’d rather be an editor than a writer ― or I’d make a better editor.”

These creative interior and outdoor design pieces are sold under his brand, Artefact Curator.

“Everything is an experiment. I just keep experimenting,” Allen said.

In an email to the customers and clients of Artefact Design & Salvge, Allen said he looks forward to passing his knowledge and passion on to the next owner.

“For me personally, Artefact Design & Salvage has been a passion project that has allowed me many adventures across the country and around the globe as the intrepid Finder of Objects,” he wrote. “I am proud of the unique and inspiring items we have discovered over the years, especially those that continue to give daily pleasure to our appreciative customers.”

Allen got into designing during the real estate crash of 2008, when he couldn’t afford much inventory for the shop.

“I designed a couple of tables, and I found I really enjoyed that,” Allen said. “It just became more and more of an interest. Then I started developing the wall panel system, which was very slow, because I was just doing it kind of organically and I kept changing and modifying it. And now it’s a really good, functional system.”

After test marketing the panels and floating wall mounts for many years, the designer is eager to take his creativity to the next level. As for Artefact Design & Salvage, Allen is confident the business will thrive under new ownership; whichever direction it will go in.

Allen is grateful for Lucia Jahsmann, Artefact Design & Salvage sales manager and artist who he has worked with for almost 20 years. The designer is also thankful for the support of Martín Garcia, who has worked with Allen for the past 16 years.

Those interested in the opportunity can reach out to Allen at [email protected]. The seller is happy to answer any questions and discuss details.

The sale of Artefact Design & Salvage includes:

• All inventory gathered around the globe
• Equipment and fixtures (shop equipment negotiable)
• Point of Sale system with 15 years of data
• Recognizable, regionally respected brand
• Worldwide network of exclusive resources, vendors and relationships developed over decades
• Existing mailing list of thousands of mostly affluent clients, design professionals and followers
• More than 9,300 current Instagram followers
• Showroom location that is available for at least another three years as of this writing
• Fully functional website with e-commerce capabilities
• Experienced employees may be available to continue
• Allen is willing to consult during transition for up to two years

The sale will not include ownership of the Artefact Curator portfolio of products Allen will continue to manufacture ― although they will be available to sell through Artefact Design & Salvage; or Allen’s shop dog Satchel.

You can reach Staff Writer Emma Molloy at [email protected].