The Fab Five: Design Central

Pacific Design Center 

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2015, the Pacific Design Center is the West Coast’s go-to resource for designers, architects, decorators and dealers. Located in West Hollywood, at the corner of San Vicente Boulevard and Melrose Avenue, the center offers more than 120 showrooms featuring hundreds of product lines. The Design Services Department can arrange for a designer to accompany public visitors. pacificdesigncenter.com

San Francisco Design Center

This acclaimed design center has an open-door policy for the public to browse a vast selection of fine home furnishings and accessories Monday through Friday, although you’ll need to connect with a design professional or buying service to make any purchases. The center is located in the heart of the San Francisco Design District, also known locally as Showplace Square. sfdesigncenter.com

Miami Design Center

Design, fashion, art and architecture combine to create the popular Miami Design District, which is more a neighborhood than an individual design center. Located on NE 2nd Avenue, close to downtown Miami, this vibrant precinct is a one-stop retail destination for professional interior designers and consumers alike, with upscale stores, galleries and showrooms offering an array of design ideas and products. miamidesigndistrict.net

New York Design Center

While strictly a “trade only” building for professional designers, the renowned New York Design Center welcomes public visitors through its popular Access to Design program where consumers can review designer portfolios, interact with designers and work with the Design Services Manager on a specific home project. The program can also help facilitate consumer purchases of furnishings and accessories in the trade-only showrooms. nydc.com

Boston Design Center

This first-rate design resource, located in the Innovation and Design Building in Boston’s Marine Industrial Park, marks 30 years of serving the area’s top designers and their clients in 2015. The center features more than 70 showrooms, brimming with American and international luxury furnishings, and also offers a Designer On Call program linking clients with a vetted portfolio of interior designers. bostondesign.com