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craftsman laying down natural rope on the base of a palecek table

rooted in tradition.
committed to excellence.

PALECEK began with a passion for natural materials and traditional artisan craftsmanship. Over time, we've evolved into a leader in contemporary design.

  1. WELCOME
  2. OUR STORY
  3. NATURAL MATERIALS
  4. ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

WELCOME

Thanks for visiting us in our recently redesigned website, where you can view our extensive collection of furniture, lighting, and accessories.

For nearly half a century, we have been combining natural materials and centuries-old handcrafting techniques with contemporary designs to create unexpected, unforgettable furnishings that bring timeless beauty and soul to every living space.

As a family-owned company, we're committed to the people whose lives we touch. We strive to be a trusted partner, working in collaboration with our clients to provide customizable finishes and solutions to fit their needs.

Welcome to PALECEK. We look forward to collaborating with you.

Andrew T Palecek and Allan H Palecek together in an office setting

pair of hands holding a knife against lampray rope
Uncompromising curiosity and a commitment to never stop learning is an approach that takes more time, but it leads to a product that we know and understand with profound depth. —Andrew T. Palecek

Family is core

Founded by a father with boundless curiosity about the world and its people, we are led by a son dedicated to refining designs and fostering deep, lasting partnerships.

Indigenous arts merit preservation

We feel a sense of commitment to the people we touch, and to our unique role in preserving and perpetuating the art of handcrafted furnishings.

Traditional, Modern, Timeless

We create timeless silhouettes inspired by classic and organic forms; and our rigorous artisanship ensures our creations are enduring.

welcome image 1

Future generations matter now

From our earliest days, our furnishings have been made with eco-conscious materials, and we continuously seek new ways to lessen our impact on the environment.

Human connection is crucial

We invest in our enduring partnership and team-member relationships with as much dedication and soul as we pour into perfecting our designs.

the entire palecek team in black polos in a park setting

When you are lucky enough to build long, impactful relationships, you discover beautiful things together. —Andrew T. Palecek

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OUR STORY

When Kansas-born Allan H. Palecek joined the Air Force straight out of college in the late 60s, he couldn't know how his choice would shape his life and the lives of his family.

After six years of piloting missions in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, Allan left the service with a passion for travel and a hunch: that the handwoven natural-fiber accessories he had seen throughout Asia might fill a niche in the American design landscape.

From the moment he showcased his first shipment of handcrafted rattan baskets in San Francisco in 1974, demand for PALECEK's artisan-made products soared.

Andrew T. Palecek—Allan's son—grew up in the business as the business grew, absorbing the culture his father had created by persistently prioritizing relationships, partnerships, and quality above profit. Andrew joined the executive team in 2004, and oversees creative direction for an organization that now encompasses artisans and suppliers in multiple countries; eight to-the-trade US showrooms; and a 250,000-square-foot, solar-powered San Francisco Bay Area headquarters housing PALECEK's unparalleled custom-design services.

When Allan Palecek was inducted into the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame in 2020 in recognition of his inventiveness; his generous and strategic leadership; and his contributions to the trade, the PALECEK team was elated. Hall of Fame induction is a pinnacle achieved by few, and it signaled that Allan's integrity and talents, and PALECEK's unforgettable furnishings, are widely valued. Andrew T. Palecek—a creative visionary and award-winning designer himself—was delighted by his father's achievement, but not surprised.

"For somebody to have come so far, from Kansas and the Air Force," Andrew says, "and for our company's work to have come so far, from a small collection to the enormous range of refined furnishings we offer today...it's an unbelievable journey."

Using many of the same renewable materials that first captured Allan H. Palecek's attention half a century ago, Andrew T. Palecek continues to innovate, carrying the PALECEK legacy forward for the generations to come.

young Allan H Palecek weaving a basket in a plaid shirt Andrew T Palecek measuring the arms of a partially finished lounge chair young Allan H Palecek holding a partially completed basket Allan H Palecek with his young son, Andrew Andrew T Palecek inspecting unfinished lounge chairs in Palecek overseas manufacturing locations craftsman explaining his process of weaving a lounge chair while Andrew T Palecek watches young Allan H Palecek discussing woven pieces with a craftsman young Allan H Palecek talking with a small group Andrew T Palecek checking an unfinished ventura lougne chair for quality
Our story has always been about natural materials, and about searching and adventure. But underlying that is our hallmark dedication to constantly refining, to not resting until what we've created is exactly, precisely right. —Andrew T. Palecek

HANDCRAFTED TRADITION

Palecek was born with a passion for natural materials, and a desire to preserve traditional artisanal techniques

NATURAL MATERIALS
Photo of wicker chair

Bringing Nature Indoors

From the very start, we've crafted unforgettable furnishings by using sustainable materials.

View Indoor Materials
Nature at our core
dominico outdoor lounge chair with white upholstery
We've chosen these special, beautiful, flexible materials—seagrass, rattan, abaca—and we've become completely expert in using them to their most extraordinary advantage. We could design in many other materials, but I've never found anything I like better. —Andrew T. Palecek

outdoor form & Function

The materials we select for outdoor designs must rise to an even higher standard of endurance than those used in interior designs. True to our heritage, we highlight intrinsically strong natural materials while also incorporating tough, tactile, nontoxic fabricated materials.

View Outdoor Materials
san martin outdoor lounge chair with white upholstery
san martin outdoor sofa with white upholstery
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

Respecting the natural environment, planning for future generations, and caring for the health and well-being of our people and partners have been both foundational values and actionable goals for Palecek from our start. We see our efforts in these areas as intrinsically interconnected.

As the global imperative to intentionally care for our planet's health grows ever clearer and more urgent, we continuously seek out and implement new and creative ways to lessen our company's environmental impact and safeguard people, plants, and animals.

As participants in a resource-intensive business, we are keenly aware of our responsibility to make every facet of our company as ecologically responsible as possible. We undertake this work with the goal of leaving a proud legacy for generations to come.



Please read on to learn more about our
environmental ethos and efforts.



hundreds of solar panels on the richmond california palecek headquarters

Fully solar-powered headquarters

Our 250,000-square-foot California HQ is covered with 680 solar roof panels that supply our electricity, dramatically reducing our carbon footprint.

Nontoxic, water-based finishes

We eliminated oil-based paints from our processes in 1990—and thus removed a stream of hazardous chemicals from our facility and the wider environment. Water-based paints, which have greatly reduced volatile organic compounds in comparison to oil-based paints, are safer for the health of our staff, customers, and planet.

Unforgettable furniture that lasts

PALECEK furnishings are the antithesis of "fast furniture." Our goods are not disposable; with their blend of timeless style and extraordinary quality, our furnishings will enhance the quality of your life as well as the lives of future generations.

Recycling as an artform

We salvage and bale all plastic and paper at our facility to keep these materials out of landfill. We recycle all batteries, and puncture used spray cans to transform them from hazardous waste to recyclable goods. We continuously seek new ways to reuse "waste" with a goal of reducing our landfill contribution.

Renewable materials and fair trade

We have built enduring relationships with growers and harvesters who prioritize the sustainability of their own communities and local environment in nurturing and gathering the materials that form the core of our manufacturing process.

We are keenly aware of our responsibility to the environment." —Andrew T. Palecek
mariposa chandelier