Furniture Find: Own a Piece of the Golden Gate Bridge

Richard Bulan's red-orange steel furniture makes use of salvaged parts from San Francisco's most famous landmark

Debbie Snider October 21, 2011

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As a San Francisco native, I was intrigued when I stumbled upon the Golden Gate Bridge Furniture Company. This company sells artisan furniture pieces crafted from actual parts of the iconic bridge. If you left your heart in San Francisco, here is a way you can have a piece of The City, as it is affectionately referred to by natives and residents, no matter where you live now. I had to know more, so I contacted the founder, Richard Bulan.

Golden Gate Design & Furniture Co.

Headboard

DS: How did you start GGBFC?

RB: In 1994, I was watching a news story on a local SF television station about the fate of the Golden Gate Bridge steel that was removed during the handrail replacement in 1993. I thought that the historic steel would make a great headboard for my bed, so I got the contractor's name from the TV station and made arrangements to acquire a portion of the 12-foot long, 1,000-pound handrail. After making my first headboard, many friends expressed interest in purchasing one. I realized then that there was a potential market out there, and GGBFC was born.

The headboard is made entirely of repurposed pedestrian handrail steel.

Golden Gate Design & Furniture Co.

Accent Table

DS: What is the inspiration for your furniture designs?

RB: I try to stay true to the spirit of the pedestrian handrail and design the piece to be instantly recognizable as being constructed from Golden Gate Bridge steel.

Some of the pieces contain new materials like glass and steel support members (such as the triangular portion in the center of this side table).

Golden Gate Design & Furniture Co.

Desk Lamp - Front

The steel has been weathered by the wind and salt air, so no two products are alike. Each limited edition piece is numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Only 92 of these desk lamps were created, and all have sold out.

Golden Gate Design & Furniture Co.

Side Table

This is a prototype of a beautiful new side table Rick is working on.

Golden Gate Design & Furniture Co.

Side Table - Flipped

The base was cleverly designed to be flipped for a different look.

Golden Gate Design & Furniture Co.

Coffee Table - $3,150

DS: Tell me about the paint you use on your creations.

RB: The welding process burns off the old paint, so we clean up the piece and repaint it with the same paint that is used for the bridge. It is called International Orange, and it was specifically mixed to blend nicely with the colors of the Marin Headlands. I purchase it from the same vendor the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District uses.

Golden Gate Design & Furniture Co.

DS: Who is your customer?

RB: Anyone who has an emotional tie to San Francisco or the Golden Gate Bridge. Most live outside of San Francisco; half are in L.A. and, surprisingly, many are in Europe.

Richard Bulan, Golden Gate Bridge Furniture Company Founder

Bulan was born in San Francisco and raised in the Bay Area. Although he could cut costs by buying supplemental materials overseas, he works to obtain them from U.S. sources. He is committed to maintaining the quality and spirit of his product.

When asked what he will do when he runs out of material, he famously replies, "I guess we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it."