It has been such a great summer in California, and in a few days, we'll be heading back home. It's always a joy to come out here and experience all that the West Coast has to offer in design inspiration. Yesterday I tried to get in a few more that I hadn't already seen.
First, I visited the Future Perfect yesterday in the Hollywood Hills. Todd, the concierge, was an absolute gentleman and met me at the door to give me a tour. It's a well-known art and furniture gallery that first opened over 20 years ago in New York. I've been a fan for a long time. The idea was to marry a home and a gallery, which was pretty novel when it began in 2003.
Poolside at Future Perfect
Their most recent iteration is the Goldwyn House, which was occupied by famed movie producer Samuel Goldwyn & his family. Expansive indoors and out with beautiful windows, fireplaces, and that subtly excellent carpentry work we see so often in homes from the early 20th century. Not sure if a more ideal place exists to show furniture and art.
The first room we walked into was my favorite. A wood-paneled lounge, moody but filled with natural light and a view of the pool. I loved this huge, ornate floral ceramic bench by Ann Carrington. I have never seen anything like this. Provided that essential pop in an otherwise dark room.
I have been a fan of Chris Wolston's organic floral light fixtures & Jason Koharik's slightly abstract art deco-inspired pieces for a while. Even better in the flesh.
It seems like ceramics are really having a moment in art and design; they were everywhere throughout the home.
MyungJin Kim is a ceramic artist who does large and stunning terra cotta pieces. She took over the whole foyer and pool house, and it did not disappoint.
The joy of living in a home for a long time is that you gradually perfect it and make it as good as it possibly can be. The Future Perfect achieves this all at once on a large scale by allowing numerous incredible artists to take over specific rooms and do just that. A "lifetime" of design in a short period of time.
Well worth a visit if you get the chance.
Afterwards, I quickly popped over to House of Leon. These young guys are some of my faves, with very tasteful furniture and a small but pristine showroom. They made a gutsy move about 5 years ago and went all in together on furniture, which can be a brutal business, but it seems to be paying off.
via IG
They have a few fantastic armchairs, and their outdoor furniture is perfect. They use their shop and personal home as a staging ground for most product photography. They are going places and about to open another location. I love seeing good people win.
In the current state of social media, a physical space seems like such an advantage because it serves as a set for all content and also a place for fans and customers to make a pilgrimage.
The idea of converting a home into an experiential business has always resonated with me. As people seek to bridge the connection between their phone and the real world, I believe we will see much more of this.
In general, finding ways to close the physical/digital gap is a winning business model today. There are countless examples (Minted is a great one in the running space), but consider any social-driven pop-up.
Specialized smaller-scale retail with no shelves and no bar codes, heavy on the vibes with discovery through social. Especially if you live in a place that is already a magnet for tourism, this seems like such a wise move.
What is your own version of the famed Aspen Kemo Sabe Hat? Does Nashville need a Wrangler-chic themed lighting gallery and poolhouse? It does make you think.
that's a wrap!
I hope you enjoyed reading this, whether this is your first or 102nd time. I sincerely appreciate you. Please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to write about.