bridging the gap
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.
MyungJin Kim via her IG
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.
