The Faux Brickwork in Lisa Says Gah’s New L.A. Store Is Also Reno-Friendly

Leekes, a family-owned retailer specializing in home furniture and furnishings, has undertaken a significant refurbishment project at its flagship Llantrisant store. This initiative has included the re-launch of its furniture floor, now featuring new branded furniture studios, and the introduction of a new garden and landscaping center. The initial phase of the renovation has been met with positive customer feedback, according to Emma Leeke, the company's managing director. The aim of this extensive investment is to enhance the in-store shopping experience for customers. The updated furniture floor now showcases a new carpet and flooring studio, alongside dedicated brand studios from well-known manufacturers such as ercol, Stressless, G Plan upholstery, and Orla Kiely. This investment underscores Leekes' commitment to consistently improving its product offerings and cultivating an aesthetically pleasing retail environment. Customer responses have highlighted appreciation for the refreshed aesthetics, the diverse product selection, and the expertise of the staff. The ongoing second phase of refurbishment is expected to further transform the store into an inspiring and inviting destination for home-related purchases. Recent changes also encompass the reintroduction of popular outdoor clothing brands like Craghoppers, Regatta, Weird Fish, and Goose Island. Furthermore, the housewares, lighting, and home accessories departments have been relocated to create a new layout, providing customers with an updated view of the extensive product ranges available. These improvements are not exclusive to the Llantrisant branch; over the past year, Leekes' Melksham and Bilston locations have also received substantial investment to enhance their appearance and overall customer experience. Following clearance events, these stores have been modernized with similar leading brand furniture studio concepts as seen in Llantrisant. The next stage of this company-wide initiative will extend to Leekes Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire, South Wales. Emma Leeke emphasized the importance of physical retail stores to the business and expressed enthusiasm for the developments planned over the next 12-18 months. Despite the challenging retail landscape, Leekes remains committed to its core values, focusing on delivering a customer-centric and inspiring shopping environment. The goal is to ensure customers enjoy their visits while still having access to the broad selection of high-quality products that define the Leekes brand. The current Leekes Summer Sale offers significant savings of up to half price across various items. #Leekes #HomeFurnishings #RetailRefurbishment #LlantrisantStore #GardenCentre #FurnitureStudios #InteriorDesign #CustomerExperience #HomeDecor #RetailInvestment

Los Angeles is experiencing a vibrant surge in its home design retail landscape, with numerous new shops and pop-ups offering a diverse array of styles and unique finds. These establishments cater to a wide range of tastes, from minimalist modern and industrial chic to coastal elegance and vintage aesthetics, attracting both celebrity clientele and design enthusiasts. Cassina, an Italian furniture manufacturer, has opened its largest store to date in Los Angeles. This three-level space, designed by art director Patricia Urquiola, showcases modular works by Virgil Abloh and features its iMastri Collection, which includes timeless pieces resulting from collaborations with significant architects and designers such as Charlotte Perriand and Gaetano Pesce. The showroom is located at 145 N. Robertson Blvd. Olive Ateliers, a shop that has gained popularity through TikTok and Instagram, has become a favorite for home accessories, even attracting celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Elsa Hosk. Co-founded by Kendall Knox, Ben Knox, and Laura Sotelo, Olive Ateliers specializes in “objects with old souls,” such as worn Turkish vases and vintage Chinese elm benches. The store is situated at 1210 Mateo St. Inner Gardens, a long-established garden emporium known for landscape designer Stephen Block’s global finds and reproduction pots, has relocated to a former bank building in Culver City. The store's unique and serendipitous inventory appeals to high-profile clients including Spago, Soho House, Kelly Wearstler, Elton John, and Ellen Pompeo. Its new address is 4444 Sepulveda Blvd. Habitat Home & Garden, a family business with its third outpost in Malibu, emphasizes unique furnishings and one-of-a-kind designs that reflect the laid-back luxury of coastal California. The store, which includes rustic wood furniture, vintage rugs, and sun-bleached accessories, counts the Duke and Duchess of Sussex among its customers. It is located at 21249 Pacific Coast Highway. LDV, an establishment co-founded by Guido Callarelli and Birta Ólafsdóttir, now has a pop-up store near the West Hollywood Design District, allowing in-person viewing of its impeccably restored Art Deco and 1970s-era furniture. Previously, its inventory was available exclusively through an invite-only online platform. The pop-up is at 156 S. Robertson Blvd. Pop-Up Home, a furniture shop previously known for its roving nature, has found a permanent location in Melrose Hill. Founder Tricia Benitez Beanum curates a diverse collection that includes sculptural vintage furniture, 1970s studio pottery, and contemporary art from UNREPD, a gallery co-founded by Beanum that focuses on emerging artists. The store is located at 642 N. Western Ave. NB Shop, run by interior designer Natasha Baradaran, offers an experiential retail space that reflects her tactile approach to home and life, appealing to clients such as Heather and Christopher McQuarrie, Luis Miguel, and Kate Hudson. The shop, located at 725 N. La Cienega Blvd., features her Persian Garden textile collection, inspired by her Iranian heritage. The Expert, a design consultation platform co-founded by John Legend and Chrissy Teigen's interior designer Jake Arnold, has expanded with an e-commerce arm, Showroom, and a by-appointment warehouse in West Adams. The Showroom offers vintage pieces alongside Arnold's made-to-order furniture line. Appointments can be made via email. Flora Grubb Gardens, a well-regarded San Francisco garden shop known for its focus on sustainability and drought-tolerant plants, has opened a new location in Los Angeles, taking over the Marina Del Rey Garden Center at 13198 Mindanao Way. The Future Perfect, led by David Alhadeff, continues to elevate the concept of blending residence and retail with its fourth Los Angeles iteration. Now housed in a historic Beaux-Arts neoclassical home, newly landscaped by Art Luna, the space offers collectible contemporary design by appointment. House of Leon and Tappan Collective, run by siblings Jordan, Steven, and Chelse Neman Nassib, occupy adjacent shops on Melrose Avenue. House of Leon provides stylish and accessible furniture, while Tappan Collective showcases art from emerging talent, demonstrating how to integrate furniture and art seamlessly into residential spaces. They are located at 8200 Melrose Ave. Kalon Studios, known for its minimalist wood furniture favored by Kylie Jenner and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, has opened its first space at 3559½ Casitas Ave., Atwater Village, featuring a landscaped roof deck designed by Teremoto. Pierce & Ward, the interior design duo behind homes for celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Dakota Johnson, has opened their first shop at 1956 Hillhurst Ave., Los Feliz, featuring their maximalist aesthetic softened by sage green walls. Maquette, a collective formed by interior designers Caitlin Scanlon, Abby Wolf-Weiss, and Julie Goldman, has transformed a bungalow into a retail and co-working space. Located at 507 N. Larchmont Blvd., the shop attracts clients like UTA’s Blair Kohan and CAA’s Risa Gertner. Cooper Reynolds Gross has partnered with Fred Segal to launch his first commercial furniture collection, “Feels Right, Feels Good,” at Fred Segal on 8500 Sunset Boulevard. Coup D’Etat, a San Francisco-based gallery, is opening a new location on Robertson Boulevard. It will offer high-end furniture, exclusive artist collaborations, curated vintage pieces, and a dynamic visual program, attracting renowned designers. Gilded Owl, a decorative arts gallery from Hudson Valley, has established a presence on Beverly Boulevard at 7282 Beverly Blvd., showcasing mid-century Italian furniture and collaborations like “The Pool Table Series,” appealing to patrons such as Kirsten Dunst. Seventh House LA, located at 7001 Melrose Ave. in a building designed by Frank Gehry, presents a collection of early 20th-century Art Deco, postmodern, and contemporary art furniture. Albertz Benda | Friedman Benda, a New York gallery, has an L.A. outpost at 8260 Marmont Lane, aiming to broaden the concept of art and design by incorporating craft, architecture, and technology. This addition is significant for the L.A. design scene, as noted by interior designer Oliver M. Furth. Studio Balestra, Adriano Balestra’s shop at 767 N. La Cienega Blvd., blends his Italian heritage with Japanese antiquities to create a unique wabi-sabi aesthetic. This compilation provides an overview of the burgeoning home design scene in Los Angeles, highlighting various styles, celebrity endorsements, and key figures driving the industry. #LosAngeles #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #LuxuryFurniture #VintageDecor #Lifestyle #Retail #ArtAndDesign #CelebrityStyle

The article presents a business spotlight on AGA Interior Design, a full-service residential interior design firm owned by Alexandra Aquadro, based in Marblehead. The firm recently relocated its studio to 84 Washington St. and specializes in projects ranging from single-room updates to comprehensive home renovations and new construction. The interview, conducted by Discover Marblehead, delves into Aquadro's background, her passion for design, the genesis of her company, and her approach to client work. Aquadro recounts discovering her love for design at a young age, growing up in an antique home undergoing renovations. She vividly remembers selecting her bedroom wallpaper in the fourth grade, a cheerful yellow and floral pattern that remains a fixture in her childhood home. Her professional journey began after graduating from Hobart & William Smith Colleges and gaining experience at Kuhn Riddle Architects and Susan Reddick Design. In 2014, she launched AGA Interior Design, driven by a desire to bring her unique aesthetic to clients. AGA Interior Design's signature style is characterized by a curated blend of warm color palettes, comfortable furnishings, and layered textures, aiming to create sophisticated, timeless, functional, and welcoming spaces. A core aspect of Aquadro's business philosophy is her hands-on involvement in every project, from the initial consultation to the final installation. This personal approach ensures that each design is meticulously tailored to the client's specific vision and needs, ultimately leading to client satisfaction, which Aquadro considers her greatest reward. When asked about the best business advice she has received, Aquadro quotes Jim Henson: “If you care about what you do and work hard at it, there isn’t anything you can’t do if you want to.” This quote reflects her dedication and work ethic, which have been instrumental in building her successful design firm. Her favorite spot in Marblehead is Old Town, where she enjoys strolling through the charming streets, admiring the original doorways and timeless architectural details, which likely influence her design sensibilities. A surprising fact about Aquadro is that she was the first girl on her high school golf team, highlighting her pioneering spirit and willingness to challenge norms. This business spotlight is part of a weekly feature in partnership with Discover Marblehead, an organization dedicated to promoting local businesses, tourism, community events, and attractions through various marketing channels. The article encourages readers to learn more about AGA Interior Design by visiting their website and to explore Discover Marblehead's initiatives. #AGAInteriorDesign #InteriorDesign #BusinessSpotlight #MarbleheadLocalBusiness #AlexandraAquadro #ResidentialDesign #HomeRenovation #DesignPhilosophy #Entrepreneurship