Double-Height Glass Cabinets Were Nonnegotiable in This L.A. Family’s Home

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

While many New York City kitchens are compact, barely fitting standard appliances, an expansive kitchen island can serve as a significant focal point in homes with more generous space. This article showcases several luxurious New York City residences that feature oversized kitchen islands, highlighting their versatility and design. Each example illustrates how these islands go beyond simple food preparation, serving multiple functions within the home. The first example is a 6,000-square-foot Boerum Hill home at 323 Pacific Street, priced at $11 million. Its kitchen and dining room span 700 square feet, boasting custom millwork cabinetry and a massive marble island equipped with a farmhouse sink. This particular island emphasizes high-end design and functionality, fitting seamlessly into a large, open-plan space. Another featured property is a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath loft condo at 153 Chambers Street, available for $6.4 million. The kitchen in this loft centers around an oversized island featuring a butcher-block countertop, suggesting a design choice that prioritizes both aesthetics and practical use for chopping and food preparation. At 25 North Moore Street, a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath loft listed at $6.75 million includes an oversized island that cleverly combines a butcher block and marble counter. This dual-material design allows the island to function efficiently as both a breakfast bar and a dedicated prep station, catering to various daily needs from casual dining to extensive cooking. For those seeking ultimate luxury, the 14th-floor penthouse at 944 Park Avenue, valued at $11.995 million, presents a chef’s kitchen. This kitchen is outfitted with a double-wide Sub-Zero refrigerator, a six-burner Wolf stove, and a substantial center island. The island features elegant marble countertops and custom cabinetry, designed to support high-level culinary activities. An exceptional example of maximizing island utility is found in a five-bedroom, five-bath single-family townhouse at 104 Prospect Park West, priced at $11 million. This kitchen uniquely features not one, but two islands, both topped with honed marble counters and equipped with custom-built cabinetry. This setup is ideal for large families or those who frequently entertain, offering extensive workspace and storage. Finally, a renovated four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath loft at 39 Vestry Street, listed for $5.995 million, showcases an open kitchen concept. Its island is distinguished by Caesarstone countertops and an integrated Viking cooktop. This design integrates cooking directly into the island, making it a central hub for culinary creation and social interaction within the open living space. These examples collectively highlight a trend in high-end New York City real estate where kitchen islands are designed not just as functional elements but as central features that enhance the living experience, accommodating diverse activities from meal preparation and dining to homework and social gatherings. The choice of materials like marble, butcher block, and Caesarstone, along with integrated appliances, reflects a commitment to both luxury and practicality in these sophisticated urban homes. #KitchenIslands #LuxuryRealEstate #NYCInteriors #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #KitchenDesign #HighEndKitchens

This article details the transformation of a Lynnfield brick Colonial's kitchen, spearheaded by homeowner Dawn Delaney and designer Carly Blackmore of Habitat Design. Delaney, who had been collecting design ideas for 25 years, envisioned a 'wow factor' ceiling for her dream kitchen. The project began with a significant demolition, combining three rooms into one large space designed for entertaining. Blackmore was brought in to actualize this vision, starting with a blank canvas. A key challenge in the redesign was a curved wall, a remnant from the 1990s, which was part of the home's sweeping staircase. Initially considering options like hiding it or flattening it, Blackmore ingeniously transformed it into an architectural feature by paneling it, making it a focal point rather than an obstruction. This decision influenced the subsequent design choices, particularly for the ceiling. Delaney presented Blackmore with two ceiling design preferences: coffered and tray styles. Blackmore, however, advocated for the tray style, believing that combining coffers with the newly paneled wall would create an overly busy aesthetic. The 'less is more' principle guided this choice, ensuring that only one element served as the primary visual star. The chosen tray ceiling was then enhanced with a unique color and finish—Benjamin Moore Smoked Oyster, a raisin brown with purple undertones, applied in a high-gloss finish. This dusky ceiling color was strategically selected to integrate the predominantly white kitchen with the richer, more vibrantly colored surrounding rooms of the house. To prevent the kitchen from appearing too stark amidst the white cabinetry and the striking ceiling, a walnut island was introduced to anchor the cooking area. This island features a honed white Danby marble top with warm brown and gold veining, finished with a double-ogee edge, providing a sense of gravitas. Curvy columns on the island corners further align the kitchen's aesthetic with the home's traditional furnishings. Complementing the island, a custom hand-rubbed satin nickel hood with brass strapping draws the eye across the space. The hood's swooped silhouette and the Gothic arches of the glass-front upper cabinets on the adjacent wall add feminine touches, with the brass accents reflecting Delaney's gold-edged china. The windows in this area were also modified, with sills raised from the countertops, to create more visual interest and volume. Practical elements for Delaney's frequent hosting and cooking include a 48-inch Wolf range and a 60-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, strategically placed near a bay window with a built-in banquette. Everyday essentials are stored in refrigerated drawers within the island, while the large appliances cater to gatherings. The kitchen also features an informal dining area with a coffee station and a robust wet bar, complete with a champagne sink, ice maker, dishwasher, and full-height wine fridge. This setup facilitates guest flow from the foyer to the bar and then into the main kitchen for food on the island. The open space in front of the window seat often doubles as a dance floor during parties, underscoring the kitchen's role as a central gathering hub. The homeowner expressed immense satisfaction with the renovation, calling it a dream fulfilled and a transformative space for her family and friends. #KitchenDesign #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #LuxuryKitchens #LynnfieldHome #CustomCabinetry #EntertainingSpace #ArchitecturalFeatures

The article explores the growing trend of incorporating floor-to-ceiling glass and steel windows into home architecture. These structures, characterized by large glass panes framed by thin steel, are becoming a popular architectural addition on many desirable streets. They introduce an element of industrial chic into otherwise traditional residences. A primary function of these windows is to create an airy separation between the interior of a house and its outdoor spaces, such as backyards, pools, or gardens. This design choice effectively blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor environments, fostering a seamless transition and connection to nature. The article highlights examples from various designers and firms to illustrate the aesthetic appeal and versatility of this architectural feature. Designer Beth Webb from Atlanta frequently utilizes these windows in her projects, noting their ability to connect the indoors with the outdoors more vividly than traditional casement windows. In one Atlanta kitchen project, inspired by Belgian design, Webb intentionally left the steel and glass windows overlooking the pool area free of window treatments. Instead, a linen panel was strategically placed in the center of the kitchen to provide a subtle division between the cooking and dining areas, complementing the rich material combination of a stone floor and the glass and steel windows. Another example, from designer Tish Mills, showcases a room where a door is integrated seamlessly into a wall of steel and glass windows, emphasizing the fluid connection between spaces. McAlpine Booth & Ferrier also demonstrates the adaptability of these windows in their designs, presenting a room that harmoniously blends indoor and outdoor elements. Further illustrating this, another McAlpine creation at Bloomsbury Farm exemplifies how these windows can be a focal point. The article concludes by emphasizing that floor-to-ceiling glass and steel windows consistently command attention and enhance the overall design of a home, making them a stunning and highly favored design element. #GlassAndSteelWindows #InteriorDesign #ArchitecturalTrends #HomeDecor #ModernDesign #IndoorOutdoorLiving #BethWebb #TishMills #McAlpineBoothFerrier