Behind the Scenes
Elizabeth Paige Smith
“My work often takes its inspirations from nature, which I then create in a synthetic material. I’m trying to combine the organic and man-made in a harmonious balance.”
the look: Modern Organic
inspirations: “The shape of a bird’s beak, E-type Jaguars, the back of a woman’s knee.”
favorite materials: Molded fiberglass, resin, acrylic, fishnets and resin powder pigments.
you saw it here first: Nude dining chair of molded fiberglass, inspired by a woman’s knee, and a Flow screen made from cast urethane. “I’m interested in defining space with objects. It’s a more free and organic approach.”
why l.a.? “I love the quality of isolation I feel in Los Angeles. I choose to work on my own. I’m not interested in surrounding myself with too many distractions. I cherish the freedom I have to work and create here.”appeared in: The film “Solaris”; Wallpaper, Surface and Flaunt magazines; Victoria’s Secret catalog and L’Oreal print ads. monty lawton and mark zuckerman “We strive to be original and innovative in terms of both form and function as well as the kinds of materials we use.”
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Monty Lawton and Mark Zuckerman
“We strive to be original and innovative in terms of both form and function as well as the kinds of materials we use.”
the look: Functional Minimalism
inspirations: Contemporary international designer Ron Arad for his vanguard plastic materials and organic forms; George Nelson and Philippe Starck for their philosophy of design that, Lawton says, “offers good design to the general public to expand their horizons for living well.”
favorite materials: Synthetics such as polycarbonate. Woods such as cherry, walnut, maple. Fabrics such as wool, nylon and polyester for long wear. “We want our pieces to last-that’s what it’s all about.”
you saw it here first: Polycarbonate seat-shell and chrome legs Pocket Chair, winner of Good Design Award 2001. “We sat in one cafe after another to discover what makes a perfect chair. We asked ourselves what could one add to the seat? The answer became crystal clear: Where was the menu? And thus was born the Pocket Chair, which holds anything from a place card or menu to the daily newspaper.”
why l.a.? “L.A has a history of being open to new ideas in architecture and design. That helps build a foundation for people to explore new ideas here.”
appeared in: “A.I.: Artificial Intelligence,” “Friends,” MTV’s “Real World Chicago” and a P. Diddy music video.
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Lindsay Dakota
“I don’t design a piece of furniture to sit back and watch TV in. I’m trying to create the perfect punctuation point to a room.”
the look: Primitive Modernism
inspirations: “The Inuit of Canada’s Arctic for their carvings, which marry their spiritual world with the environment that surrounds them.” Mies van der Rohe for “the way he pared everything down to its essence,” and Luis Barragan’s materials and connection to nature. favorite materials: Brazilian rosewood, Macassar ebony, white oak and American black walnut; silks and linens.
you saw it here first: A Tsimshian lounge chair of Brazilian rosewood. “I named the lounge after the Tsimshian Indian tribe of British Columbia, who are known for the softness and flowing lines of their carvings.”
why l.a.? “I lived in New York City for nine years, but I’m more creative out here. It has to do with the proximity of nature-the mountains and ocean. It fuels my creativity.”
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Chair Man
Ever since his arrival in Los Angeles two decades ago, designer Michael Berman has been fascinated by the glamour of Old Hollywood. It’s a major inspiration for his furnishings, which he describes as “Trans-American modern.” “I love film noir,” he says, citing “The Palm Beach Story,” starring Claudette Colbert, and “The Fountainhead,” with Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal. “There’s an elegance to the interiors and unexpected details, such as the shape of a lampshade, the trim on a sofa. They’re little snippets of style I file away and use at a later date.”
Bearing out this Hollywood theme, Berman’s furniture collection often has Hollywood monikers, such as the DeMille console and Lombard coffee table, the Warner lounge chair and the Mansfield dining table. He mixes traditional finishes, such as mahogany, with texturally rich modern fabrics for a lush and tailored look. Not surprisingly, Hollywood set decorators often select his pieces for films and TV programs, such as “What Women Want,” “Enough” and “Will & Grace.” Berman’s 1937 canyon home, with its pastiche of neoclassical, American modern and Art Deco accents, is a blend of his custom furnishings-the Lexington sofa, named after a street in Hollywood; the Fontaine dining chair, with its neo-Egyptian legs-and vintage pieces he collects from the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s.
Berman, a boutique manufacturer, turns out his custom furnishings from a workroom near his West Hollywood design studio. “It allows us to be very flexible.” A collection of dining tables and buffets that can be customized in four to six weeks-what he calls his “ready-to-wear” line-uses an array of finishes, such as parchment lacquer, caramel mahogany and cerused walnut, polished and satin nickel, and unlacquered copper and brass. With these options, clients get a more personalized look. “People don’t want to walk into their neighbor’s house and see their dining table.”
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RESOURCE GUIDE
Elizabeth Paige Smith, Venice, (310) 306-5010, www.epsdesign.com. Flow resin and molded fiberglass 9-foot room divider (as shown), $3,240 (27 pieces, $120 per unit). Nude molded fiberglass chair, $1,660, at Twentieth, Los Angeles, (323) 904-1200.
Monty Lawton and Mark Zuckerman Pocket Chair, $225, at In House, Los Angeles, (323) 931-4420. Pages 22-23: Lindsay Dakota Tsimshian lounge chair of Brazilian rosewood, $6,000, at Lindsay Dakota, Los Angeles, (323) 965-1057.
Tangier hassock, $995, at The Lab at Michael Berman Limited, limited furniture prototypes, found objects and vintage one-of-a-kind furnishings, Los Angeles, (323) 933-0220. Dresden mirror, $3,680; Warner chair, $2,640; DeMille coffee table, $6,140; Lexington sofa, $5,255; Beato head lamp, $1,670; Mansfield dining table, $8,055; Fontaine armchair, $1,775, and side chair, $1,615; Hawthorne armless chair, $2,515; and Circle lamp, $1,660, all at The Bradbury Collection, Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood, (310) 657-3940. Michael Berman collection for Aga John Oriental Rugs, Sedimentary Stripes Tibetan 9-by-12 felt rug, $8,300, at Aga John Oriental Rugs, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles, (310) 657-0890.
