Why West Hollywood is a great place to spend the day shopping away

Set aside the day when visiting the new Blu Dot store on Beverly Boulevard in West Hollywood. Not only is it — at 6,600 square feet — the largest in the brand’s portfolio, it also happens to be smack dab in one of L.A.’s most design-centric areas.

The Minneapolis-based label designs, produces and sells accessibly priced pieces with a modern American aesthetic: $39 for powder-coated steel letter holders, chairs that start at under $200, smaller couches at around $2,000.

The store is the company’s fifth (others are in New York, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Austin, Texas). It relocated to near the intersection of Beverly and Robertson Boulevard, leaving a previous space that was half that size on Melrose Avenue. In its expanded new home, it shares real estate with the international glitterati of furniture design, including Minotti, Ligne Roset and Roche Bobois.

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Design Sales’ Josiah Johnson dusts a Copper Real Good bar stool, counter stool and chair that are part of the window display at the new Blu Dot store in West Hollywood.

  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Larry Herman, left, and his wife Diane of West Los Angeles shop at Blu Dot.

  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Design Sales’ Maverick Brown, left, talks with shoppers Diane Herman and her husband Larry of West Los Angeles, as they try out a New Standard sofa.

  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Josiah Johnson inspects the Blu Dot displays.

  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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A Copper Real Good bar stool, from left, counter stool and chair are part of the window display.

  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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The new Blu Dot store in West Hollywood takes up 6,600 square feet.

  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blu Dot store on West Hollywood is the largest in the brand’s portfolio.

  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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2D:3D copper bowls for sale at Blu Dot.

  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

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Josiah Johnson keeps the shelves dust-free.

  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

“Some of the best design brands in the world are our neighbors,” said Blu Dot co-founder John Christakos.

The shop officially opened on Wednesday, and is a light-filled temple of modernity: white walls, concrete floors, the bow truss ceiling remaindered from the original structure. The merchandise is thoughtfully laid out, with high vertical slats separating one category from another.

“We like to show our work in a realistic setup as opposed to singular design objects,” said Christakos. “We won’t make it too literal. It’s not like you’ll see fake mantelpieces and crown molding in the living room section.”

Nonetheless, the easy-to-navigate layout is all the better for bouncing on beds, sinking into an armchair, perching on a Blu Dot signature item like its Real Good perforated metal chairs.

“It’s an infrequent purchase, and it’s a considered purchase,” said Christakos. “We might not be for everybody, and our neighbors might also not be for everybody. Where we are, it makes it convenient for customers to shop the whole district.”

Blu Dot, 8751 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood.

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