Japanese ryokans inform OWIU’s renovation of Duane House in LA
Mid-century modern and traditional Japanese influences blend inside this Los Angeles home, which the principals of design studio OWIU have reimagined for themselves. More
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Milanese modernism informs LA pizzeria interior by Jared Frank Studio
LA-based Jared Frank Studio has looked to Milan’s history of modernist design for references while focusing on “what a West Coast pizza parlour could be”. More
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Moroccan riads influence tiled interior of LA restaurant Zizou
Moroccan influences and materials create an “urban oasis” at this restaurant in Los Angeles, which owners Maati Zoutina and Boris Macquin designed and built themselves. More
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Weiszblüth & Brown designs tiny Thai eatery in LA that “packs a punch”
Diners pack tightly into this informal Thai restaurant in Los Angeles, which local studio Weiszblüth & Brown has designed to echo the intense flavours of the food served.
Holy Basil Market has 16 seats within just 90 square feet (8.4 square metres) of space in Atwater Village, following a highly successful first location Downtown.
Holy Basil Market has space for just 16 diners, who are accommodated thanks to flexible furnitureChefs and partners Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat and Tongkmala “Joy” Yuons tasked Weiszblüth & Brown with maximising the compact unit so that the restaurant would feel as bustling as a Bangkok street market.
“Weiszblüth & Brown took cues from the chef’s tendency for bright, intense flavors and hard-edge branding,” said the studio. “The space, like the food, packs a punch.”
The stainless steel service counter has a low shelf for guestsDue to the lack of floor area, the designers removed the visual barrier between back and front of house, continuing the stainless steel from the kitchen into the dining space.A metal service counter has a lower shelf for diners to perch against, while the same material appears as small chairs and stools.
Red baskets are stacked to create bases for tables that can easily be moved or put awayBright red rectangular baskets are stacked along the wall to form shelving and act as bases for flexible tables that can easily be rearranged.
Tops for these ad-hoc tables were specially designed to slot neatly over two boxes and are wrapped in vinyl that’s covered with imagery of food laid on a tablecloth.
Stainless steel storage containers and utensils add to the restaurant’s informal vibeThe baskets can also be upturned and used at extra stools during busy periods, or stored to the side if more floor area is required.
Additional seating is provided in a partially covered area outside the entrance, under a neon sign that spells out the restaurant’s name.Studio Tarea creates “90s fever dream” inside pink Richmond eatery
Glass panels and doors fill an arched opening that provides views into to brightly lit space from the alley.
“Eater LA described the space as ‘almost suffocatingly intimate’, and it’s a feat of hospitality that Deau and Joy are able to welcome so many into such a small space,” said Weiszblüth & Brown.
The table tops are wrapped in vinyl that’s covered with imagery of food laid on a tableclothA trend for more intimate dining spaces appears to be gaining popularity in the US, evident in the launch of several restaurants that can seat just a handful of guests.
An all-pink restaurant with 18 covers recently opened in Richmond, Virginia, while an omakase spot with room for only eight in New York began welcoming diners earlier this year.
Additional seating is provided outside the entrance, which is via glass doors within an arched windowCeramicist Alex Reed and architectural designer Dutra Brown founded Weiszblüth & Brown after Dezeen published their Harvest Shop pop-up designed for lifestyle brand Flamingo Estate in 2020.
The project was shortlisted in the small retail interior category of Dezeen Awards 2021, and the duo then formalised their collaborative practice that works from product to architecture scale.
The photography is by Patcha.Read more: More
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22RE takes “deconstructivist” approach to menswear store in LA
Los Angeles-based studio 22RE has combined metal grids, black and mirrored surfaces, and bold splashes of colour inside this men’s multi-brand boutique in the city’s Arts District.
The second Departamento location is situated in the Signal retail enclave, which occupies a series of warehouses southeast of Downtown LA.
The Departamento store features custom elements like a green fibreglass and resin jewellery displayUsing the building’s industrial bones to inform design decisions, 22RE took styling sensibilities of 20th-century modernists like Rudolph Schindler and Richard Neutra.
“Inside, 22RE leans into the original architecture’s industrial elements through a deconstructivist lens,” said the studio.
From inside a coffee shop, visitors pass through a concealed entrance and a mirrored portal to access the storeThe store’s entrance is concealed inside a Concierge Coffee, leading to a mirrored portal that opens onto the shop floor.While the layout follows a typical grid, the designers have inserted a variety of partitions, volumes and displays that “disrupt” the flow and encourage shoppers to explore.
A triangular niche with mirrored walls creates infinite reflections”This non-linear layout challenges the traditional browsing experience and provides an unconventional yet effective approach to shopping,” said 22RE.
A pair of curved metal-clad walls that evoke a Richard Serra sculpture form a narrow corridor from one area to another, while also displaying garments on their concave sides.
Partitions and volumes are strategically placed to frame views and encourage explorationBlackened wood panels form an enclosed space, inside which bright white walls and repurposed wooden framing contrast dramatically with the rest of the store interior.
“The space, entered via a slatted, sliding door, invites guests to experience the collection in a ryokan-inspired setting, evoking the traditional Japanese inn,” said 22RE.
A red cylindrical element acts a fitting roomThis shop-in-shop was designed in collaboration with fashion brand Taiga Takahashi, and also features shelving made from tatami mats and flooring intended to resemble pebble stones.
Another triangular niche features mirrored walls that create infinite reflections of the apparel and the aubergine-coloured carpet on the floor.22RE invokes “stillness” inside green Miami golfing boutique
“Collections are hung and displayed via monolithic and sculpturesque forms that divide up the space, creating a fluid but juxtaposing dichotomy between the heavier wood forms and the lighter metallic elements,” 22RE said.
A red cylindrical volume is used as a fitting room, while further dressing areas are tucked away behind silver curtains.
22RE collaborated with Taiga Takahashi on a blackened wood shop-in-shop spaceCustom elements include a green fibreglass resin-and-foam jewellery case and a chiselled aluminium side table.
A white aluminium ceiling grid stretches across the entire store, extending over all of the freestanding elements, with lighting embedded behind creating futuristic glowing patches.
Influenced by Japanese ryokan inns, the space features white walls and repurposed timber framing22RE was founded by principal Dean Levin in 2021, and has since completed a range of interior design projects across the US.
The studio recently wrapped up the offices for a creative music agency in LA that include a 1970s-style sunken meeting room and a golf clothing boutique in Miami lined with pale-green stucco.
The photography is by Erik Stackpole Undehn.Read more: More
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Ceremony of Roses offices by 22RE feature 1970s-influenced meeting spaces
Los Angeles studio 22RE has included a “huddle room” that resembles a sunken living room at the offices for a creative music agency.
The offices within a 1950s factory in Culver City were designed for Ceremony of Roses, an artist merchandising and brand services company for top music creatives.
A minimalist white oak counter welcomes visitors to the Ceremony of Roses officesWorking with creative director Madeline Denley of creative consultancy Never Far Studios, 22RE completely overhauled the 7,000 square feet (650 square metres) of space to create four executive offices, six communal desks, a showroom, a conference room, a huddle room and a listening room.
“The project was a full-scale, wall-to-wall customisation where we got to dig into functional priorities while maximising visual appeal and comfort,” said 22RE principal Dean Levin.
The main communal workspace features aluminium desks atop a raw concrete floorThe main communal workspace occupies a large, lofted central room illuminated by skylights between the exposed wooden ceiling rafters.Reaching past a minimalist white oak reception desk, the open area features custom aluminium desks and cabinets accompanied by Eames Management chairs atop a raw concrete floor.
Executive offices are visible through glass panelsOn either side, open and closed storage is provided by millwork cabinets and titanium travertine shelves.
A row of executive offices, visible through tall glass panels, are furnished with a mix of French and Italian modernist pieces.
A maple-panelled conference room is furnished with a burl wood table and Pierre Jeanneret chairsA freestanding structure built from dark-stained white oak houses a conference room, which holds a burl wood table and six Pierre Jeanneret floating-back chairs.
Maple wall panels complement the brown carpet, and a spherical Akari lamp is suspended overhead to give the space a warm glow.
White oak and titanium travertine, which appear throughout the project, were used to craft the kitchenOn the other side of the communal work area is a kitchen, where the same material palette of white oak and titanium travertine continues.
A matte aluminium dining table with matching curved-back chairs – another set of 22RE custom designs – provides a space for employees to eat and congregate.
22RE custom-designed the matte aluminium dining table and matching curved-back chairsThe listening room is decorated entirely in a chocolate brown hue, with walnut panelling, carpet and upholstery on the built-in, U-shaped sofa all carefully chosen for a monochrome effect and optimum acoustics.
“The ceilings maximize sound quality, with angles implemented to reverberate music as top creatives gather to experience albums – which also accessorize the shelved wall – on vinyl,” said 22RE.And And And Studio brings 1970s elements to Century City Law Office
The “huddle room” is modelled on a 1970s sunken lounge, evidenced by its low wraparound sofa modules upholstered in pale green mohair.
A custom aluminium table referencing designs by Oscar Niemeyer was placed in the center and a vintage Akari light by Isamu Noguchi hangs above.
An acoustically optimised listening room is decorated entirely in chocolate brown”The space’s soft and hard, warm and cold elements amplify the contrast of the warm wood and industrial materials that are apparent across the office interiors,” said the studio.
In stark contrast to the rest of the office, bathrooms are enveloped floor-to-ceiling in vibrant blue, including three-inch Japanese ceramic tiles.
In contrast, the bathrooms are enveloped floor to ceiling in vibrant blue22RE’s previous projects include a golf clothing boutique in Miami with pale-green stucco surfaces informed by the sport and the city.
Other offices in LA with unexpected interiors include the Century City offices of an entertainment law firm, which also have a 1970s vibe.
The photography is by Yoshihiro Makino.Read more: More
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ORA utilises LA’s fallen street trees inside Uchi West Hollywood restaurant
Vertical fins of live-edge wood, which was sourced from fallen street trees, divide spaces at this Japanese restaurant in Los Angeles by local studio ORA.
Uchi West Hollywood is the first West Coast location for chef Tyson Cole’s Austin-based chain, operated by Hai Hospitality Group.
Fallen street trees sourced from across LA form spatial dividers through the restaurantSituated on a prominent corner along Santa Monica Boulevard, the 5,200-square-foot (483-square-metre) restaurant seats 160 covers amongst a timber-dominant interior.
“We collaborated closely with local artists, makers and craftsmen, elevating humble natural materials to create a sense of surprise and connection to the unexpected natural beauty and spirit of our city,” said ORA founding principal Oonagh Ryan.
Custom pieces created for the space include a sculptural light fixture by Kazuki Takizawa above the bar counterOne of the main collaborations for this project was with Angel City Lumber, which sourced wood from 25 Aleppo Pine trees that had fallen across 14 different city neighbourhoods.“With an average diameter of 30 inches and an average length of nine feet, nearly 26 tons of local LA trees were turned into wood for Uchi,” said the team.
The live-edge wood boards trace sinuous lines through the space, creating more intimate seating areasThe 42 logs from these trees were cut into live-edge boards of varied lengths, and suspended vertically from the restaurant’s ceiling to form spatial dividers.
The panels follow sinuous lines that demarcate seating areas, and are followed around the top by vertical wood bands that conceal cove lighting designed by Dot Dash.
Travertine is mounted behind the sushi barIn between, hand-troweled plaster across the ceiling helps to improve acoustics in the space.
Meanwhile, custom concrete planters by landscape firm SBLA run underneath the dividers and extend out to a patio with further dining space.
Light boxes above the banquettes create silhouettes of the decorative objects displayed in frontThe remainder of the earth-toned material palette is dominated by woods such as white oak and walnut, complemented by upholstery from Maharam, Knoll and Carol Leather.
At the perimeter, bespoke booth seating by ORA is placed below glowing light boxes that create silhouettes of decorative objects displayed on shelves in front.Stitched brick wall welcomes guests to Uchi Miami restaurant by Michael Hsu
Striations in travertine panels mounted behind both the sushi bar and drinks bar are accentuated by thin metal shelves for storing dishes and bottles respectively.
Also in the bar area, a custom sculptural light fixture created by LA artist Kazuki Takizawa to evoke cherry blossoms hangs above the end of the stone counter.
Custom concrete planters below the wooden board dividers extend out to the patio dining areaBoth the solid white oak and brass bar stools by Lawson-Fenning and the handmade ceramic lamps by Ceramicah were made locally.
Other California-based artists represented in the space include Liisa Liiva, Molly Haynes, Rajiv Khilnani and Rachel Duvall.
The corridor to the bathrooms is lined with thin wooden stripsThe bathrooms are reached via a corridor lined with thin vertical wooden strips, and are themselves clad in dark grey tiles.
Uchi – which means “house” in Japanese – also has locations in Austin, Miami, Dallas and Denver, while its sister brand Uchiko has an outpost in Houston designed by Michael Hsu.
The photography is by Eric Staudenmaier.
Project credits:
Architect: ORAInterior design: ORAFurniture and accessories: Hai Hospitality and ORALighting: Dot DashLandscape: Stephen Billings Landscape ArchitectsStructural: Nous EngineeringMechanical: Engineered SolutionsElectrical: TEK Engineering GroupFoodservice design: MyersContractor: Build GroupLumber shop: Angel City LumberMillwork fabricator: Architectural Woodwork of MontanaRead more: More
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Working Holiday Studio adds hacienda-style twist to midcentury LA house
The founders of LA-based Working Holiday Studio have renovated a midcentury home for themselves and their growing family, transforming the interiors to echo a Mexican hacienda.
Designers Carlos Naude and Whitney Brown chose to move from their previous ranch-style home to a larger dwelling after having a second child, knowing they would need more space.
Working Holiday Studio added arched openings and handmade brick floors to the midcentury homeThe couple found another midcentury home built in 1962 in the Granada Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles, which they set about remodelling in “an eclectic hacienda style with Mexican and Scandinavian influences”.
“We renovated the house because it hasn’t been updated since the first owners bought it and was in much need of a refresh,” the duo told Dezeen. “The layout didn’t make sense for modern living and the house felt dark, cold and outdated.”
Details like iron railings with wavy balusters add a “hacienda vibe” to the interiorsThe biggest change involved opening up the wall between the dining room and kitchen, creating a large space for the family to gather and entertain under the dark-stained, mono-pitched ceiling.The kitchen was reimagined with swing-out French doors, dark green plaster across the walls, and warm millwork for cabinets and the central island.
The kitchen was completely transformed with dark green plaster walls and warm millworkBricks across the floor in this space and the hallways were handmade in Tijuana, Mexico, and imported across the border.
Together with arched openings that Working Holiday Studio added throughout the home, they add a “hacienda vibe” to the property.
A formal living room features a variety of sculptural seats arranged around a marble coffee tableBeige plaster walls, iron railings with wavy balusters and various wooden furniture pieces also lend to the contemporary Mexican aesthetic, with hints of Scandinavian minimalism.
“We always start with a palette of colours and materials,” said Naude and Brown. “We wanted [the interiors] to feel neutral, earthy, and warm with a few pop accents.”Los Angeles ranch house becomes Zen Den by Working Holiday Studio
Also on the ground floor is a space for the family to watch TV together, which features a large cushioned sectional.
A formal living room off the dining area has a whitewashed brick fireplace in the corner, and a variety of sculptural chairs arranged around a marble coffee table.
Bedrooms are decorated with natural materials in neutral tones”We spend a lot of time in the family and TV room because it’s very cosy and comfortable, but love looking into the formal living room because each piece feels like an artwork or sculpture,” the couple said.
Upstairs, the bedrooms are decorated with natural materials in neutral tones, while the bathrooms are playfully lined with checkerboard or thin straight-stack tiles.
Playful touches in the bathrooms include checkerboard tilingAcross the exterior, the house was rendered in mid-grey stucco and black-framed windows and doors were added.
A large covered veranda stretches almost the full length of the building and is used for outdoor lounging and dining in front of the backyard swimming pool.
The house has a large veranda for outdoor lounging and dining in front of the backyard swimming poolOther properties designed and owned by the couple – the ZenDen in LA’s Woodland Hills and Casa Mami near Joshua Tree National Park – are available as vacation rentals for guests.
The photography is by Carlos Naude.Read more: More
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“I don’t think we should put celebrity designers on a pedestal” says Bobby Berk
Queer Eye star Bobby Berk recently quit the hit show to run his interior design studio full-time. In this exclusive interview, he discusses how his TV experiences have shaped his approach.
Having announced in November 2023 that he would be leaving his role as the Netflix reality series’ interior design expert after eight seasons, Berk has since leaned full-time into work through his eponymous studio – as well as being a Dezeen Awards judge.
“I think the show really did make me more confident in using colour”
“Designing for TV is very different from designing for a ‘real world’ project,” Berk told Dezeen. “The timeline is so much quicker [in TV], and you’re also creating a space that has to work in person and translate on screen.”
Berk described how his work on Queer Eye – which sees the five expert presenters make positive changes to an ordinary person’s lifestyle – required him to adapt his usual design style in order to satisfy the needs of the show’s makeover subjects.“Design-wise, my work on Queer Eye often featured much more colour and pattern than I typically use,” he explained. “I wanted to reflect the personalities and desires of the inhabitants, and that often meant going bold.”
Berk appeared in eight seasons of Netflix’s hit reality show Queer EyeIn contrast, Berk describes his personal style as a “mix of organic, modern, classic, Spanish, and minimal with a mostly neutral colour palette” that leans towards working with natural materials and geometric shapes.
He cites his LA-based studio, in a recently renovated 1970s Spanish-style home, as the project that most accurately reflects his own style.
Rooms filled with a palette dominated by black, white, marble and wood detailing house the designer’s headquarters and various home products.
Nevertheless, he reports that Queer Eye has opened him up to experimenting with bolder tones and patterns.
“I believe we should let the work speak for itself”
“I’ve brought in hits of colour in a handful of projects since then, and I think the show really did make me more confident in using colour – especially in wallpaper, unique paint treatments, and murals,” he said.
Berk argues that his style isn’t definable in a single term or phrase – but acknowledges that certain aspects of his taste were cemented by moving from New York to California, after a childhood spent in the Bible Belt.
“It really all developed over time, there wasn’t an exact moment my style all came together,” he said. “Rather, I feel all my past experiences and influences blended into a more discernible look and feel when I moved to California.”
The interior designer says working on TV pushed him to be more confident in experimenting with colourLos Angeles continues to have the greatest influence on his work, ahead of the various locations Queer Eye filmed – including Atlanta, Philadelphia, New Orleans and a spin-off season in Japan – or Portugal, where the designer now lives part-time.
“Of all the places I’ve lived and travelled, Los Angeles is the city that continues to drive my creativity and help me to see through fresh eyes,” he said.
“It’s a very inspiring place on many different levels, and there is such a legacy of incredible architecture and design.”Five key projects by interior designer and Dezeen Awards judge Bobby Berk
Design as a tool for improving well-being has remained at the centre of Berk’s work before, during and after Queer Eye, and he explored the theme further in his book Right at Home: How Good Design Is Good For The Mind, published last year.
“From the very beginning of my career, I’ve known the power that design can have to change your life,” he said.
“That will always be the throughline of my work, to use design as not just a way to make a beautiful room, but as an invaluable tool for improving wellness and mental health.”
Berk’s LA office exemplifies his “organic” and “minimal” styleWhile he admits being in the spotlight can be both “challenging” and “flattering”, Berk is keen for his design work to be judged on its own merits.
“Being cast on a television show has obviously changed my life in incredible ways and afforded me so many amazing opportunities,” he said. “Part of that also means being a public figure and having people be interested in more than just your design work.”
“Sometimes it’s challenging, sometimes it’s flattering, but it’s what I signed up for,” he added. “I also don’t think we should put celebrity designers on a pedestal or value their work above other working designers who may not have had the same exposure.”
“I believe we should let the work speak for itself, and give space to anyone that is talented and creating compelling design.”
The photography is by Sara Ligorria Tramp.
Dezeen In DepthIf you enjoy reading Dezeen’s interviews, opinions and features, subscribe to Dezeen In Depth. Sent on the last Friday of each month, this newsletter provides a single place to read about the design and architecture stories behind the headlines.Read more: More
