‘If you invest in good pieces, they follow you through life.’ This is design writer and interior designer Mallery Roberts Morgan’s motto after 25 years of being immersed in the design world. Case in point – when she first met one tech-creative client, he had recently moved to Los Angeles, suitcase in hand; ‘Designing the interiors of his bachelor apartment in the iconic Sierra Towers of West Hollywood, we focused on a mix of distinctive vintage pieces and contemporary LA makers,’ she says.
'Use a space to suit your authentic lifestyle, not the lifestyle you imagine you might have,' says Mallery Roberts Morgan. Here, ignoring a traditional floorplan, the dining table sits in the living room, serving up views over Los Angeles and doubling down as a ‘library’ table. Hanging light, by Dimorestudio. ‘Saarinen’ dining table, from Design Within Reach. Vintage dining chairs, from Lucca Antiques. Artwork by Agostino Bonalumi
‘Cut to five years later, [when he was] moving in with his singer-songwriter-actress fiancé, our “bachelor” collection of furniture, objects and art, served as the foundation for the interiors [the couple] were now envisioning together. Whether vintage finds, designs by local makers or custom designs, every piece transitioned perfectly into the 1960s ranch-style house they rented perched in the hills above Sunset Boulevard,’ Roberts Morgan continues, referring to the home pictured in this article.
A common feature in midcentury ranch-style architecture is a walled courtyard entrance, creating privacy from the street. A diverse collection of planters composes a ‘transportable garden’, including large-scale pots for dramatic statements such as a roof-height banana tree. Stoneware sculpture, by artist Isabel Rower, from Marta Gallery
‘Nothing beats the architecture of midcentury LA to experience a true California lifestyle,’ she continues. ‘And with the dynamic design and art scene the city offers, renting creates a perfect opportunity for focusing on building a collection. So, along with some clever cosmetic tricks to make the house more personal without costly remodelling, we once again focused on curating meaningful additions to a growing collection.
‘Happily, our midcentury charmer has proved to be the perfect romantic hideaway. And our couple’s embellished interiors full of “good pieces” will be a solid foundation for any of life’s future designs (pun intended).’
Period terrazzo floors at the property were replaced with polished concrete in the 1990s. Installing wall-to-wall white carpet throughout served as a clean, bright, visual lift, and gave the house a barefoot lifestyle. A dynamic piece of wall/carpet art by Jemima Jasmine Sieff makes a bold entrance
The ‘formal’ dining room was transformed into a tranquil space for a daily meditation practice. Berber rug, from Mehraban. Vintage Patricia Urquiola, 'Tufty Time' lounge chairs, from Billings Auction. Vintage embroidered decorative pillows, from Pat McGann Gallery. Ceramic sculpture, by JoAnn Patterson, from JF Chen. Artwork by Alberto Garutti
‘Renting is an opportunity to focus on collecting, especially in Los Angeles, home to a dynamic design and art scene.’ Vintage Gio Ponti ‘Continuum’ lounge chair for Bonacina. ‘Méandre’ table, from Design Frères. Vase, by Floris Wubben from Future Perfect. ‘Wave’ artwork by Alex Israel
'Less of a kitchen and more of a hang-out makes cooking more sociable.’ Vintage Berber rug, from Amadi. Vintage woven Peruvian rug, from Kneeland Co. Lamp, from Atelier de Troupe
‘In the principal bedroom, custom plaster on the walls and ceiling, accentuated by a smoked-mirror wall, evokes the mood of a personal sanctuary.’ Custom bed fully upholstered in green mohair, fabric from Pierre Frey. Custom lacquered nightstands, from Waka Waka. Vintage hanging pendants by Gino Sarfatti for Arteluce, from Rewire. Vintage tapestry decorative pillows, from Pat McGann Gallery. Artwork by Imi Knoebel
‘Pieces collected during a client’s “bachelor” years transitioned perfectly into the interiors of the 1960s ranch-style house he and his fiancé moved into, perched in the hills above Sunset Boulevard.’ Red marble ‘Jumble’ table by Gae Aulenti; Arne Jacobsen ‘Egg’ chair, both vintage, from 1stdibs. Artwork by Alighiero Boetti
'One easy trick to make a rented home more personal, and avoid costly remodeling, is art, art, art.’ Portrait of S., by Ben Evans
-
Designer Marta de la Rica’s elegant Madrid studio is full of perfectly-pitched contradictionsThe studio, or ‘the laboratory’ as de la Rica and her team call it, plays with colour, texture and scale in eminently rewarding ways
-
‘Nothing just because it’s beautiful’: Performance artist Marina Abramović on turning her hand to furniture designMarina Abramović has no qualms about describing her segue into design as a ‘domestication’. But, argues the ‘grandmother of performance art’ as she unveils a collection of chairs, something doesn’t have to be provocative to be meaningful
-
A local’s guide to Los Angeles by defiant artist Fawn RogersOregon-born, LA-based artist Fawn Rogers gives us a personal tour of her adopted city as it hosts its sixth edition of Frieze
-
California cool: Studio Shamshiri debuts handmade door handles and pullsLos Angeles interior design firm Studio Shamshiri channels the spirit of the Californian landscape into its handcrafted hardware collections. Founder Pamela Shamshiri shares the inspiration behind the designs
-
Smooth operator: Willett debuts new furniture at Design Miami 2024, with a playful touch of retro allureLA furniture designer Willett turned heads in the design world with the launch of his eponymous brand earlier this year. Ahead of his Design Miami debut, he told us what’s in store for 2025
-
Sarah Solis’ first furniture collection is an homage to art deco‘Is it weird to call furniture sexy?’ Los Angeles-based designer Sarah Solis discusses her debut furniture line and new brand and store, Galerie Solis
-
Three sleek new design showrooms you need to see in Los AngelesThree international design showrooms have started a retail design boom in Los Angeles. Here are the stores to put on your radar
-
Los Angeles gallery Marta explores the enduring inspiration of grottos with an ethereal, multi-sensory group showAt Marta, guest curator Krista Mileva-Frank exhibits work by 13 contemporary talents that demonstrate how the Renaissance-era grotto continues to fuel our imagination
-
‘Midcentury modern is as American as punk rock’: 22RE on its latest full-scale projectThe new LA offices of music branding agency Ceremony of Roses, designed by local studio 22RE, are a real conversation starter
-
The inaugural Design Miami LA explores living with designInside the debut of Design Miami LA, staged at the Holmby Hills Estate until 20 May 2024
-
LA's Klein Agency opens a new gallery space in SilverlakeCalifornia design studio Klein launches The Annex, an experiential showroom in Silverlake, and unveils Volume III, a new collection of minimalist furniture
