For over 18 years, the Arizona-based surfaces atelier Tabarka Studio has quietly become one of the most sought-after producers of custom terracotta tiles and other artisanal flooring. This month, the design firm marks the beginning of a new chapter with the opening of its first showroom in the La Cienega Design Quarter of Los Angeles.
‘Our goal was not to create just another showroom, but a space that has warmth and a domestic quality to it – a place where you can spend time exploring whatever projects you’re working on,’ explains Tabarka Studio’s creative director Meir Zenati. ‘It felt very natural for us to create a showroom that fosters inspiration and creativity. We placed a minimal amount of furnishings, playful pieces that complement and contrast our work, to show how our surfaces work with various styles.’
The new LA base exudes an energy that mirrors the city’s relaxed balance of sophistication and elegance
Situated along a chic stretch of La Cienega Boulevard that has become the bastion of West Coast style, Tabarka Studio’s new LA base exudes an energy that mirrors the city’s relaxed balance of sophistication and elegance. The showroom’s generous expanses are punctuated by accents, such as reclaimed fireplaces, framed panels from the studio’s parquet collection and a selection of furnishings, specially chosen to complete the Californian vibe. ‘One of our favourite finds is a floor lamp by emerging LA maker Carly Morgan, whose terrazzo-made pieces felt harmonious with our own terrazzo collection,’ shares Zenati.
Taking centre stage however is a new terrazzo offering designed especially for the occasion, and installed throughout the space. Inspired by the splendour of LA’s golden age of modernism, the graphic, geometrically patterned collection evokes the glamour of mid-century homes in Beverly Hills’ Trousdale estates, the grand floors of art deco movie palaces in the Broadway Theatre District of Downtown LA and also the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
‘I grew up surrounded by terrazzo and always wanted to do something with it; for it’s beauty, historic value, and it’s durable nature. [This] felt like the right time to create a collection incorporating terrazzo and brass,’ Zenati says, ‘We originally made a name for ourselves with our hand-brushed terracotta tiles, and we have a dedicated room for these that we’re excited to unveil. But it was as important for us to use the new space as a way to experiment and to show our evolution – the new ideas and perspectives for Tabarka Studio.’
Taking centre-stage is a newly designed terrazzo collection, inspired by LA modernism and the glamour of mid-century homes in Beverly Hills’ Trousdale estates
The space was designed with the aim to feel warm and domestic
The showroom is situated along a chic stretch of La Cienega Boulevard, the bastion of West Coast style
Reclaimed fireplaces and framed panels from the studio’s parquet collection complete the Californian vibe
ADDRESS
912 North La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, California
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