Plus must-visit home stores from Melrose Avenue to Montecito
Words by KERSTIN CZARRA, KELSEY McKINNON, DAVID NASH, LORIE DEWHIRST PORTER, and JESSICA RITZ
Ahead of the Curve
Even before entering into their collaboration with RH in 2015, brothers Harrison and Nicholas Condos had already elevated outdoor furniture design to an art form. The Australian design duo officially launched their brand, HARBOUR FURNITURE, only five years earlier at ICFF (the annual global design fair in New York City), but their unique blend of materials and design quickly caught the eye of top interior designers and savvy individuals whose coastal homes matched the pair’s aesthetic. “We try to design collections that are familiar but fresh,” Harrison explains. And with curves in all the right places, their five new collections for RH Outdoor 2024 are no exception. All the pieces in Vigo, Bondi, Palma, Byron, and Bronte are available in a variety of teak and aluminum finishes, with several stocked and special-order fabric options to choose from. Three collections feature fully upholstered bolsters that are as much an expression of bold contemporary design as they are a nod to Art Deco styling, while the other two are equally distinctive with their own curvaceous elements and generous proportions. This might be the one time that furniture enhances your view. rh.com. D.N.
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Timeless Treasures
Following the wild success of a two-month pop-up down the street, Dawn Salzmann is making things official with the opening of ANCIENT MODERNE’s permanent brick and mortar on a coveted stretch of Melrose. Southern California aesthetes (including fans such as landscape designer Scott Shrader and producer Ryan Murphy) longing for pedigreed pieces behold the museum-worthy collection of architectural antiques, including patinated stone urns and vessels, columns, planters, wrought iron gates, sculptures, and tables plucked from historic abbeys, monasteries, cathedrals, and châteaus across Europe. Salzmann, who was a decorative artist in San Diego before she opened her first (now shuttered) showroom, C’est si Bon, in 2015, acquires pieces with a curatorial discernment. “The constant thread throughout my life has been collecting anything that speaks a beautiful language,” she says, “whether it be prized antiques or mossy sticks in the forest covered with lichen.” 8632 Melrose Ave., L.A.; ancientmoderne.com. K.M.
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Cuff It
Founded in 2008, the in-demand L.A. design studio CUFF STUDIO is a go-to for A-list designers to find furniture and lighting that fuses geometry, architecture, and glamour. The firm’s principals, Wendy Schwartz and Kristi Bender, are expanding their footprint with a new showroom in Melrose Hill. The sun-drenched space will house the studio’s heirloom-quality furniture and lighting layered with vintage collectibles and art. Their first sofa, The Slant, will be included in the mix. A curvy upholstered design with tufted arms and a naturally slanted back, it is available in any fabric from the Cuff Studio library. The design duo also launched a direct-to-consumer site where shoppers can browse Cuff Core, their first ready-to-order collection of furniture, lighting, and wallpaper. “Cuff Studio’s designs are founded in artful form and geometry paired with functionality,” says Schwartz. “The Cuff Core collection is consistent with this ethos.” Showroom by appointment only. 5108 Melrose Ave., L.A.; cuffstudio.com. K.C.
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Ahoy, Mate
MATE GALLERY is located in Montecito’s Country Mart, the retail compound and de facto neighborhood community center, and has become an indispensable home to all things nautical. Conceived and owned by Matt Albiani and Ron Brand, the shop is a style source for tourists and natives alike, offering maritime takes on everything from clothing and vintage accessories to home furnishings. Albiani is a fashion photographer and a Boston native; Brand, a real estate agent, immigrated from Dundee, Scotland, in 1991. Together they cull and curate unique items that embody the Mate Gallery aesthetic. The pair also rent out a stylish getaway, dubbed Sea Roost, in Montauk, New York. “If you lived in Mate Gallery, it would be Sea Roost,” Brand says. 1024 Coast Village Rd., Montecito, 805-895-6283; mategallery.com. L.D.P.
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Desert Destination
In a town known for its exceptional creative heritage, there’s always room to experiment and play. When the Pelago decor shop in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District shuttered, Jory Edmunds seized the opportunity to take over the light-filled retail space. At PHYLUM, which opened last fall, “we want to highlight California makers, with Scandinavian and design from unexpected places,” he explains. Classic Georg Jensen goods are on offer near pieces by L.A. ceramicists Kat and Roger and merino wool tabletop items from Graf Lantz, along with an enticing array of earthy chic global finds and apothecary indulgences. Shoppers can expect a kitsch-free environment where the lost art of attentive customer care is also a priority. “We want to be more true to what mid-century felt like in a modern context,” Edmunds says. “We’re bright, we’re colorful, but we’re tasteful.” 901 N. Palm Canyon Dr., 760-424-2110; shopphylum.com. J.R.
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French Twist
INVISIBLE COLLECTION, the acclaimed online design gallery founded in 2016, has descended on the West Coast for a yearlong residency within the private client room at PHILLIPS LOS ANGELES. Following two popular activations in the Hamptons and New York City, the contemporary design gallery debuted its partnership with the auction house’s L.A. outpost this spring, during Frieze, with an exhibition of high-design furniture. The rotating curation of bespoke pieces from French and European designers will reflect the gallery’s eagle-eyed aesthetic while tipping its hat to La-La Land’s glamorously eclectic style. By appointment only, the pop-up is part of Invisible Collection’s continued expansion that includes more permanent locations in Paris, London, and New York. “I have a special fondness for L.A.,” explains gallery cofounder Isabelle Dubern-Mallevays. “I can’t wait to see how the French aesthetic we champion will blend into this environment.” 9041 Nemo St., L.A.; phillips.com/losangeles. D.N.
This story originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of C Magazine
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