We’re loving the coverage in this recent L.A. Times article in the L.A. at Home section. It’s a testament to how far La Cienega has come in the past few years.
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Lee Stanton has seen many changes on La Cienega since he opened his European antique store on the street six years ago. At that point, the ficus-lined blocks between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard were home to entertainment industry restaurants such as Koi and just a few standout showrooms such as Dragonette, Downtown, Blackman Cruz, Pat McGann and Therien & Co. Mostly, however, the street was associated with cracked sidewalks, heavy traffic and few crosswalks.
In the last two years, however, two dozen or so design stores have opened there, the majority selling high-caliber furniture and accessories — antique, vintage and contemporary pieces and often designs by the store’s owners. Wander into Harbinger (pictured above), Kristen Buckingham (at right), Hollywood at Home and other new or newly expanded shops in the district, and you’ll find variations on a strikingly similar theme: a classic, well-heeled, traditional aesthetic with a dash of boho chic. Looking for a George Nelson Bubble lamp? You probably won’t find it here in the land of $150-a-yard ikat fabrics, vintage tufted chaises and various Pairs of Things. (One good measure of this strip is the fact that whether you’re looking at 19th-century neoclassic chandeliers or Bergeres chairs, items on La Cienega often adhere to that decorator’s holy grail, the matching set.)
The piece de resistance of the Martinique Collection is unquestionably the library wall unit. At full height – complete with a steel rail, finished in any of the company’s six specialty metal or 13 metal leaf finishes, and a ladder with crocodile leather accents and nailhead trim – the extraordinary piece stands just over 9 feet tall. But for those who don’t have soaring ceilings, it is also available in a more moderate height that will accommodate a standard 8-foot ceiling.
Marge Carson Los Angeles Showroom
Address: 920 North La Cienega BLVD Los Angeles CA 90069
Telephone: 310.289.9900
Contact: Katie LaBarge
An excerpt from The Style Saloniste:
A surprising and revealing conversation with Bob Garcia, partner of Therien, the venerable and admired forty-year-old trend-setting antiques galleries in Los Angeles and San Francisco. We discussed new ways of thinking about antiques, trends in collecting, and why fine antiques will always be desirable.
I caught up with Bob, a longtime friend of mine, at the recent San Francisco Fall Antique Show. Bob, who travels constantly to buy in Paris, London, Lisbon, Rome, Stockholm, is considered one of the leading antique dealers in the world. Yet he is deeply immersed and involved in the modern design world and his antennae tingle for new directions, the reality of design today, and the onward march of changing tastes and trends.
Sit down with us and gather insights and new ideas. And take a close look at Bob’s collection presented at the San Francisco Fall Antique Show at the end of October. His collection perfectly illustrates his concepts.
**Introducing the Alta Loma Sofa**
Marge Carson Los Angeles Showroom
920 North La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069
Phone: 310.289.9900 / Fax: 310.289.9902
margecarsonshowrooms.com
Contact: Katie LaBarge
One of the highlights of our trip to Berlin this September was discovering the beautiful art tiles by Golem. This company has been instrumental in helping to bring back the beauty of buildings and residences that have been neglected, damaged by war, or merely worn through age. Their beautiful showroom in the Hackesche Hofe in the former East Berlin is surrounded by some of their work…they actually created a large selection of tiles to help restore the beautiful courtyard to its earlier glory. Their showroom carries beautiful selections of their work, and Hollywood Sierra Kitchens is pleased to be presenting their hand made craft to our clients. Stay tuned for more details…
From Allison’s blog:
“Every time I visit L.A., I can’t wait to hit La Cienega. This sunny street of antique dealers, workshops, and showrooms is full of unique finds for my clients back East. Many of the shops have courtyards in the front or gardens in the back, which is a fun contrast to Manhattan shopping. La Cienega has too many sources to mention but here are a few highlights not to be missed!”
A stylish transitional group with a subtle Far East influence meets a growing demand for casual, lightly scaled and fashion forward furniture.
The organic fusion of woven grass cloth, cathedral pattern Ash veneers, intricately detailed hardware and rich, textured metalwork create a unique and tranquil environment that evokes senses of romance, elegance and style.
Marge Carson Los Angeles Showroom
Address: 920 North La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069
Phone: 310.289.9900 / Fax: 310.289.9902
Contact: Katie LaBarge
Inspired by the West Indies, the Martinique Collection is timelessly traditional yet casually elegant, rich in European heritage yet comfortable and relaxing.
These Old World-style furnishings are reminiscent of the pieces owned by European merchants and plantation owners developing the tropics during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Now, as then, natural and mixed materials are the hallmark of the collection. From lost wax casting of brass hardware to hand-wrought ironwork, woven rattan to exotic veneers, every detail exemplifies the legacy of this era.
Yet, for all of its historical significance, the Martinique Collection is perfectly suited for this century and the sophisticated casual lifestyle of today.
The Martinique Catalog can be viewed at our Marge Carson La Cienega Showroom.
Address: 920 North La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069
Phone: 310.289.9900 / Fax: 310.289.9902
Contact: Katie LaBarge
During the October Furniture Market we will be introducing a range of new fabrics in blue. There will be midnight blue silk with sequins, turquoise and gold paisleys, and a more muted palette of smokey blue and brown. All of these fabrics easily accent neutral body fabrics in golds, taupes and ivories.
Check out the Marge Carson Trends Report
Marge Carson Los Angeles Showroom
Address: 920 North La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069
Phone: 310.289.9900 / Fax: 310.289.9902
Contact: Katie LaBarge
BY LAUREN DEBELLIS
When antiques dealer Matteo De Paolis of Navona Antiques in Los Angeles speaks of Italy, he summons up visions of a stunning countryside, sparkling seas and the freshest of food. But most arresting is his description of the history and craftsmanship of a handsome mid-nineteenth-century inlaid wood secretary he recently brought back to the United States.
De Paolis purchased the piece in Italy from a private collector living near Naples. The secretary had been in the collector’s family for generations, most likely the centerpiece of the family palazzo’s piano nobile, the main level used for entertaining by Italian nobility.
De Paolis, who was born in Rome, is clearly proud of his discovery: to find an original piece in such good condition is an extraordinary bit of luck, since today few Italian palaces still have their original furniture. “The country was hit hard by World War II, many areas are still recovering. So over the years the families have been selling their collections piece by piece. It’s very rare to find a palazzo in its original condition, never mind its contents. It’s expensive to maintain the properties, so often collections are sold off in auctions or dealers like myself.”…
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