Native angelino, Brian Duck met Lauren Nukes in 2004 while working on a Target catalogue in Palm Springs. 2 years later, Atelier Management was born to become a full-scale firm, representing some of the most relevant  photographers (Christopher Sturman, Andrew Yee, Roger Davies and David Roemer are some of my personal favorites,) hair stylists, makeup artists, wardrobe, and set designers around.  Today, their noteworthy client include: Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, Elie Tahari, Calvin Klein, Jill Stuart, BCBG, Apple, 20^th Century Fox, Warner Brothers Pictures, Fox Television, Rolling Stone and Universal Pictures, just to name a few.

We recently sat down with Brian to discuss Atelier’s POV and creative direction for the coming year.  The result – a little exercise we call “If Design Were …”

Let’s get into Brian’s head, shall we:

 

SY: If design were an object?

BD: A doorknob

 

SY: …a song?

BD: Jóga by Björk

 

SY: … a film?

BD: Black Narcissus

 

SY: …a memory?

BD: San Francisco in 1974

 

SY: …a moment?

BD: Claes Oldenburg

 

SY: …an era?

BD: Now

 

SY: …a place?

BD: Palm Springs

 

SY: …a time of day?

BD: Sunset

 

SY: …a Person?

BD: Edith Head

 

SY: …an animal?

BD: Zebra

 

SY: …a city?

BD: Chicago

 

SY: …a food?

BD: Waffle

 

SY: …a fetish?

BD: Hitchcock

 

SY…an artist?

BD: Nick Cave

 

SY…a language?

BD: Love

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loving this Moore & Giles + Brad Ford designing for good collabo…

This one-of-a kind, “Great American Woody” was designed by Brad Ford for Moore & Giles with consultation from Jim Meehan. Outfitted with Moore & Giles leathers, it was designed to offer the ultimate in luxury tailgating and showcase the art of high-end entertaining outdoors.

Following its launch at DINING BY DESIGN New York 2011, it has traveled to some of the most exclusive design and epicurean-related events across the country. It is now the leading item on DIFFA’s “30 for 30” auction on charitybuzz.com featuring 30 exceptional, one-of-a-kind auction packages to commemorate 30 years of fighting HIV/AIDS.

To learn more about the auction and to register, please click here.

-S

Just open: Thomas Callaway’s ”Stuff Tom Likes” gallery in Santa Monica.  What is it? – A curated mix of stuff Tom likes.

The gallery, designed by Callaway, is a contemporary space edited with a variety of objets – vintage paintings, antique sculptures, and modern furniture.  It’s anything from Navajo blankets to Warhol’s…all selected by the Santa Monica based designer.

Next time you find yourself on the westside of town, check it out:

Stuff Tom Likes

2928 Nebraska Ave.

Santa Monica, CA 90404

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, my uber-talented designer friends, Oliver M. Furth, Philip Gorrivan & Michelle Nussbaumer invited me to the press preview for the Greystone Mansion “Maison de Luxe” showcase house.  This year’s house features the crème de la crème of the industry, who are applying their aesthetic magic to the iconic estate.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to take pics of my favorite spaces, but what I can say is that the mix of POV’s is simply inspiring.  I definitely recommend adding a trip to Greystone to your holiday itinerary if you can.

In conjunction with the City of Beverly Hills and the Friends of Greystone, Maison de Luxe opens December 2^nd and runs through December 22^nd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Born from playful experimentation with vintage lighting components, APPARATUS is the creative collaboration of Gabriel Hendifar and Jeremy Anderson. Aged brass, painted glass, and found objects are assembled by hand to create eclectic, utilitarian fixtures. The result is a warm glow that is at once time-worn yet undoubtedly modern.

Gabriel Hendifar is a unique creative, in that he straddles between fashion and interior disciplines. He has designed for couture label JMary and is now part of the Raquel Allegra creative team. His interior design work has been photographed for Elle Decor and can be seen at gabrielhendifar.com. 

-S

 

Founder of eponymous multidisciplinary, Azadeh Shladovsky has emerged as a designer best known for her artful, empathetic interiors. Shladovskyʼs approach to design is based on a passion for life and living, and this is most evident in the value she places in relationships with her clients. A personalized approach and desire for collaboration allows Shladovsky to create spaces that are as unique as the clients that reside in them. With architectural styles ranging from traditional to contemporary, and lifestyles that vary from casual to refined, what defines Shladovskyʼs aesthetic is the ability to distill the elements of a space and create depth in the way interiors are experienced.

Unlike many formulaic designers, Shladovskyʼs design philosophy is ever evolving. Her inquisitive perspective is grounded in a rich and diverse life experience, a multicultural upbringing and travel experiences that have made Shladovsky an observer of the world, appreciating details that are commonly overlooked. Translating the details into “meaningful moments and experiences,” as Shladovsky says, is the intention of every project she undertakes.

As a designer without creative limitations, Shladovskyʼs projects encompass residential, commercial and retail environments, as well as furniture design.

Shladovskyʼs premier furniture collection, explores her unique relationship with nature and highlights her ability to create powerful expressions that are as beautiful as they are functional. Her perspective is informed by and, to a degree, controlled by the forces inherent in her wood medium. In her furniture design, Shladovsky uses nature and its processes as a guide, both in how each piece is formed and how it is perceived. “The pieces in the premier collection,” Shladovsky says, “reveal the evolution of my relationship with the forces of nature, mainly those I cannot control.”

Just as Jean de Merry is an artisanal line producing pieces that are timeless, unexpected and anchored by quality and craftsmanship, so is Azadehʼs approach to handcraft. Both LA based lines, employ talented American craftsman trained in age-old, techniques to apply their knowledge to woods and metals. The end results are wholly new designs rooted in older forms and based on traditional ways of manufacturing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sneak Peak friends! I’m so excited for the Jean de Merry Tastemaker Tag Sale on One Kings Lane this weekend! Starts tomorrow at 8am. I’ve seen the inventory, and I want it all!

Originally from a small French town where his family had operated a tanning business for centuries, Jean de Merry creates a French Deco-inspired line in his LA workshop, using age-old techniques to create timeless pieces that are anchored by quality and craftsmanship. Preview his Tastemaker Tagsale for One Kings Lane (starts Sat 8/6 @ 8am PT / 11am ET).

-S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi friends,

I’m excited to share a home tour and business profile about my company on Apartment Therapy today. You guys know me well, but maybe the piece will still surprise you… who knows!

*There’s also a link at the bottom of the article for a complete spread of images of my place.

** Big thanks to photographer Bethany Nauert!

 

 

Photo | Antoine Verglas

D.B. Kim, Associate Principal at PYR, designed this Swan chair for Swarovski as part of The Pink Swan Project to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

His Inspiration:

“My design inspirations are from the patterns of healing power: radiating lines and beautiful rays from the Swarovski crystals. The sensual and organic form of the Swan chair transforms as a perfect canvas for the pattern and crystals. I would like to thank Swarovski team for their support and the opportunity.”

This one-of-a-kind chair will be auctioned to benefit BCRF on charitybuzz.com.

Auction runs October 1–31, 2011.

 

Such a wonderful piece on Style.com today, covering Jean de Merry’s 10-year anniversary event, JDM-10.

Karolina Kurkova: Now Available In Lamp Form

She’s more used to modeling designers’ work than designing pieces herself, but Karolina Kurkova took to the drawing board for her latest project. Kurkova was selected as one of ten guest designers by West Hollywood gallery owner Jean de Merry to design a custom piece in honor of the ten-year anniversary of his artisanal, made-to-order furniture line and store. “Jean will tell you, I was very hands-on with this,” Kurkova said of her ornate, towering lamp. “I wanted something to really represent a woman’s essence, from her curves on top to the strength of the base on the bottom. Even the crystals sewn into the fabric are all from the Czech Republic [her homeland]. Every piece of this design has a part of me.” With all proceeds benefiting the charity of the designer’s choice, the project attracted a motley crew of talent (known as the JDM Ten), including local interior design star Oliver Furth, L.A. native Irene Neuwirth, and Katherine Heigl.

 
Days away from his first Resort showing, Gregory Parkinson played on his love of prints and texture when designing his wood cabinetry. “My work is all about layering and mixing patterns and colors, and this really seemed to take that to the next level,” Parkinson said. “We’re bombarded with so much visually these days that it’s nice to have something that is just pretty…and functional as well.” Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra, with typical wit, created a chair that was more like a throne. “It’s lyrical but it still sort of has that humor,” Tagliapietra said of its antler details, inspired by vintage photos the pair came across. “I like my furniture to have a personality. It’s not like a piece of clothing that you have the luxury of saying you’re not in the mood for.”