L.A., AT THE HEART OF REVOLUTION

>>> A revolution is taking place in Los Angeles, defining the city as a capital of international design.

That was apparent at the Los Angeles Design Festival — the jam-packed month of exhibitions, home tours and shows with Dwell on Design and INTRO/LA emphasizing the international design presence in Los Angeles and the makers who are shaping the emerging landscape. The takeaway? Talented designers from abroad are staking their claim in the city. “I can make almost anything I can dream up here, and I love that,” said designer Stephen Kenn, who relocated from his native Canada to Los Angeles. “I also love the design community. It is friendly and collaborative.”

He crafts such diverse wares as furniture and luxe overnight duffles by experimenting with new processes and quality materials out of his downtown Los Angeles studio.

Wrk-shp’s Airi Isoda and Ryan Upton, the husband-and-wife team who split their time between Tokyo and L.A., consistently partner with local makers on architecture, furniture and fashion pieces. At INTRO/LA, Wrk-shp debuted a collection of pieces made using Japanese textile cording in a Danish weave style mastered by local artisans.

This year’s shows did not disappoint, with the use of rope at the Brazilian outdoor furniture company Tidelli, and art and design intersections at industry giant Signature Kitchen Suite with live paintings done by artist Donald Robertson, and a fresh host of architects turned makers like Lebanese-born Sevak Karabachian, who manages his time between firm Gehry Partners and his new sideline, furniture design.

Designers weren’t the only ones on the scene. Rose Apodaca, co-founder of L.A. design resource and store A+ R, curated a fluid mix of pieces by local designers and European brands including Hay, Menu and New Works, which A+ R is introducing to the Los Angeles market. “At A+ R alone, we’ve entertained creative directors and designers from Denmark, England, Spain, New Zealand and Hong Kong,” says Apodaca.

The city, she said, is a place where there “is space — to live and work, to try new ideas, to fail and reinvent.”

Bend REIMAGINED GARDEN Los Angeles design company Bend’s new plant stand brings high design to the garden. $200, bendgoods.com.

A+R STATEMENT BASES Swedish marble bases in different shapes ground Knockout Tables by Denmarkbased Friends & Founders. From $850, www.aplusr store.com.

Fluidstance DITCH YOUR OFFICE CHAIR FluidStance in Santa Barbara collaborated with artist R. Nelson Parrish for its limited edition Level Air. You could call it a “movement-based, work-platform.” Or the coolest thing to ever happen to the standing desk. $489, www.f luidstance.com.

Hammer and Spear GOOD AS GOLD British Columbia-based Matthew McCormick’s satin 24-karat gold Halo pendant lights shine bright alone or in a group. From $1,125, also from hammerandspear.com.

MOQU PERFECT SYNTHESIS MOQU’s Japanese elm shelving system was inspired by building blocks. The possibilities are endless for this Hida, Japan-based company. From $5,940, moqulab.com.

Kush Handmade Rugs DEPTH, DIMENSION Hand-carved raised silk perfected in India on Kush’s Skull Dot wool rug creates texture in a new dimension. $1,900, kushrugs.com.

Wrk-shp ROPE & WEAVE Danish-weave Japanese textile cording is at the heart of this Woven Collection of baskets, stools and benches. From $975, coming soon to wrk-shp.com.

Hammer and Spear RAW BEAUTY Barter’s Revolve series planters have a charred, red cedar base with smooth concrete, terra cotta or marble vase up top. L.A. store Hammer and Spear introduced this Canadian brand to the U.S. From $700, hammerandspear.com.

Fireclay HAND-PAINTED GEMS San Francisco-based brand Fireclay showcased a collection of graphic black-andwhite artisan tiles. $35, www.fireclaytile.com.