Adventurous creatives bring their unique aesthetics to Los Angeles with shops and products that meld European craftsmanship with West Coast style.
Galerie Solis
Helmed by designer Sarah Solis, Galerie Solis is an online shop for antiques—everything from French harvesting baskets and rugs to furniture from Wales and Spain—and luxury textiles like Belgian linens and Italian velvets. At the core of its ever-evolving selection is Solis’ very own inaugural furniture line, the Heritage Collection. Comprised of 11 pieces (sofas, wood and upholstered chairs, ottomans and tables), it is a natural extension of the designer’s residential work. “I’ve always been drawn to incredibly functional furnishings that exude elegance and evoke emotion, but that are also calling to be truly lived with,” says the designer, who resides in Malibu with her young family. “The Heritage Collection is made to be experienced for generations,” she adds of the line, which is also available at The Future Perfect. And, not one to stand still, she is already at work on a forthcoming lighting collection.
Studio Balestra
Old meets new at Studio Balestra, the Hollywood boutique and creative studio where design lives through the lens of Rome-born Adriano Balestra. After graduating from UCLA, the designer worked for Clint Nicholas Design and Michael S. Smith, but, around five years ago, he began sourcing antiques for clients. This move prompted the creation of his showroom and then a presence on 1stdibs. “We’re focused on simplicity,” says Balestra, who specializes in Pierre Jeanneret as well as rustic items like ceramic lamps made in California and case pieces from his native Italy. The designer also has an appreciation for Japanese design. “We have been developing new tables covered in Japanese paper—an artist was just here working on a few creations for us,” he shares. Balestra is designing his own pieces too, including the Vela settee (right) and Molten Moon bed made of steel and mohair—a fabric which is itself part of a forthcoming line of textiles he is manufacturing in Europe.
