As we all know, there’s a time and a place for “grown up” furniture. For many, a rental apartment doesn’t feel like a “real home” until a nice piece of furniture that you truly love is purchased. Not a temporary piece, a piece that will travel with you from place to place, no matter your phase in life. They say on average, millennials move every two years, so a sense of home is not so permanent for this generation. Akron Street has developed a collection of home pieces that can travel with you whenever, wherever.

Akron Street shares their production process, inspiration behind the designs, and sourcing tips for millennials.

Photography by Hyll LLC

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What’s Akron Street all about in 140 characters or less?

Akron Street makes simple, well made furniture for people moving into their first ‘real’ home.

 

How does being headquartered in NYC affect your business and relationships?

Being in NYC is a huge boon, especially for a brand-centric business like ours. From the city’s arts and culture scene, to its always-changing retail landscape, to its amazing creative community – there’s just so much to draw from. We really love being here.

 

Can you walk us through your production process, from idea to shelf?

Our designs often start with a story. For instance, when I was a child, I spent a lot of time drawing cartoons from Disney picture books. I would prop the books along the back of my desk while copying them. That was the idea behind the Reader Desk – a compact table with a neat little backrest to display things.

From that idea, we start sketching things on paper and CAD before making small physical models. Once we’re happy with the basic design, we take our schematics to the factory, where we make our first full-scale prototype. We spend several weeks at the factory iterating on the designs. During this time, we work out assembly, packing, and production details until the product is finalized. The whole process can take anywhere from 4-6 months.

  

Tell us about your inspiration behind the Mysa Bed…

The Mysa Bed is simple, comfortable, and familiar – a bit like your favorite t-shirt. It’s an expression of the current collection’s design ethos, which is to create the simplest, most essential expression a given object. Like the rest of the collection, it’s meant to be the backdrop, rather than the focus, of the space it’s in.

In your opinion, what’s the best way to source furniture for millennials?

Older millennials are entering the stage where they want to step up from the furniture they bought back in college. Instead of looking for the cheapest possible furniture, they’re starting to think of furniture as a means to express their identity. And this is not just about a ‘look’ – they’re just as interested in the story behind the objects they bring into their home.

 

What are some of your best-selling products?

In terms of quantity, we sell a lot of Alta Clothes Racks, but for gross revenue, the Mysa Bed takes the top spot.

  

How essential is marketing and social media to the success of your business?

Our main acquisition channels are Craigslist and organic traffic. We mainly use social media to chat with customers, and to post the occasional photo. Frankly, there’s a lot of untapped potential in using social media to reach a larger audience.

Can you name some spaces featuring Akron Street furniture that you’re particularly proud of?

We have a bunch of our furniture featured in Common Living’s co-living spaces in New York, DC, and San Francisco. We’re also quite happy with how photographer Parker Fitzgerald incorporated our furniture into his Portland home. For more pictures of our furniture taken in real spaces, check out our Pinterest board.

 

How do you typically work with interior designers?

We love working with interior designers, and we have a trade program which provides them with discounted rates on our furniture. Email us at hello@akronstreet.com for more information.

 

Can you offer some tips for the interior designers sourcing Akron Street furniture for a space?

Akron Street’s pared down aesthetic is designed to complement many types of furniture. As an interior designer, you have the latitude to take it many different directions. Have fun with it!

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Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

 

Written by Shai Wallach

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Ashe + Leandro

Designers Ariel Ashe and Reinaldo Leandro

asheleandro.com, @ashe_leandro

Interior designer Ariel Ashe along with architect Reinaldo Leandro are the Co-Founders of their innovative and contemporary design firm Ashe + Leandro. With Ashe’s origins in New Mexico and Leandro from Venezuela, the two creators launched the New York-based firm in 2008 and have been shaking up the industry with each of their distinctively crisp and bold projects.

Ashley Darryl

Designer Ashley Darryl

interiors.ashleydarryl.com, @ashleydarryl

Ashley Darryl, a Texas native who found her niche in the city, has been breaking ground in the interior design world with her own namesake firm. With an aesthetic that tailors every space into a unique environment, Darryl’s eclectic and avant-garde take on design has been taking New York City by storm.

August Black LLC

Designer Charli Hantman

august-black.com, @augustblacknyc

Since launching in 2008, August Black, along with owner and designer Charli Hantman, have been bringing traditional and state-of-the-art design to numerous clients across New York City. Mixing contemporary influences with a timeless feel, Hantman is known for her impressive spaces that are both functional as well as fashionable.

basicspace

Designer Kaitlyn Payne

basic-space.com, @basicspacedesigns

Designer Kaitlyn Payne has become known for her clean and practical design while paying homage to the originality of character homes. While based in Brooklyn, Payne and her firm, basicspace, have been taking a fresh approach to design across New England and New York since founding 2012.

Bennett Lefeir Interiors

Designer Bennett Lefeir

bennettleifer.com, @bennettleifer

Bennett Lefeir and his signature firm have been aiming to forge spaces enveloped in vanguard elegance around the world. In mixing traditional elements with a modern atmosphere, Lefeir’s work is notably influenced by the luxury of Art Deco from his quintessential Long Island and New York upbringing.

Blair Harris Interior Design

Designer Blair Harris

blairharris.com, @blairharrisnyc

The New York based designer Blair Harris along with her design firm have been making their impact in the New York design scene since Blair Harris Interior Design’s inception in 2011. Harris is known for delivering a classic and organic feel in each of her projects, adapted to a wide array of client tastes.

Drake / Anderson

Designers Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson

drakeanderson.com, @drake__anderson

Since collaborating, designer Jamie Drake and his former protégé Caleb Anderson have been spreading their hand-curated prestigious design throughout the city. Their fearless use of color, texture, and all elements of ingenuity has propelled Drake / Anderson into being a well-renowned New York design firm.

Dan Fink Studio

Designer Dan Fink

danfinkstudio.com

With its origin in Silicon Valley, the Dan Fink Studio has expanded its reach beyond California to each corner of the United States and beyond. Dan Fink executes the traverse between classic elegance and originality with unparalleled precision. The studio and its founder have curated some of New York’s most distinct spaces since establishing in 2010.

Dani Arps

Designer Danielle Arps

daniarps.com, @daniarps

Noted as the startup designer, Danielle Arps and her eponymous firm have made a mark on both the commercial and the residential design world throughout New York City. Her startup work is noticeably industrial but also conveys an effortless and inviting atmosphere, creating an inspiring work environment for any bustling new company.

Drew McGukin Interiors

Designer Drew McGukin

drewmcgukin.com, @drewmcgukin

Ingenuity comes alive into bright and livable spaces through designer Drew McGukin and his namesake design firm Drew McGukin Interiors. A chameleon of design, McGukin’s innovative spaces are each distinct and unique; whether they feel retro, traditional, contemporary, or everything in between.

Jenny Wolf Interiors

Designer Jenny Wolf

jennywolfinteriors.com, @jennywolfinteriors

Jenny Wolf and her firm, Jenny Wolf interiors, have become known for a fresh and serene take on interiors, both in the home and office space. By utilizing her Southern roots as an influence for aesthetic, Wolf has been delivering comfortable space and inviting interior design with her firm since establishing in 2011.

Jessica Lynn Williams

Designer Jessica Lynn Williams

jessicalynnwilliams.com, @jlwdecoration

Like the neighborhood Jessica Lynn Williams is based in, the Brooklyn firm perfectly balances a hallmark of contemporary polish juxtaposed with the ease of comfort and homeliness. Her varied profile for design and imaginative use of style has thrust Williams and her eponymous firm into the big players in New York.

Joshua Smith Inc.

Designer Joshua Smith

joshuasmithinc.com, @joshuasmithinc

For original design that bridges the connection between personal well-being and aesthetic, look no further than to Joshua Smith. His theory that homes can inspire wellness is reflected in his tranquil and livable interior design. Smith and his New York design firm have become top contenders in the industry with their innovative bonding of spirit and design.

Kapito Muller Interiors

Designers Alyssa Kapito and Vivian Muller

kapitomuller.com, @kapitomullerinterior

Designers Alyssa Kapito and Vivian Muller of Kapito Muller Interiors have become widely known as the rising stars in New York City. With an aesthetic that is distinctly clean and crisp, along with touches of industrial and rustic finishes, Kapito and Muller specialize in simply beautiful spaces.

Lilly Bunn, Inc.

Designer Lilly Bunn

lillybunn.com, @lillybunninc

Lilly Bunn and her titular firm have become the junction in New York City where mod meets comfort meets ambience. Her hand-curated spaces are known for being homey yet strikingly chic and fashionable. After opening its doors in 2009, Lilly Bunn, Inc. has consistently provided clients with individualized and prolific abodes across the city.

McMillen, Inc.

Designer Elizabeth Pyne

mcmilleninc.com, @mcmilleninc

Elizabeth Pyne is steadily becoming the face of the future in one of America’s most seasoned interior design firms. She is the third generation in her family to design at McMillen, Inc. and continues the family tradition of curating extraordinary spaces for her clients. Pyne’s keen eye for detail can be regarded in her novel use of color and pattern throughout any of her projects.

Patrick Mele

Designer Patrick Mele

patrickmele.com, @prmele

The only rule in design for Patrick Mele is that there are no rules. In each of his projects, Mele constantly ties rare and varied pieces together in a unified way. His daring and bold design choices routinely succeed and receive praise from publications and clients alike.

Ryan Korban

Designer Ryan Korban

ryankorban.com, @ryankorban

Ryan Korban consistently makes simplicity standout in every aspect. His eye for everything bold and luxurious, mixed with a minimalist aesthetic, brings together each of his projects in a way that transcends the space given through exceptional design. Since opening their doors, Korban and his firm have become leaders of design in the New York scene.

Young Huh

Designer Young Huh

younghuh.com, @younghuh

After majoring in English and obtaining her degree in law, Young Huh found her passion for interior design after interning in the field and opened her own firm in 2007. Her work often mixes patterns with textures to create bespoke spaces for each client; always conveying an atmosphere of uncommon serenity and elegance.

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Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

 

Ivy Designer Stefania Skrabak of Art Home Garden walks us through her day in the life as a talented interior designer, from juggling a baby as a working mom to hopping to and from vendors in the Catskill Mountains and clients homes’ in NYC.

Photography courtesy of Stefania Skrabak @arthomegarden

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“At location. Day starts at a homeowner’s home today, a gut renovation in Phoenicia, NY. I’m working in a makeshift office and meeting with the crew to get the day started. Today, we do design layouts for the kitchen and the bathrooms.” – Stefania Skrabak

“Multitasking! Meeting with Planika Fires. Thank you, Karolina, for taking the time to talk. Excited to be part of your showcase!” – Stefania Skrabak

“Quick stop for farmhouse accents at Zaborski Emporium in Kingston, NY with baby Stefano. Next stop, our farm!” – Stefania Skrabak

“At Taliaferro Farms in New Paltz for an employee lunch. Yes, I cook for my staff and yes, I can cook! ?” – Stefania Skrabak

“Back in NYC, leaving a homeowner’s apartment after a Spring fresh up with new toss pillows and flowers!”- Stefania Skrabak

“I’m still in my UpState Hunter boots! Can’t wait to get home!” – Stefania Skrabak

“That kind of day. Thank you @ivy.mark for being the best interior design tool to keep me and baby Stefano on the move making life more beautiful.” – Stefania Skrabak

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Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

 

This week is jam packed with design festivities. Make sure to clear your calendars for the LCDQLA events listed here. We’ve also outlined the best hashtags for you to use to ensure your Instagram coverage will get the most hits.

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Wednesday, May 10 Events

Blogger Breakfast and Legends 2017 Kick-Off
In celebration of all things design, Chairish will be dishing on their favorite design trends with some of their favorite industry insiders including Nate Berkus of @nateberkus, Will Taylor of @brightbazaar, Paloma of @ladolcevitablog, Anthony of @zioandsons, Danielle of @danielledrollins, Holly of @theenglishroom and Shaun of @shaunsmithstyle to name a few. The Legends Ambassadors will play a game of #LoveItorHateIt in response to recent design trends such as vintage portraits, outdoor rugs, brass bar carts, Edison bulbs, and more.

When: Wednesday, May 10

Where: Hollyhock, Los Angeles

Off Color: Demons and Disasters in Design

Moderated by: Madeline Stuart, Interior Designer, Los Angeles

Panelists: Philip Gorrivan (Designer), Nate Berkus (Designer) and William Peace (Designer)

Madeline Stuart is a leading member of the Los Angeles design community. Madeline Stuart & Associates has been named on Architectural Digest’s AD100 list and featured in numerous publications, including Elle Decor, Veranda, Town & Country and House Beautiful.

When: Wednesday, May 10, 11am – 12pm

Where: Marc Phillips, 815 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Una Malan Showroom Opens in Historic Courtyard

Designer Una Malan’s Showroom recently opened its doors in the La Cienega Design Quarter, offering a curated environment of luxurious brands from designers such as Dmitriy & Co.,Knowles & Christou, Loro Piana Interiors and VeniceM. Una Malan is hosting a party during LEGENDS on Wednesday, May 10 at 6pm to celebrate the opening.

When: Wednesday, May 10 at 6pm

Where: Una Malan – The Courtyard, 822 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069

Thursday, May 11 Events

The Freedom of Expression: Self vs. Selfless Expression in Design


Moderated by: Alisa Carroll, Editor-in-Chief, San Francisco Cottages & Gardens

Panelists: Schuyler Samperton (Designer), Beth Martin (Designer) and Alison Berger (Glassworks and Lighting Designer)

Alisa Carroll is an author and Editor-in-Chief of San Francisco Cottages & Gardens. She has written about art and design for a number of publications and has moderated panels at venues including the LA Art Show, de Young Museum, San Francisco Fall Antiques Show, and many others.

When: Thursdsy, May 11, 9:30am – 10:30am

Where: Design Within Reach, 8612 Melrose Ave.

Floral Expressions: Empowering Pastels into Design

Moderated by: Jessica Romm Perez, Editor-in-Chief, Domino

Panelists: Aerin Lauder (Founder of AERIN), Monica Bhargava (EVP of Product Development for Williams Sonoma Home) and Amanda Lindroth (Designer)

Jessica Romm Perez is the Editor-in-Chief of Domino magazine. Considered a style expert by local and national media outlets, Perez has written and edited for many publications including Elle Decor, Elle, Conde Nast Traveler and more. 

When: Thursday, May 11, 11am – 12pm

Where: Barakat Gallery, 941 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Heritage at Home: Embracing Your Heritage in a Well Designed Home

Moderated by: Jenny Bradley, Design/Lifestyle Editor, Traditional Home

Panelists: Betsy Burnham (Designer), Angie Hranowsky (Designer) and Katie Leede (Designer)

Jenny Bradley is Senior Design and Lifestyle Editor for Traditional Home as well as editor of the magazine’s digital edition, TRADhome.com where she has written and produced stories with design and lifestyle influences. As an avid traveler, Bradley has covered unique venues all over the world – from Tanzania to Santorini and Cambodia to Peru.

When: Thursday, May 11, 1:30pm – 2:30pm

Where: Marc Phillips, 815 N. La Cienega Blvd.

Ongoing Events

Serena & Lily New Outdoor Furniture, Fabric and Wallpaper Launch

Marking Serena & Lily’s largest Spring launch to date, the new arrivals include indoor & outdoor furniture, textiles, wallpaper, bedding, decorative pillows and more. Serena & Lily has launched all-weather outdoor furnishings that can handle the heat and rain without fading.

The Zio & Sons x 1stdibs Photo Set Installation at the Lee Stanton Showroom

Zio & Sons is serving as one the the Ambassadors for the big LEGENDS design event at the Lee Stanton Showroom. Make sure to stop by and get your photo taken on this show-stopping set, designed by Zio & Sons in collaboration with 1stdibs and a few other showrooms in the quarter.

Hashtags You Need to Use

#onlyinlcdqla

#LCDQLA

#LCDQLEGENDS

#LEGENDS

#LoveItorHateIt

#legendskeynote

#IvyTakesLCDQLA

#lacienega

#MakeTimeForDesign

#interiordesign

#interiordesignlife

#designprofessionals

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Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

 

The 2017 Decorator Showcase takes over a Classical Revival mansion at 2698 Pacific Avenue, an architectural masterpiece desperate for design. The general look and feel this year feels much darker than last year, featuring majestic shades of blue. The talented Ivy Designers Benni Amadi, Dina Bandman and Ian Stallings stun us with their wonderfully creative and functional spaces. Ivy Team Member, Reisa Elden, scoped out the scene and shares with us the vision behind the designs.

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Ivy Designer: Benni Amadi of Benni Amadi Interiors‘s presenting “Moody Blues”

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Benni – what was your inspiration behind the design?

Traditional meets modern. We added all of the paneling and heavy trims in the space to give it that traditional architectural interest that we saw in other areas of the house, but then we layered modern elements to create interest and tension. We also took this opportunity to create something a little more dramatic and colorful than our typical work.

Which colors and materials did you move forward with and why?

The colors that we picked are black and blue. One of the first elements we were inspired to do was the black paneled walls. We knew we wanted to add pattern to the ceiling to draw your eye up and take advantage of how high it is. 11 foot ceilings are almost unheard of in a small powder room. We turned to Eskayel for the wallpapers and really felt inspired by their mix of black with inky blues. And then we added a pop of color with the chevron 2″x8″ Adriatic Blue Fireclay tiles on the floor.

What was the most exciting part of this project?

Powder rooms are often one space you can go a little wild with. Since they are small rooms, you can make it dramatic without being overwhelming, which was one of the reasons we were attracted to doing one for Showcase. Courtney and I both felt like the first floor powder deserved some love. It was just a sad, white drywall box when we first saw it, and it just didn’t stand up to the architectural drama of the rest of the home. We felt inspired to give it some of the architectural interest that we see in the larger rooms of the house, but put our own, modern spin on it. It was exciting to see this “disaster of a room” turn into what it is now!

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Ivy Designer: Dina Bandman of Dina Bandman Interiors‘s presenting “Laundering in the Lap of Luxury”

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Dina – what was your inspiration behind the design?

I have a little dog #ashmorkienamedGypsy (she is part Shitzu, part Yorkie, and part Maltese) and she hates baths, so I’m forced to essentially get in the bathtub with her. So, I wanted to design a space that I would want myself, hence the laundry room/doggy wash was born. I used de Gournay last year for SF Showcase 2016, specifically the “Monkey” Wallpaper, and it was so well received so I had no doubts about partnering with de Gournay again. While perusing the web, I found “A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains” and was instantly enamored. I knew this wallpaper had to be incorporated and the room started to take shape from there.

Which colors and materials did you move forward with and why?

Blue and white! Ask Mark Sikes about this color combo, I feel like he has basically trademarked it. But in all seriousness, the blue and white combination is timeless and classic and everyone loves it. You simply can’t go wrong. It is fresh, clean, and happy! Since I have to be in the room for 30 days straight, essentially, it was important to create something I loved and I really love blue and white. Rather than fabrics (as this is a utility space) I had lots of stone and tile options. I wanted a fun floor and had fallen in love with this Country Floors “Rubicon” pattern a while ago. Artistic Tile recently released “Sinuous” which I used on the backsplash. It has an undulating pattern that mimics water as well as the mountain peaks of the wallpaper; it was perfect for the space! Finally, I wanted the doggy wash to be blue and Country Floors once again had the perfect subway tile which I selected in an atypical size 2 x 8.

What was the most exciting part of this project?

The most exciting part was finishing in time…but barely in time! This project was going smoothly and on schedule until one week before Press Day when I had to find an alternative tile vendor. As every project goes slightly awry, I knew I was going to have to hurdle some unforeseen situation. I certainly never expected it to be so close to the finish line. Honestly speaking, everything was exciting, especially being a part of such a historic year for SF Showcase!

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Ivy Designer: Ian Stallings of Ian Stallings Design‘s presenting “The Age of Innocence”

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Ian – what was your inspiration behind the design?

I created a design draped in nostalgia with a 13 year-old boy in mind. The room is somewhat biographical, but not completely. I also had a specific client in mind that happens to have the ideal family, including a young boy who is about to enter his middle school years. Another family friend of roughly the same age while at my Holiday party last year quoted “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. I remember thinking how cool it was that a movie from my childhood was “old” now. The movie posters from the late 1980’s adorning the walls, a large wardrobe befitting a fairytale, games, books, magazines, and all of the other fun things in the room were used to illustrate the transition between the playfulness of childhood and the coolness of becoming a teenager. How did we feel at this age? What was important to us? What design would I have been attracted to at 13? I hope this room brings one back to their childhood; a time full of wonder and innocence.

Which colors and patterns did you move forward with and why?

The feeling of childhood nostalgia in this room is further characterized by the bedroom walls, which were inspired by the birth of the digital age. The walls are painted in stripes, alternating in color and thickness, mimicking the static marks left on the television screen by old VHS tracking. The walls serving as a tribute to a now outdated medium is the first thing to catch the viewer’s eye, enveloping them in the nostalgic theme of the Age of Innocence. The title is also a reference to the age of this picturesque home and the classic book by Edith Wharton with the same title.

What was the most exciting part of this project?

The wardrobe, a family heirloom, was in my room when I was 13 years old.  The piece itself is both classic and majestic, making one feel as though they were approaching a relic from a fairytale. When choosing a wardrobe for this room, I thought it was a “wardrobe befitting Narnia”, inspired by the literature series I loved in my youth. It also helps fill the volume of the room and justifies the nearly twelve foot ceiling height. Small touches in the room such as Uno cards which are splayed out on the side table, and a magic 8 ball awaiting one’s questions are just a few of the little features that tie the nostalgic Age of Innocence theme together.

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Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.