Check out the new DTLA space everyone is talking about.
As some of you know, or as maybe you saw here on the blog, we held our 70th anniversary party at the DTLA loft of Stephen Kenn. The designer and his partner, Beks Opperman, created the space as a place where they could host events involving their brands and partner brands—with “a limited number of overnight stays for clients interested in learning more or purchasing the products in the space,” says Beks. “The idea is to give a potential client a beautiful and quiet place to really get their hands on the products and see what it would feel like to live with them.” We were sold from the get-go.
Officially dubbed the Stephen Kenn Loft, the downtown retreat celebrates Stephen and Beks’ love of travel and their interest in understanding how different people live around the world. The duo frequently opened their design studio to the public, which got them thinking about creating a place where they could more authentically explore their interest in hospitality, all while engaging their design aesthetic. The loft gives them a space to showcase new work and to interact with the local creative communities on an intimate, more personal scale. Pretty cool, right?
We were thrilled to work with Stephen and Beks on the selection of products from several of our vendors, including refrigeration from True Residential; a range, microwave and dish washer from JennAir; Buster + Punch hardware; and Dornbracht faucets. The duo also collaborated with the following makers: Humble Ceramics, Allied Maker, Morrow Soft Goods, Hästens, Itani Athletic, Portola Paints & Glazes, Ratio Coffee, Marc Phillips Decorative Rugs, Cocktail Kingdom and Aesop skincare.
All About the Loft
A Little History: The loft is housed in a historic building in the Arts District of Los Angeles. Originally built in the 1920s to house a furniture factory that made chairs, tables, and Murphy beds, the building lay empty for many decades after the fall of the economy a few years after it was built. In 1985, the current owner purchased it with the intention of creating a space for artists to live and work. Today the building provides studio space for a creative community that includes designers, musicians, sculptors, painters, photographers, and filmmakers.
The Details: A 1,600-square-foot, open-plan space with a full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, gym, and meditation room. The 14-foot ceilings and huge factory windows give the loft a light and airy feel. Besides a wide variety of Stephen Kenn collection items, the loft also features a range of designs custom made by Stephen Kenn for the project, including a bar, a brass bathroom vanity, an ash wood closet, and a wood beam staircase that leads from the main floor up into the meditation room.
Guest Stays: The overnight guests will experience the full expression of hospitality that Stephen and Beks have dreamed of creating for many years. Guests will be encouraged to make full use of the space and enjoy using all the designs just as they would in their own home—reading a book from the loft library on the Stephen Kenn sofa, sharing a drink in the bar, or exercising in the vintage-inspired home gym.
The Nitty Gritty: Showroom tours can be booked by appointment now, and overnight stays will begin this October. Reservations will open on September 1st at stephenkenn.com.
All images courtesy of photographer Amy Bartlam.