Luxe Modern - Mid Century Modern Homes | Hollywood Hills Sunset Strip Real Estate

Franco Albini: Poetic Precision

Born in the Italian countryside of Brianza to a well-to-do bourgeois family, Franco Albini (1905-1977) was inspired by his fond memories of the landscape and the precise beauty of tradition. After attending architecture school in Milan, he served his apprenticeship with Milanese Architects Gio Ponti and Emilio Lancia where he had direct contact with artisan cabinet-makers and talented craftsmen. In 1930 he opened his own practice. Utilizing the knowledge he gained from working with talented craftsmen – he created his own unique aesthetic, elegant design merged with traditional Italian artisanship and the new conceptual movement of modernism. In 1928 Albini created the iconic Albini Desk, which combined steel, glass and wood in a minimalist combination of balanced proportions. He continued to design some of the most famous and fashionable furniture pieces for companies such as Cassina, Arflex, Arteluce and Poggi and in 1964 he created a television set for Brionvega. Albini also worked as an architect and interior designer on important buildings in Rome and subway stations in Milan.

Albini’s Fiorenza Chair, c.1952 was designed for Arflex. This lounge chair in leather with a wood frame embodies his ability to combine traditional elegance with modernist minimalism and clarity of form.

These rattan ottomans / poufs combine Albini’s rationality of form with the beauty of raw simple material c.1951.
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Paavo Tynell: Brass with Sass

Finnish designer Paavo Tynell (1890-1973) was a master of lighting and working with his favorite material, brass. Paavo Tynell began his studies as a tinsmith and continued his education at the school now known as Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. It was while working as a designer at Taidetakomo Koru, Tynell made his first brass lamp and he was immediately drawn to the material. He developed an easily recognizable style by combining a few simple principals – perforated brass metal, an ornamented yet sleek design, a unique lift mechanism and nature as inspiration. Tynell is most well known for his design Lumihiutale (Snowflake), shown below. He also produced pieces for two American companies Lightolier and Litecraft. In addition to his mass produced lighting designs, Tynell created custom pieces for many public spaces, including hotels, train stations and restaurants. Several contemporary Scaninavian modern lighting pieces are inspired by Tynell’s ahead of the curve designs, while his original pieces are highly collectible on today’s auction circuit.

This stunning Tynell rectangular flush mount ceiling light is made of black lacquered brass with pinhole perforations. Part of his Starry Sky series, the brass grid underneath supports a frosted glass diffuser which provides for beautiful light distribution, c. 1950’s.

One of Tynell’s signature designs, the Snowflake chandelier is from his Fantasia series. This model 9065 is from the early 1950’s and is constructed of perforated and enameled brass and metal mesh.
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Ico Parisi: Objects of Beauty

Ico Parisi (1916-1996), a Sicilian born architect, was one of the most influential designers and visionaries to shape the look of the 1950s. Parisi had a fertile imagination and was considered somewhat of a Renaissance man, he was active in the areas of filmmaking, furniture, glass and jewelry design – as well as an artist and architect. He collaborated with his wife Luisa, who was a student of renowned architect and designer Gio Ponti throughout much of his career. The Parisi’s work contains no ornamentation but it is fluid and in constant motion, the sofa’s look as if they could walk out of the room. The curvilinear styling of their upholstered sofa’s and chairs appears fabulously sexy and unique. Parisi’s work epitomizes the modernist style of the early atomic age and has become highly collectible.

One of Ico and Luisa’s classic pieces, this lounge chair, model 865, c.1954 is constructed of upholstery, steel and brass. A similar model was included in the tenth Triennial in Milan in 1954.

Created as a important private commission, this walnut and fabric sofa was executed by Spartaco Brugnoli, Italy in the early 1950’s.
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Jorge Zalszupin // Utter Utopia

Polish born Jorge Zalszupin, b.1922 moved to Brazil after World War II. It was an extremely creative time to rebuild a post-war world and the atmosphere in Brazil allowed his sensual, modern approach to design and architecture to flourish. In 1959, Zalszupin started the furniture design firm L’Atelier, which saw immediate success. He became part of a select team of talented furniture designers who worked closely with Oscar Niemeyer on developing furniture pieces for the new federal capital. His work is characterized by both geometric lines and organic forms combined with impeccable woodworking and classical detailing. Jorge Zalszupin is known for his refined work in jacaranda and other Brazilian specialty woods such as rosewood and ironwood. L’Atelier’s designs stand as benchmarks of modernism today and Zalszupin is considered one of Brazil’s most important designers of the twentieth century.

The Annette armchair is named after Zalszupin’s wife. This chair is comprised of a metal frame structure, a leather strap base and solid Imbuia wood carved arms. Originally designed in the 60s, there is now a re-edition of this stunning piece available.

Named after the Swallow bird, the Andorinha coffee table is inspired by origami paper folding art and contains an integrated magazine holder.
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RAYMOND LOEWY // A Charismatic Master of Design

Franco-American Raymond Loewy was the “starchitect” of his time, while not officially an architect, rather an industrial designer, Mr. Loewy was the first celebrity designer ever to grace the cover of Time magazine. He was the ultimate style guru, he rode a Harley-Davidson, hung out with jet setting beautiful people and owned houses in New York, Paris, St. Tropez and Palm Springs. Loewy is credited with launching the industrial design movement that changed the look of American life. In addition to his furniture and china pieces, he designed branding experiences for TWA, Lucky Strike, variations of the modern day Coca-Cola bottle and enduring logos for Shell, Exxon, Quaker and Canada Dry.

In 1963, Loewy designed an automobile, the Avanti – a personal, luxury coupe, built by the Studebaker Corporation. The car was designed in Palm Springs, CA over a five week period, a feature unheard of in automotive design history. Loewy was concerned with fuel economy, stating that “weight is the enemy” in automotive design therefore the Avanti was designed without a grill, thinking
“who needs a grill… those are associated with sewers…” Raymond Loewy saw the modern world as a magical and interconnected series of phenomena, each in need of careful engineering, Avanti Raymond!

An eye-catching double sided DF-2000 sideboard, c.1965, boasts four bold colored plastic doors ranging from red, pink to orange, with a lemon yellow interior. The metal base is powder coated metal coordinated with the laminate body of the cabinet.

This Droptop desk c. 1950s expresses itself in functional simplicity. The exterior is constructed of cerused wood, the interior a lacquered robin’s egg blue with iron legs and handles. This piece perfectly showcases Loewy’s mantra that simple can still be stylish.
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Michel Boyer // Luxe 70s Comfort

Interior architect and designer Michel Boyer, studied under renowned decorator, André Arbus and began his career specializing in office furniture in corporate interiors, offices and banks. He is known for his clean sleek shapes and monoblock designs with a luxurious undertone. Boyer played with solids and voids in familiar geometric shapes and established a certain standard of 1970s style. By the end of the 1960s, Boyer began receiving many private commissions for prestigious clients such as Elie de Rothschild, Lilian Betencourt and Karim Aga Khan. One of his most well known commissions was for the interior architecture of the Rothschild Bank in the 70s. He also worked with fashion desighers including Lanvin, Dior and Balmain. His designs emanate the inviting comfort of objects and interiors made for people not for buildings.

A striking pair of lounge chairs, linear tubes of foam covered in leather lie on top of an extruded metal tubing structure, c. 1971.

An important waterfall desk created by Boyer for the Rothschild Bank. This “Directors” desk in constructed of hardwood, covered with walnut veneer, lacquered Formica, aluminum and a brushed stainless steel reveal running the entire length of the piece, c. 1970.
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Pepe Mendoza // Magnificent Mexican Modernism

Designer, Pepe Mendoza ran a foundry in Mexico that produced a limited number of furniture pieces and decorative objects in the late 1950s and 60s. His work is characterized by a cloisonné type technique, utilizing turquoise and other colorful stones to create elaborate metalwork in exuberant forms. Rumor has it; Mendoza also produced hardware for other well known mid-century modern designers such as T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings as well as California designers Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman. Mendoza’s work has a distinct glamour and style to it, perfect for West coast living.

Coffee table in brass, ceramic and glass along with Mendoza’s classic cloisonné technique, c. 1960.

A rare pair of Mendoza leather lounge chairs constructed of rosewood and walnut, c. 1955.
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Light Up A Room With A Statement Making Sciolari

Mid century lighting designer, Gaetano Sciolari was the child of an Italian family that had been in the lighting business since 1892, almost since the time electricity had been invented. He designed on his own for Stilnovo in the 1950s – utilizing spherical bulbs, mixing brass with chrome, incorporating satin and polished metals to create unique stunning pieces. His designs have been described as refined, edgy and futuristic, always bringing a sultry coolness to any space.

These fabulous statement making glam Sciolari sconces bring polish to a dining room or master suite. Nickel-plated brass with crystal decorative glass details showcase Sciolari’s keen sense of design, c.1960s.

Sciolari’s chrome spiral chandelier is comprised of 11 stacked square-form horizontal rods along a central axis, and utilizes 10 candelabra size chrome tipped bulbs, c.1975.
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Donald Deskey // Industrial Designer with a Luxury Look

Donald Deskey, an innovate industrial designer was among the leading figures to introduce modern design to the United States in the late 1920s. Born in 1894, in Blue Earth Minnesota, studied architecture at the University of California Berkeley and then painting at the California School of Design, the Art Institute of Chicago and Art Students League in New York. While in Chicago and New York, Mr. Deskey began to work as a commercial artist for several advertising agencies, leading to a 20-year association with Procter & Gamble. His designs have graced many household products from the Crest toothpaste packaging (which has remained the same since its creating in the 1950s) to designs for Cheer, Prell and Jif peanut butter, shaping the look of American everyday living for years to come.

Moving in to furniture and textile design Donald Deskey won the competition to design the Radio City Music Hall in 1930. He worked on this important commission from 1931-1939. Mr. Deskey was also adept at luxurious interior design, creating interiors for such prominent clients as Abby Aldrich Rockefeller and Helena Rubinstein. He has been named one of the top 20 design influences of the 20th century by Architectural Digest.

Chest of drawers, this six-drawer chest constructed of sienna micarta and walnut, with cast aluminum drawer pulls and formed legs. Mr. Deskey created this piece for the manufacturer Charak Modern in 1958.

This pair of Art Deco Andiron, showcases Deskey’s passion for working with various metals, these examples in polished brass and painted iron, c. 1940s.
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Kipp Stewart // Maker of Many Things

Trained as an architect, Kipp Stewart has distinguished himself as a prolific mid century (and beyond) American furniture designer. His passion for all of the arts, painting, photography and architecture has led to notable projects such as Big Sur’s first luxury resort, the Ventana Inn. The inn built in harmony with the Big Sur landscape is a potent showcase for eco-conscious modern architecture. He cites the late Charles Eames with whom he worked, as an important influence in his process of design.

Created in the 1960’s, this pair of Kipp Stewart Lounge Chairs with chromed steel bases project Stewart’s relaxed attitude blending style and comfort.

Working with Stewart MacDougall, Stewart created several pieces for the Drexel Furniture Company. This open bookcase constructed of walnut with sculptural legs is one such piece, c.1950s.
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