Design Los Angeles

Frances Merrill sat down with former team members Ashley Lavonne, Zeb Knudsen, and Leah Ring to talk mentorship, creative risk, and what it really takes to build a studio in Los Angeles. What unfolds is less about a single path, and more about the accumulation of experience, trust, and timing that leads you there.

“Be a kind person to the people that work for you, and they’ll have that same level of communication back.” — Frances Merrill
A reminder that the best studios are built not just on talent, but on trust, openness, and the relationships that continue long after people move on.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube, link in bio.

Tiny furniture, messy hands, and a whole lot of fun at DesignLA.

Danny D’s Mudshop at Lawson Fenning brought a different kind of energy to Legends, with less watching and more playing. Guided by ceramicist Daniel Doorcek, designers set their notes aside and got into the clay, building their own miniature world to take home.



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Inside the Apparatus showroom in Los Angeles, this conversation brought together interior designers Andre Mellone and Robert Stilin, moderated by T Magazine’s Tom Delavan. Together, they reflect on a shift away from decoration toward something more layered and personal, where a home becomes a reflection of what you’ve discovered, loved, and lived with over time.

What makes a good collection is your personal relationship with the things you live with.” - Andre Mellone

A reminder that great interiors are built over time, guided by instinct, experience, and what you’re drawn to, not just what’s expected.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube, link in bio.




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