This Side Up: Converso Opens In Los Angeles

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CONVERSO, established in Chicago in 1994, has long boasted a large online presence and a thriving New York showroom. Now they’ve opened a showroom in the former Lawson-Fenning space on Beverly Boulevard. An awning, designed by artist Artsu Ono, and boasting a camouflage pattern created in muted colors that evokes the palette of the California desert, is a clue that the pieces you’ll find within this 2,200 square foot showroom will not be run of the mill. Indeed, the light, bright space proves to be the ideal setting in which to showcase founder Lawrence Converso’s eagle eye for furniture and accessories that are collectable, unique, unusual and arresting.  

Rare prototypes and limited-editions abound. Philip Johnson Tripod lamp originally designed for the Glass House, a sculptural torch-cut table by Isamu Noguchi, a Paul Evans vertical Argente cabinet, a George Nakashima chaise in black walnut, a red Raymond Loewy for Doubinsky Freres DF-2000 series bar cabinet, a majestic pair of Finn Juhl Chieftain chairs, a brass Gabriella Crespi mirror, and a red and blue LEGO chair by Mario Minale for Droog Design are just a few of the jaw-dropping pieces that vie for space on the floor. 

“Our business has been bicoastal for quite some time, and we felt that the moment had finally come to officially bring our business to LA,” says Converso. For Converso, “LA is where I learned a major part of the business, so having a physical space there feels like a homecoming.”

A smaller ‘Cabinet’ room, presently set off from the main showroom by a coat of deep brick red paint, will house capsule collections and curated exhibitions. Presently it’s a collection of sensual, sculpted wooden forms by Mario Del Fabbro. 

Converso Los Angeles, 7257 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 323.852.8035 

Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 12pm – 6pm