Partners In Design: Consort Design’s New Shop Opens On Melrose in Los Angeles
Author:Abigail StoneThe area around Melrose and Highland is quickly becoming the center of Los Angeles’ newest design district. So it’s no surprise that’s where Mat Sanders and his partner Brandon Quattrone have chosen to open Consort Design, the brick-and-mortar adjunct to their high-end design business, a favorite with Jessica Alba, Chiara Ferragni and Jimmy Kimmel. After all, Sanders, until recently the Creative Director of Domaine Home and now the Editor-at-Large, has made a career of discovering things. The 2,000 square foot store, created in partnership with Marie Goble, is arranged like a home with the Consort Design offices in the back. “It’s full of random oddities and weird and funny stuff that makes you laugh,” said Sanders. We stopped by to take a tour, as the duo put the finishing touches on the space, which opens Friday when they’ll also be taking over the California Home+Design Instagram and sharing their view of day one.
What was the impetus to open a store?
We realized that we were working with a lot of celebrities and got a lot of requests for work that we couldn’t do. So it’s a way for people to bring a piece of the lifestyle into their home. We experimented by putting up product on the website to see how it went and people loved it.
So tell us about some of the products in the store. These pillows are gorgeous.
Aren’t they? They’re by Shilo Engelbrech from Australia, she does hand-painted digital textiles. These food paintings are by Katie Kimmel, a really fun artist, she makes things out of fimo and resin. We’re doing these color-blocked cashmere pillows and these Italian modern chairs in blush, my favorite color even before Pantone announced it was the color of the year. We have lighting by Sabin, he does perforated sconces which we love. The sofas and this coffee table are by Estee Stanley. These brass picture frames that were on Goop. We have art by Nicole Cohen and Matthew Maus and photography by Andrew Arthur. These incredible surfboards are by Wax Surf and Pletz lighting, they were one of my favorite things I saw at ICFF, We have vintage finds from Brimfield. The marble-topped dining table that’s the centerpiece of the back of the store is designed by us. We have Lux / Eros ceramic dinnerware, colorful Canvas basics glasses, pottery from Workaday and Matthew Ward and Golda products. They’re made from Hiba, a Japanese tree. The dog mist calms your dog.
So tell us about the name Consort?
It feels like a modern word and the meaning of it is a little mischievous. It’s about a friend, a partner, but then there’s another element to it, of getting into trouble.
What other projects are you guys working on?
Mat: I’m still working with Domaine. In fact, they’re moving into new offices and I’m working closely with the architect to make it feel like their space while helping with their NY office as well. We’re working with Jessica Alba designing the new Honest Company offices in Playa Del Rey. We’re doing a showroom on Melrose for Revolve Clothing. We have a couple of projects with Jimmy Kimmel, and there’s a lovely young couple in Phoenix and a project in Telluride, Colorado and a gorgeous ranch style house in Los Feliz for Shaye Mitchell of Pretty Little Liars.
Anything else we need to know?
We’re really interested in growing this into a brand and opening up more retail locations. And we’re working on a t.v. show called “Design Insomnia.” The idea is that we ambush someone in the middle of the night while they’re sleeping and we redo their space before the sun rises.
A world designed by Consort. Sounds like a great way to wake up. Find the store at 6918 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA (323) 930-5688 or shop online at: http://www.consort-design.com
