Four design-oriented entrepreneurs came together to create something more than just a basic furniture line and store, they created an all-encompassing interior design one-stop shop. Modern Studio Furnishings of Laguna Beach, CA is a creative environment that showcases their innovative furniture and accessories, both classic and trendy, and provides a modern aesthetic with traditional customer service.
Meeting of the Minds
The beginnings of Modern Studio Furnishings sprouted as a meeting of the design-minds, both professionally and personally. Mike Embury, who has a background in selling and manufacturing furniture, met his wife Melissa Embury while selling art at a Laguna gallery. Now she is the web designer for the company. Mike Embry’s partner, John Bedford, brings order fulfillment to the table and his fiancee, Erica Peterson, is a furniture designer.
Collection to Collect
They carry custom as well as modern and contemporary collections suited for residential, restaurant, hospitality and all manner of public spaces. Their complete collection includes furniture solutions for today’s modern living featuring sofas, sectionals, chairs, coffee tables, dining tables, dining chairs, sideboards, wall units, entertainment centers, media units, beds and bedroom furniture, desk and office furniture, outdoor furniture, lamps, rugs, mirrors and accessories. They also craft custom furniture to suit every customer’s unique vision.
Take the Soho as an example of their ingenity, its a multi-functional daybed. The oversize seating piece tucks neatly into the square wooden frame when used as a regular sofa with two loose cushions as backrest. Perfect for tight studio apartments. Ever wanted a bed the shape of a space ship? They’ve got you covered with their ultra-hip, circle shaped Histoire bed. Another item that is must-have to complete the look are the Jam counter stools, unobtrusive yet definitely make a statement in their orange and white color scheme.
Simple and Livable Furniture
With four design-oriented minds, you’d think there would be recurring disagreements on how to stock the shop. What it comes down to it, however, are a few simple guidelines. Clean, simple and totally livable.
“With Mike and Melissa having kids, they want the fabric to be durable yet stylish, modern, warm and cozy,” Erica Peterson, the designer, says. Kiddie hands aren’t the only things that matter. Spread across a natural-hued showroom are pieces picked for their classic edge and longevity.
LATP Interview with Mike Embury
We caught up with Mike to find out what’s new for the company and for 2010 design trends…
LA’s the Place: How do you choose the pieces/lines you carry?:
Mike Embury: We have owned our own factory locally in L.A for over a decade and our flag ship store in Laguna Beach for 8 years. We custom design and make to order 75% of the furnishings that we sell.The other 25% we warehouse from some of the best manufacturers from around the world. Most items are designed then prototyped for multiple strike off production. The items we do not make are hand selected from Milan to Canada to meet our design and quality standards.
LATP: What’s hot right now in furnishings? Colors, designs, etc?
ME: As spaces inevitably get smaller, we are seeing a trend to furnishings that serve for more than one function (i.e. Chairs turning into chaises then beds). The hot color for now is lime green with white and cool neutrals. Design wise: clean, uncluttered yet not sterile in keeping with a warm livable inviting interior.
LATP: If you could only have one piece in your house, what would it be and why?
ME: That would be our feather down Bee Lounge with a yummy fabric. I have wanted one since we first designed it over 6 years ago but you know the story of the shoemaker’s son having odd ball shoes? I only let myself take home the leftovers…
Go Green Furniture
When you visit them in Laguna Beach to find that perfect chaise lounge or bedroom set you’ve been searching for, ask about their green line of furniture. These dark and light colored sleek pieces – consoles, slatted benches, chairs, armoires – are made from fused bamboo strips that have a sweeping cool grain. The iconic Hard Rock Hotel in downtown San Diego has a wide, modular couch from their eco-friendly line. Jokingly, Mike Embury calls this party couch the “Collen.” (After Phil Collen, of Def Leppard, who also happens to live in Laguna Hills.) They also helped acquire the pieces, from bar stools to beds and sleek chaises, for Hard Rock VIP suites.
VIP Celebrity Events
Celebrities love to give back and Modern Studio Furnishings is there to help with their desire. When the foursome aren’t in the showroom, they are designing backstage VIP lounges at events like the Golden Globes, Billboard Music Awards and Sundance Film Festival. Among the furniture they design are sets of sleek, chaise-like sofas in crisp whites. They pick at least one piece to coax celebrities into signing for charity.
Modern Studio Furnishings' Mike Embury lounges with Shar Jackson on his eco-friendly furniture at the Official Grammy Lounge.
Hayden Panettiere, Kathy Griffin, Howie Mandel, Jenna Fischer, Terry Hatcher, John Stamos and Flavor Flav are among those who gave their autographs. Pieces are being auctioned off to nonprofit groups including Clothes Off Their Back, the BET Foundation and City of Hope. Right now they have a Grammy signature chaise covered in autographs from music industry’s hottest celebrities awaiting to be auctioned for charity.
Old-fashioned Customer Service
But don’t worry, although they have celebrity clientele, they focus on customer service regardless of who you are. What’s better, they usually promise that they can get it to you fast. Before they sell pieces, whether it’s a lighting fixture or rotating platform bed, they order the item themselves to ensure that manufacturers will turn it around in a reasonable amount of time. If it’s an item worth waiting for, they can give clients accurate time frames. They also offer “Curb Side Delivery”– your dream furniture promptly and carefully delivered to your door.
ModHabitat
Simply stated, they deliver literally and figuratively, whether it’s eco-conscious furniture or an entirely eco-friendly modular home design business with their latest venture, ModHabitat. Modhabitat delivers the turn key solution for sustainable living. Modhabitat is revolutionizing the building industry with the use of a patented M.H.S. technology, the world’s first and only aluminum structural building system. Their living solutions are easily adaptable for any architectural application & are precisely built & assembled on site.
And most importantly, Modhabitat’s structures are fully recyclable, relocateable with a minimal residual human footprint. www.modhabitat.com
Click here to read our interview with ModHabitat creator Mike Embury…
We also chatted with Mike about ModHabitat…
LATP: Where are the materials for Modhabitat made?
ME: Our newly approved truly sustainable light-weight building technology is made by Americans for Americans and within 500 miles of the source. We are in the final stages of opening our 2nd production facility in Santa Ana to build “affordable” sustainable communities that will last at least 20x longer than a typical structure with very little maintenance.
The system is engineered to have 10 components (no landfill waste) & can fit all standard doors, windows etc. The system allows it to be erected on site with impact wrenches in 1/3 the time of regular construction with relativity unskilled labor. Furthermore since the system can use footings instead of a concrete slab for the foundation, it greatly reduces the structures foot print on the environment & makes it movable.
We have also partnered up with solar/wind/water technology providers as we move forward to develop fully sustainable communities.
LATP: That’s so exciting. What inspired you to create Modhabitat?
ME: A few years ago, we were fortunate enough to meet the inventor of the (aluminum structural) technology. After seeing the capabilities of the system and its true genius and since it was proven to be a socially and economically responsible business venture – it just made sense to start the company.
LATP: Can you expound on the charity work in Chile and Haiti ModHabitat is involved with?
ME: We are also seeking to align with other charities to build Modhabitat structures in disaster-effected areas. We have the architectural plans for our relief structure in the hands of the Haitian people and are awaiting there reply.
To read the entire article on ModHabitat at LA’s the Place, click HERE.
For the latest in furniture design or green-friendly home construction, visit them at:
www.modernstudiofurnishings.com
www.modern-furnishings.com
www.modhabitat.com
Modern Studio Furnishings
290 Broadway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.376.0103
[email protected]
