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A founding member of Commune Design, Pamela now runs her own studio in Los Angeles with an earth-friendly ethos

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LA-based Pamela Shamshiri shares her design tips

Who is she? One half of LA-based Studio Shamshiri, which she set up with her brother Ramin in 2016, Pamela always knew that she wanted a career in the design world. ‘We grew up playing in our father’s furniture showroom. Ramin has a business background; I studied art history and architectu­re, then production design at NYU,’ she recalls. The siblings were two of the four founding partners of Commune Design studio, best known for the Ace hotels. ‘When we started Commune it was a moment when all of us wanted to change our lives,’ she says. ‘At that time, there weren’t many multidisci­plinary firms and it felt so thrilling. We were approachin­g design in our own way.’ Today, Studio Shamshiri and its team is housed in the historic Thomson Building, a 1920s Hollywood landmark. What’s her style? Narrative and research driven, Pamela’s process always starts with the building. ‘We’ve been lucky to work on a lot of restoratio­n projects,’ she continues. ‘I like to honour the architectu­re; there’s a lot to be learnt from history.’ Supporting local artisans and sustainabi­lity have always been important, too. ‘I have never been a fan of plastic; I prefer organic materials and metals such as copper, which develop a natural patina as they age.’

What are her recent projects? Studio Shamshiri’s first hotel venture was the eclectic Maison de la Luz in New Orleans, which was completed in 2019. ‘We imagined that Iris Apfel had travelled the world and then decided to open a guest house. It was a more-is-more, layered concept where the colours lighten as you go up the building. By the time guests are in the bedrooms, the palettes have desaturate­d and it feels like you’re in the clouds,’ explains Pamela. Colour also played a key role in a California­n Palladian villa that was originally decorated by Mark Hampton and took a decade to complete (she began the work while part of Commune Design). ‘The house needed to be freshened up and we did that by infusing a lot of colour into it,’ she says. ‘For instance, the dining room was red but we changed the shade to paprikasoi­tmoresuite­dtheclient­s’personalit­ies.’ What is she currently working on? The iconic Rainbow Room event space, restaurant and cocktail bar at the top of the Rockefelle­r Centre in New York. ‘We’re revitalisi­ng it; preserving the architectu­re with an element of art deco but also making sure it’s a cool place for people to hang out.’

She says: ‘Currently I’m responding to colours from the 1940s, but since Covid-19 I can see that my aesthetic is shifting daily. When there is a complete change in a way of life, design has to respond to that. I think, overall, that it will feel simpler, more edited and grounded.’ studiosham­shiri.com

‘I LIKE TO HONOUR THE

ARCHITECTU­RE; THERE’S

A LOT TO BE LEARNT

FROM HISTORY’

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 ??  ?? Opposite Bold red envelopes Bar Marilou in Maison de la Luz in New Orleans From top
The living room of the Palladian villa in California, originally decorated by Mark Hampton; Studio Shamshiri’s offices in Hollywood’s historic Thomson Building include this kitchen and dining area; Maison de la Luz’s breakfast
room; the entrance of a recently completed residentia­l
project in LA
Opposite Bold red envelopes Bar Marilou in Maison de la Luz in New Orleans From top The living room of the Palladian villa in California, originally decorated by Mark Hampton; Studio Shamshiri’s offices in Hollywood’s historic Thomson Building include this kitchen and dining area; Maison de la Luz’s breakfast room; the entrance of a recently completed residentia­l project in LA

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