Kelly Wearstler designs Ulla Johnson store

At the Ulla Johnson flagship shop in West Hollywood, American interior designer Kelly Wearstler combined a towering tree with vintage furniture by Carlo Scarpa and speckled burl wood paneling.

Wearstler designed the two-story, light-filled space as the main store for Johnson’s clothing line in Los Angeles.

The sandy-hued interiors, which Wearstler referred to as “something that really speaks to LA,” were the result of their collaborative efforts.

“A priority for me and Ulla was to ensure that the showroom encapsulated the quintessence of the West Coast, firmly grounded in both the surrounding environment and local community,” the designer stated to Dezeen.

Instead of entering the business through the old Beverly Boulevard door, visitors enter through a “secret” patio garden surrounded by shrubs and desert plants.

Wearstler stated that her designs typically give homage to the “natural world.” “This Californian idea of merging indoor and outdoor is evident from the moment you approach the store,” Wearstler added.

Inside, Johnson’s similarly rich collections are mirrored in three interconnected, open-plan areas on the ground level.

The expansive accessories area includes freestanding jewelry display cabinets created by Canadian artist Jeff Martin. The cases are echoed by floor-to-ceiling burl wood panels that are mottled and covered in peeling ribbons of caramel-colored, grooved tiles.

Designed as a sunroom, the other living room-style space features parquet flooring with an inlay of Rosa Corallo stone. And two boxy 1970s Cornaro armchairs by modernist Italian architect Carlo Scarpa.

“Vintage pieces are infused into all of my projects and I enjoy experimenting with the dialogues created by placing these alongside contemporary commissions,” said Kelly Wearstler.

The mezzanine, the largest of the three areas, has skylights and a double-height Brachychiton. A tree that is also present at the designer’s Malibu residence.

The second level is accessed by a large timber staircase. There, another lounge has been designed with burnt orange and cream colored accessories. Featuring a lumpy marbelized resin coffee table designed by Los Angeles-based designer Ross Hansen.

“We collaborated with a variety of local artisans to imbue the spirit of southern California to the project,” stated Wearstler.

A fitting room beside has textured floors and ribbed plaster walls that, in the designer’s words, were meant to suggest a residential sense.

“We wanted people to feel at home in the store so we prioritised warm and inviting elements,” she stated.

Another attractive display cabinet conjures “a touch of 1970s California nostalgia” since it is composed of “wavy” burl wood.

In addition to being a business, Ulla Johnson serves as a community hub for activities. Including guest speaker presentations and art exhibitions that rotate.