Soma Design Studio

 

Located in a vintage brick building in San Francisco Design District, my office reflects my passion for collecting and design. My studio is at the same time an experimental space to try new ideas and a place to display treasured objects.

I have divided the one large high-ceiling space into a reception area, working area, meeting room and pantry. The reception area reproduces a part of the room I designed for 2013 San Francisco Designer Showcase and consists of a custom cold rolled steel sofa and attached bookshelf. The seating is upholstered in burlap following traditional French mattress construction.

The main area is symmetrical: in the center, a large 17 foot island is used by the staff for presentations and layout and provides substantial storage. On each side of the island, individual workstations were constructed with bent cold rolled steel.

The conference area is set off by steel bookshelves inset with a pair of antique Chinese doors. A large concrete conference table is paired with natural saddle cab armchairs. The framed painted wood panels on the walls are particularly dear to me as they were part of a 17th century Portuguese coffered ceiling in a residence that has been in my family since the time of installation. Adjacent to the conference table is a cozy lounge area that incorporates a 17th century Jacobean chair upholstered in bargello and an antique Vargueno on a Chinese table.

My collections, ranging from Han Dynasty pottery to numerous carpenter tools, are displayed throughout the office on the floor, shelves, tables, and window ledges.