Aesop Studio City

Aesop Studio City bears the name of its locale: a Los Angeles neighborhood aptly named for its proximity to famed film studios. The signature store sits on Ventura Boulevard, the Valley’s longtime commercial promenade. Created in partnership with architects Johnston Marklee, Aesop Studio City pays homage to the Los Angeles of a century ago, a city being built on cinematic aspirations. In an embrace of the site’s heritage, the design takes its cues from the bold lines and playful geometrics of the Art Deco era. Vertical columns emphasize the high ceilings, yielding a sense of grandeur in this 825-square foot space. The storefront entry is made of a single-pane curved glass window, giving full view of the interior. Continuing in curves, the point-of-sale and basin protrude as independent objects. A palette of silky black, smooth ivory, and brass work to exaggerate the clean horizontal lines formed by the shelving and counters, emphasizing the level expanse of Ventura Boulevard. Overall, the movement and color of the space hones a feel of glamour and elegance.