Creating Georgina: A Client Collaboration
We had a chance to talk with our client Julie Cantor about her close collaboration with Marc, during the creation of her new home on Georgina Ave. in Santa Monica, CA. Dr. Cantor is a lecturer-in-law at UCLA Law, where she teaches Health Law & Policy and Reproductive Rights, Medical Ethics & the Law. With law and medical degrees from UC Berkley and Yale, she is a national authority on issues at the juncture of these disciplines.
In the past few years her interest in art and design evolved into another career challenge, as the founder and designer of the Harlen Collection. Through her years of litigation she could not find a workbag, briefcase, or large purse, which could stand up to her heavy work load – and ensure that she could locate her phone and lipstick with ease. So, she decided to design one herself. Sourcing luscious Italian leathers, Alcantara linings, the ultimate Raccagni zippers, and finding the best atelier to handcraft each piece, she has made works of art for the art of work. These “careerpieces” are the happy marriage of efficient organization and luxurious style, fit to be passed down to daughters and granddaughters as a fine watch is.
This was the background which made her eager for the new challenge of delving in, hands-on, in the making of her new house; choosing the finishing materials and executing the interior design herself. Impressed by our promise made on the W^R website that close listening to the client is first and foremost, she was confident that Marc was the one to help her realize her vision. As a good lawyer must look five steps ahead and keep in mind many intersecting pieces, so must an architect and a designer.
She’d had in mind for years a modern take on a NY loft space with an open volume, skylights, and little strict division between rooms. The ceramic Dalmatian which stands near the dining table belonged to Julie’s beloved grandmother, who inspired the interior design of the home. She was a woman of great style who was particularly fond of black and white, with a splash of red. This palette is Julie’s homage to her, a woman whose flair and personal style made a lasting impression on her granddaughter.
In fact, her company Harlen is named after her grandparents, Harriet and Lenny, who also impressed upon her the value of education and philanthropy. With each purchase of a Harlen bag the company supports one student in Room to Read girls' education program for one entire year.
Ms. Cantor tells us that Marc was a patient and skillful mentor, but we say it was our breadth of knowledge meeting her verve, can-do ethic, and genuine love of design which made this a joyful and successful collaboration.