Thomas Hamel’s Favourite LA Interiors Shops

The interior designer shares his insider secrets on Los Angeles’ coolest home-furnishing haunts.

Thomas Hamel is the man behind some of the world’s most striking interiors. Hailing from Virginia, the in-demand American interior designer established Thomas Hamel & Associates in Sydney back in 1990. Fast-forward to 2016 and Hamel now divides his time between his Sydney office and his home in Los Angeles. As you’d expect, he knows where LA’s best interiors stores can be found…

H. D. Buttercup

“A warehouse for designer finds, H. D. Buttercup is the ultimate Californian interiors emporium. Renowned for its evolving selection of globally inspired home furnishings, from mid-century to French provincial and modern Scandi, it’s great on prices and high on style. There are multiple locations but my go-to is Culver City.”

3225 Helms Avenue, Culver City

Design Around Objects

“This is a favourite furniture showroom and art gallery in the West Hollywood art and design district. Design Around Objects’ furniture leans towards casual yet sophisticated pieces that are handcrafted and tactile. The stock ranges from amazing sculptural pieces made of root and bark to incredible stone from China. It’s also great for outdoor garden pieces.”

8767 Beverly Boulevard, West Hollywood

Lucca Antiques

“The team at Lucca Antiques have an incredible eye for detail. There are fine patina antiques and architectural elements, along with some of their own designs using old materials and found objects. I defy anyone with an interest in antique furniture to not experience a case of the “I wants” at this ever-changing treasure trove of beautiful things. They also stock interesting lamps, chairs and tables and their pieces have a wonderful organic quality to them.”

744 N La Cienega, West Hollywood

Jean de Merry

“The men behind Jean de Merry have extraordinary vision and are passionate about artisanal design and quality materials. Every object in their lovely gallery has a timeless bespoke quality. Our furniture line, the Hamel + Farrell Collection –designed by Dylan Farrell – is represented there and, believe me, we are in excellent company.”

8417 Melrose Place, West Hollywood

Kneedler Fauchère

“Located in the Pacific Design Center and open to the trade only, Kneedler Fauchère is a one-stop stylish design resource. The fabric, wallpaper, furniture and lighting lines it carries are the best. Traditional and classic pieces are mixed with contemporary pieces; that’s what is nice about the place – it shows how a home could work with a mixture of styles.”

Pacific Design Centre, 8687 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood

Obsolete

“A high-ceilinged, industrial-chic fine art gallery, Obsolete is a truly amazing space. From lighting and furniture to unique curiosities, this is a wonderful source of one-off finds. I once purchased an amazing old leather wingchair there. Everything at Obsolete possesses that country-meets-industrial look.”

11270 Washington Boulevard, Culver City

Rolling Greens

“Rolling Greens is great for plants, pots and pretty much all things green! They have aisles of gorgeous pots, along with incredible orchids and both indoor and outdoor plants. To be able to marry an amazing pot with an amazing plant all in the one spot is very nice. It’s almost a country experience – but right in the middle of the city.”

7505 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles

Book Soup

“This is the largest general independent bookstore in West Hollywood. There are all kinds of books but I make a beeline to the art and interior design section to stock up on anything new to inspire me, before jumping on a flight back to Sydney. I recently bought an amazing coffee-table book called Private [by Giancarlo Giammetti]; it’s almost a scrapbook of Valentino and his life over the past 50 years.”

8818 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood