April 24, 2017

Meet Marjorie Skouras of Marjorie Skouras Design in Sherman Oaks

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marjorie Skouras.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Marjorie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Marjorie Skouras Design was started in 2000 as an interior decorating service. In 2002, I started to create bespoke items for my clients, and discovered a new creative spirit. In 2008, we shifted the focus of the business entirely to product design, manufacturing and distribution. We entered the to the trade only showroom program across the US and in Dubai, with great success. I also have a licensing program with Currey & Company, worldwide wholesalers of high end interior decor products, which I have enjoyed now for 7 years. We are in the process of transitioning our company and life to the beautiful and historic city of Merida, capital of the Yucatan state in Mexico, where my husband and I are restoring an historic mansion. I will continue all of my endeavors there, as well as opening a boutique, office, studio space with a Salon Du The in another historical house.

Has it been a smooth road?
There are no smooth roads in this line of business 😉 When you do as much custom design as I have, it is always fraught with problems, but the outcome is so much more interesting. It is a business of details, but the flip side is that one is in constant contact with other artisans, and constantly learning from these experiences.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Marjorie Skouras Design story. Tell us more about the business.
I make custom lighting, mirrors, furniture and hardware using almost exclusively semi-precious materials, which has established us in a niche of our own. Our iconic Turquoise Empire Chandelier, introduced in 2007, selling over 200 units from that date (at a price point of upwards of $8,000.00), and published around the world in most shelter magazines, is surely my proudest achievement, and the one that validated my instincts to propel myself into this arena. Everything we make is custom, and hand finished by me in my studio, which is a great pleasure.

I have literally travelled the world in search of the materials and artisans that we work with to create our pieces, and am constantly searching for new opportunities, which affords a rich travel life.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
It seems that at the moment, there is a definite uptick. I truly believe that the internet is the future – it has brought everything worldwide to one’s fingertips, and we are exploring more ways to promote our product in this manner as we have experience exponential return. While the higher price point arena continues to perform, I see great opportunities for the mid-range as well, and we are exploring more ways of producing to service this arena.

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