Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Shapiro Joyal.
Leslie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I come from a family of artists, so that spirit has always been a part of me. My parents encouraged non-conventional thinking and creativity, and I enjoyed a childhood that was simultaneously colorful and chaotic. Duality has played a big role in my life; my mother was a collector of Avant Garde culture, and my father a Harvard trained psychiatrist. Both of them in their own ways showed me how embrace the intuitive and unspoken, and I think those traits make me an effective designer.
Working as an interior designer alongside architects, I quickly found a void in the industry. There were limited resources that offered luxury furniture that catered to a minimalist aesthetic. With a passion for furniture cultivated early on by my travels with my mother and a very ambitious spirit, I let a new business model unfold. I had already had some luck selling my commissions to my design clients, so when an affordable storefront became available, I jumped at the chance. I didn’t think too much about it – I just leapt. The thought of being able to design and build exactly what my heart saw was so appealing that I never looked back. As it turns out, there were many that were looking for precisely what I was offering, and a business was born. By working extremely hard and stubbornly, I was able to establish a loyal following of clients and consumers, and next year, my studio will celebrate 20 years in the same location on Fairfax.
I did get both sides of the coin, though, as my father was a Harvard trained psychiatrist. I am heavily influenced by his work, and spirit, and the type of analytical thinking that is useful in working with clients. I found my place in design in the early eighties, but gravitated towards architecture early on. When working within that field, I would often find that there were limited resources for minimal, bespoke furniture. With an ambitious streak, I simply decide to do it myself. With a love for furniture, and an ambitious spirit I created my studio. In 1998, 407 Furniture was born, a destination where architects, designers and lovers of fine furniture could essentially collaborate with me to design what they wanted. Architecture was a good fit for me, because I was heavily drawn to composition and the philosophy behind spaces.
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not! I have weathered many ups and downs. The studio has expanded and downsized over the last 20 years in response to the demands of life. The economic downtown of 2008, the writers’ strike in Los Angeles, and motherhood have all tumbled my business around like a rag doll. In addition, in 2005 I suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that nearly took my life. It took years for me to feel normal again, and any one of those events could have been the end of the business, but I am very persistent. Loyalty to people and ideas is one of the things that defines me. I am a firm believer in hard work and a “can do” spirit, and it has served me well. Sometimes you simply have to get through one day at a time. When I need to relax and find my way back, I return to painting. It’s always been my refuge.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Shapiro Joyal Studio – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am the head of 407 Furniture and Shapiro Joyal Studio, which I founded in 1998 in Los Angeles. The studio was a response to the overpriced, over decorated, carelessly made designs that I saw on a daily basis.
I design both interiors and furniture, and I specialize in minimal design that is luxurious yet unfussy. I have a catalog of developed and time tested pieces, but I love working one on one with people to get them precisely what they want, from a single piece of furniture to an entire project. I am known for my purist aesthetic, my attention to detail, and my dedication to local craftspeople and resources.
I am most proud that I had the vision for this business years ago, saw it through, and have created a company that I will be able to leave my daughters one day. I prefer slow design that is mindful and timeless. I’m very proud when I look at pieces that were designed as far back as 1995 that still work as beautifully as they originally did, in terms of aesthetic and functionality. Many clients have been with me for decades. That speaks volumes to me. Too many people put a priority on getting things done quickly, or paying the lowest price which usually doesn’t serve us well functionally, economically, globally or environmentally.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love our diversity in people and places. I love our weather! I love the different flavors that each segment of the city offers and the architecture that makes each pocket unique. I dislike that so much of that beloved architecture is being compromised and wiped out by overdevelopment. I dislike development that is moving at breakneck speed without an emphasis on design.
I could not talk about LA without discussing the traffic. It’s maddening. Mostly though, I absolutely adore this city and all it has to offer.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, in a sprawling architecturally significant home. The grounds were like a park, and it was always filled with people and parties. My parents were quite eccentric and they encouraged all of us to be creative and free, without boundaries. We had all sorts of animals: parrots, rabbits, turtles, snakes, chinchillas, dogs, cats…everything. These animals were allowed to roam (and fly) freely around the house. Christmas was especially fun, because my brother and I would gather all the animals into the large living room to celebrate with us. This offbeat upbringing informs most of what I do. I love a bit of chaos and color. It reminds me Iʼm alive!
Contact Info:
- Address: 407-409 South Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90036 - Website: www.shapirojoyalstudio.com
- Phone: 323-525-1718
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Personal photo=Klaudia Kaye
All furniture photos=Leslie Shapiro Joyal
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