While comfort and aesthetics are largely subjective, the concept of ‘California Cool’ immediately calls to mind a particular interior landscape: furniture and casework dominated by neutral tones, layers of natural materials that lean into raw tactility, and upholstery articulated in hearty textiles. It’s a sense of tranquil space hemmed in by beachside vistas. In an effort to capture the elusive charm of the golden coast, famed interior designer Brigette Romanek teams up with Crate & Barrel for their first-ever Brigette Romanek for Crate & Barrel collaboration. Together, they unveil a playful collection of eclectic home furnishings designed to create a moment of respite through laidback luxury no matter your locale.
So what’s in a name? Malibu, Montecito, and the Hollywood Hills – for Romanek, it’s about the power of suggestion and the cozy, warm feelings that the very thought of California can conjure more so than recreating a particular place. The designer leverages texture, color, and geometric form to create sensational experiences in the way she imagines each piece forging emotional connections with contemporary customers.
“This collection has references that are a lot more abstract. It’s not looking back on anything vintage or the previous works of any designers,” shares Sebastian Brauer, SVP of Product Design at Crate & Barrel. “The pieces really came from Brigette’s head, the way that she lives, and her passion for modern art – they’re incredibly, incredibly unique.”
The lifestyle brand fully embraces Romanek’s whimsy and utilizes her feminine touch to showcase unexpected twists that are unlike other modern furnishings that may be too industrial or too precious for some. “With Crate, it was a case of, ‘let’s go.’ They really supported my kooky ideas – some that I came up with at three or four in the morning – mixed with my eclectic taste, curiosity, and love for so many things,” says Romanek.
In addition to creative synergy, the production, which includes hand-manufacturing, benefited from a continued dialogue with global makers who contributed to realizing Romanek’s vision.
“These artisans have grown up with us over those 60 years, and that’s kind of our special recipe,” Brauer adds. “All the designs came from Brigette’s mind and then from our designer’s mockups before these pieces were made by hand in workshops with great artisans that were open to wrapping a dresser in leather or inlaying tile with bleached wood. There’s a lot of savoir-faire.”
Comprising 54 unique pieces, the range is robust enough to satisfy a variety of needs and contextual settings.
Imagine transforming a small parlor into an intimate reading room. The Malibu Sofa uses its tubular seat back and arm structure to hug readers looking to get lost in their imagination. When it’s time to return to reality, the Hollywood Hills Rectangular Coffee Table features a divet perfect for cradling open books. Other accessories like the Laurel Canyon End Table and Pearl Rattan Table Lamp provide rich material accents without appearing over coordinated.
Bedrooms become sanctuaries with the Montecito Extended Headboard, which features integrated lighting accentuated by bronze accents for a mixture of utility and luxury. Its monumentality commands attention as an anchoring object in any space while also serving as a beautiful backdrop to the Venice Leather and Oak Wood Nightstands or complement to the dresser of same name.
Products like the Wills Upholstered Swivel Dining Chair or Bess Leather and Metal Swivel Counter Stool perform well in places that may benefit from softening. The streamlined details and curvaceous silhouettes create a delightful contrast when incorporated with traditional interior architecture or against more rigid physical elements.
“The goal was to make these pieces fit in any environment and to make them really what I like to call an ‘exhale moment.’ That color palette and materiality speak to that mission,” Romanek shares. “And I wanted things to have a lot of functionality to them and not just be pretty. I had a blast. All I can say is I had a blast.”
Designer Brigette Romanek
Brigette Romanek for Crate & Barrel’s exclusive collaboration is available for shopping in-store and online at crate&barrel.com.
Photography courtesy of Crate & Barrel.