what’s hot one to watch
INSIDE JOB by Ed Ruscha in Laura Wasser’s office. Custom chandelier from Cleveland Art at Brass Tacks, S.F. An item from Ziskin’s OKL sale. Wasser’s mosaic entry from Walker Zanger. In an L.A. residence, a photograph by SVZ hangs above the piano; custom slipcover sofas and a leather chaise by SVZ.
C 50 OCTOBER 2013
Sayre Ziskin settles in as the west coast designer du jour BY ANDREA STANFORD
G
rowing up in an American Craftsman bungalow in Cheviot Hills—one complete with double-hung windows and plenty of Stickley, Shaker and mission oak—Sayre Ziskin learned early on that there could be more to a California home than four bedrooms and a pool. Her commercial director father and art director mother heavily influenced her path toward interior design. “My parents art directed my world. They taught me to appreciate everything around me—that the mix of style and materials ultimately mattered.” Ziskin, now 28, completed her undergraduate studies at UCSB before enrolling in design classes at UCLA. With the guidance of mentor Larry Drasin and an internship at L.A.’s KM Nelson Design under her belt, she opened SVZ Interior Design in 2011. A referral from an early client landed her with a job redesigning the Century City office of L.A. power lawyer Laura Wasser, now, she’s also designing Wasser’s home in the Hollywood Hills. In addition to her residential work, Ziskin’s portfolio has come to Sayre include the furniture boutique Croft House Ziskin on La Brea, The Churchill in WeHo, a modern commercial office for Keller Williams in Larchmont Village, and Brass Tacks, a bar in S.F.’s Hayes Valley. All of the custom finishes within Brass Tacks were completed in California, from the metal bar stools to the 10-foot hand-blown glass chandelier; the photography is by local artist Christopher Felver. Ziskin splits her time between her colorful Venice bungalow and a Lower Haight Victorian in S.F.—her next project is Mike Goebel’s new bar Holy Water. This month, she’s curating a selection of “fun colored purple and coral vintage upholstered chairs and lots of Mid-century brass pieces” as part of her Tastemaker Tag Sale for One Kings Lane. And her dream project? “An amazing boutique hotel where I can bring a different personality to each room. Located, of course, somewhere in the Golden State!” svzinteriordesign.com. •
L.A. RESIDENCE (2), WASSER’S OFFICE AND ZISKIN PORTRAIT: BETHANY NAUERT. WASSER’S ENTRYWAY: BARRY SCHWARTZ, BARRYSCHWARTZPHOTOGRAPHY.COM. BRASS TACKS BAR: MICHAEL DAVID ROSE
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Artwork