Analisse Taft-Gersten is, if not a Jill of all trades, then certainly of the one with which she interacts as the founder of ALT For Living, a brand that was born with a flagship showroom in New York City. Since then, the tastemaker has returned to Los Angeles, and in truly spectacular fashion, with a second outpost. Located in the heart of the Design District, ALT LA is an extension of what Taft-Gersten started in NYC, bringing its curated lifestyle experience to a crowded design landscape.
“We have been working with clients in LA since ALT For Living was founded,” says Analisse Taft-Gersten, a world traveler who has never met a beautiful design she didn’t absolutely love (or possibly try to procure for her own purposes, a passion that only benefits her brand).
“As the company grew, we realized there was a missing concept in Los Angeles.”
So she filled it, with a supremely eclectic array of hand-selected luxury goods, from vintage furnishings to artisan textiles and rugs, to a small parade of smart accessories.
“At the same time,” Taft-Gersten notes, “we share a showroom with Remains Lighting that has the same type of synergy by offering custom high-end lighting.”
There it is, the edge: The shared showroom is a highlight in a competitive district that distinguishes ALT LA from other such outposts. It also offers convenience−there is but one shop to scour in order to fulfill all of one’s design needs. Even in minimalist-inclined Los Angeles, this is a rare treat for the trade (the showroom occasionally sells retail, as well) and at the same time taps into the experiential retail trade.
In this sense, ALT LA speaks to Taft-Gersten’s knack for turning a traditional concept on its head. The ALT For Living showroom in NYC is a case in point. The flagship also includes A Little Taste Café, a petite, Parisian-influenced coffee bar.
Inspired to create a “speakeasy experience” after her husband James opened his eatery La Esquina in SoHo, Taft-Gersten brought a dose of café-society appeal to the place.
“It has always been my desire to offer an exceptional and different experience for my consumers,” says Taft-Gersten of one that is both “visual and tactile” with elements of “taste and aroma.”
The “taste” in ALT LA is Analisse Taft-Gersten’s own, and it is her clear and robust sensitivity to the modern aesthetic that animates the boutique space and its luxurious, sine qua nonelements. Sight is another sense that is accounted for: the showroom is a platform for a highly cultivated sensibility.
The textile library, featuring shelves of sumptuous material (and a ladder for romantic good measure), is a particular showpiece that sets off contemporary furniture and accessories, all beautiful to the touch. Among the finds are familiar names in au courant design; others are exclusives to Los Angeles. ALT For Living may have a flagship showroom in NYC, but it has firmly planted its flag is in L.A.
ALT for Living | altforliving.com
Photographs: Courtesy Of Alt For Living
