Combining Design, Glamour and Skilled Manufacturing, the Furniture Pieces Created by Los Angeles-based Firm LAUN Work for Both Inside and Out
One year later, LAUN Studio, led by Bullock and Meegan Beddoe, was launched dedicated to architecture and interiors. A sense of curiosity characterizes both branches of the business. When it comes to the furniture, it translates through the exploration of different finishes.
What makes these products original, however, is the fact they can be used both indoors and outdoors. Rachel Bullock and Molly Purnell were inspired by California—and more specifically Los Angeles—and its lifestyle, which entails enjoying the sunny and warm weather all year long. Taking this into consideration, the LAUN designers choose among a reduced selection of materials, which also fosters resourceful and creative thinking.
“We work with metal (primarily aluminum because it is weather-resistant), stone, and terrazzo as they are all usable both indoors and out,” say Rachel Bullock and Molly Purnell.
“Our pieces are fabricated in Los Angeles by independent producers. We have a huge network of manufacturers and we work to find those with the best quality.”
Drawing their inspiration from the city in which they are based and the California region—through its flora, fauna, light, and colors of the natural landscape—the founders want to create timeless heirloom-quality furniture. The eclecticism of Los Angeles in terms of architecture and design fascinates Rachel Bullock and Molly Purnell, nurturing their imagination endlessly.
“You can have an 1800s Queen Anne-style home next to a Tudor revival next to a postmodern white box,” they describe. “It makes for a feast for the eye.”
Among their creations are the Bobbin chair and bench made of a series of bolsters threaded between two aluminum rails that refer to the waves of the Pacific Ocean; the Ribbon chair, lounge chair, and stool with layered tubes stacked together, allowing for many different combinations of forms; the Chord daybed, which echoes the monumental architecture of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in a much smaller scale; the Muhly table, whose name comes from a native California grass present in the San Bernardino Mountains and the Huntington Library Botanical Gardens which Rachel Bullock and Molly Purnell visit frequently; the DeMille chair, lounge chair, and sofa, which are an ode to the LA’s Hollywood Regency era; the Confetti planter and table in terrazzo, which evoke the classic shapes of midcentury poolside furniture; and the Bacall chair, which was designed as a tribute to LA’s Victorian past.
Especially now (following the pandemic), having an alfresco space at home has become essential for many people, ensuring a bright future for LAUN. Case in point: The team will showcase a few objects inspired by the work of Octavia Butler during the 2021 edition of INTRO / LA at the end of October; additionally, several of the team’s larger projects will soon be completed.
“The majority of our upcoming architecture projects are on the east side of Los Angeles (Silverlake, Los Feliz, Pasadena),” Rachel Bullock and Molly Purnell say.
“They are primarily additions and remodels. We love working to enhance the distinct character of each home.”
LAUN Studio | launlosangeles.com
Rachel Bullock & Molly Purnell
Portraits: Ye Rin Mok, Images: SLH Studio and Little League Studio