Inspired by her whimsical jewellery creations and the objects she collects from her adventures around the world, Sonia Boyajian’s first Los Angeles flagship store is just as enchanting as her eponymous jewellery line.

Boyajian first founded the Los Angeles-based jewellery line in 2003 where her one-of-a-kind pieces are adorned for its whimsical style and personalized designs created to tell individual stories. The new store and studio in La Brea spans over 5,000 SF and represents the first collaborative design project between Sonia Boyajian and her long time friend and interior designer Pamela Shamshiri from Studio Shamshiri.

The idea is to create a space that can accommodate Boyajian’s love for hosting, yet at the same time, adding “residential touches” that will bring the comfort of home to Boyajian. As a result, features such as an entertainment area and eat-in kitchen can be found within the muted, pink-hued setting, as well as dedicated spaces for work including a ceramic studio, private office and product showroom.

To bring the space alive with compelling narratives, a series of whimsical jewellery creations were creatively integrated into the space, becoming a part of the interior itself. The unique architecture and furnishings took inspiration from a number of well-known designers and architects, including the eye-catching, custom display niches housing the larger-than-life versions of Boyajian’s jewellery creations.

Other influence includes the plywood display cases for exhibiting jewellery, which was inspired by the works of late American artist, Donald Judd. The textured finish and fluid forms of the pink Portola plaster seating around the showroom were inspired by artist Georgia O’keefe’s Abiquiu House in New Mexico, giving the space its signature, southwestern adobe home vibe.

Ceramic sconces, pendants, and a whimsical chandelier were designed to be enlarged versions Boyajian’s adornments, which now doubles as functional pieces to illuminate the space.

The rustic-chic kitchen also features a similar, pink-hued tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, and rustic furnishings, which included a custom plywood dining table created by Studio Shamshuri, adding a touch of homeyness with its chalky hues.

Much like walking into a fairy tale, the dreamy flagship store of Sonia Boyajian is as enchanting and personal as each and every one of her handcrafted jewellery pieces. To learn more about Sonia Boyajian and her story, visit here.

About Studio Shamshiri

Pamela and Ramin Shamshiri founded Studio Shamshiri in 2016. The brother-sister team was part of the four-founding partners at Commune, where they received the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Award for their body of work completed from 2004 to 2015. Studio Shamshiri brings Pamela and Ramin’s respective backgrounds in production, art direction, and set design to residential, commercial and hospitality projects both domestic and international. The studio’s portfolio includes restoration work for homes designed by iconic architects such as A Quincy Jones, Stanford White, Nigel Coates, Rudolph Schindler, Myron Hunt, Buff & Hensman and Andrew Geller, as well as ground-up projects with notable contemporaries including Marmol Radziner and Johnston Marklee.

The Los Angeles-based studio is located in the Thomson Building, a 1920’s Hollywood landmark, that was acquired and restored by the Shamshiri team in 2017.

Project Details

Project Name: Sonia Boyajian Flagship Store

Location: 357 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles

Design Studio: Studio Shamshiri

Photography by Stephen Busken