Electric in hue and seemingly illuminated from within, Alexandra von Furstenberg’s acrylic furniture and accessories have a high-octane sexiness not seen since the days of Studio 54.
And it’s that slightly louche, sleekly modern vibe that has made her line such a success upon its debut in 2007. Having expanded from an eight-piece collection of side and dining tables into a full-fledged line with limited-edition pieces, tabletop accessories, and even a backgammon set, the Los Angeles-based designer owns the market for luxe, colored Lucite.
Formerly trained in fashion, von Furstenberg attended the Parsons School of Design before joining the design team of her former mother-in-law, Diane von Furstenberg. She helped to relaunch the iconic DVF wrap dress, then decided to shift her attention to the home market after a move to the West Coast.
“When I left fashion, it just didn’t seem like there was a need for another label or brand in clothing,” she recalls. “I had always loved interiors; it was something I gravitated to. Design is design, as far as I’m concerned.”
Fascinated by futurism, she started to explore the possibilities of using Lucite as a material, discovering the material’s limitations and boundaries as she went.
“I felt like it was a material that had really gone dormant. Nobody really tapped into it, and I didn’t understand why, because the possibilities were endless. It was something I decided to teach myself and learn everything about how it reacts to heat and cold. It took me a year and a half of research before I opened my company.”
She soon discovered Lucite’s gemlike reflection and the vivid rainbow of colors she could capture in her designs. Her original neon tables were followed by a more masculine “Voltage” series in mirror and smoke finishes in 2009.
The largest distributor of Von Furstenberg’s line in Texas and the exclusive seller of the furniture collection, Gallerie Noir in the Design District will host the designer Tuesday, October 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. She will be signing any pieces purchased while a DJ spins hits.
Shop owner and interior designer Melissa Enriquez says the luminescent designs are the perfect addition to the Gallerie Noir design aesthetic.
“We use the word edgy a lot, but I think [our style] is a traditional soft contemporary with a bit of a darker color palette, and her pops of color are the young, hip way to bring color into a room,” Enriquez explains. “I also love the fact that not many people carry the collection. It’s a really fresh approach for Dallas. Her pieces really make a room and add just the right amount of edge, but can go in any type of décor.”
And von Furstenberg’s line is just the latest to join Gallerie’s chic stable. Enriquez represents photographer Lyle Owerko, best known for his oversized “Boombox Series” of images, and offers her clients other artistic finds they won’t discover anywhere else, along with her own line of furniture and accessories retailing from $295 to $5,800.
As for von Furstenberg, she won’t be shying away from her signature style any time soon. “Of course I want to expand and play with other materials,” she muses. “But I will never get away from this anytime soon. If I work with wood or metals I’ll pair it with Lucite. It’ll always be the foundation.”
Visit with Alexandra von Furstenberg at Gallerie Noir, the largest distributor of her line in Texas, on October 27.
