Nina Freudenberger
 
Nina Freudenberger is bringing her upscale New York style to LA with the opening of her second Haus Interior, an interior design firm and retail space she founded in Manhattan in 2009. The store, featuring Freudenberger’s carefully curated mix of housewares and décor sourced from all over the world, has found a new home in the heart of West Third Street. We caught up with Freudenberger on all things design and why she has the best of both coasts.

Why did you want to open an LA location?
NINA FREUDENBERGER: Multiple reasons. We noticed that we had a lot of LA customers both online and visiting New York City and our aesthetic works really well with that clientele. One thing we love about LA is the amount of space that we can design projects for—we’ve done houses in New York and love the idea of doing something larger and a little bit different here.

How will this store differ from the one in New York?
NF: We found an amazing space in LA that really allows us to expand what’s in New York. This is not a satellite store; it’s an expansion on our original vision and will carry furniture, larger sized rugs, larger light fixtures and pendants that we simply could not fit in the New York store. We dive deeper into each vendor to give a larger, broader stroke.

Haus Interior is known for its unique pieces. How do you go about choosing them and where do you find your design inspiration?
NF: So many ways. Obviously travel—that is a large part—but it’s also working with clients. They inspire me when they get excited about something and then I dive in. It’s a really nice symbiotic relationship. I also love to support young designers. I just came upon a very small artist who makes beautiful hand-printed coasters, which we now carry while doing research for this store.

What is your design philosophy?
NF: Editing and then rebuilding. Decide what you can’t live without—family heirlooms, antiques—and then start to build around those pieces. That’s the first step. The second is then to really make it comfortable for yourself and remove the idea that everything has to look absolutely perfect. The ideal home, I think, is one that is really livable where you can move a pillow from the sofa to the side chair to the kitchen and it works everywhere. Creating the ability of movement in the home with all your furnishings is really important.

What is your favorite room in your house and how would you describe it?
NF: My living room [in New York]. I have a lot of different things but I do have a vintage wooden surfboard in there. I think the LA/Venice feel rubbed off on me and I’m trying to bring that back! I love textiles and layering prints between my pillows and my carpet. I’m constantly on the search going to flea markets and vintage patterns to make pillow out of. I try to collect things that will have a lasting visual appeal.

With all your experience, would you like to design your own line?
DF: I love what I do and I think that’s the natural next step for us. We’re looking forward to doing that one day for sure.

Haus Interior LA, 8211 W. Third St., 323-951-0151