HVJ Design
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words by Tricia Despres
HVJ Design partners Loren Judaken and Danna Vest’s combined travels have taken them to nearly every continent, and the inspirations they have witnessed and shared, have served as the backbone of the company they founded together in 1997.
“I think we balance each other,” explains Judaken from her offices in Venice California. “Danna (Vest) was trained as an architect and transitioned into design. I, on the other hand, first worked as a jewelry designer and then, because design was in my DNA and I desired a larger canvas, I went to study interiors at UCLA. So, when we worked together at a previous firm, it was obvious how our strengths complimented one another.”
The last 15 years have been a time of great growth and renewal for the firm, as HVJ Design continues to grow and expand in California and beyond.
“Initially, we focused strictly on commercial projects, including large executive offices, retail stores and banks,” recalls Vest. “Through this work, we developed relationships with many clients who also wanted us to design their homes. Now we do commercial work for our residential clients, instead of the other way around. This contributes to the firm having many long term clients and a great source of referrals.”
The pair ultimately found out that making the switch from commercial to residential work was one that had a number of advantages.
“We approach our residential projects as we would commercial jobs, being conscious of budgets, schedules and overall project management,” Vest explains. “Having the ability to balance the design with the dollars is a skill that has serves us and our clients well.”
“Residential designs means that we deal with clients on a much more intimate level,” adds Judaken. “You really get to know the personalities of the people who will be living in the space, and help them to develop an environment that serves to enrich their lives and highlight what makes them unique. It’s something that gives both of us a great deal of satisfaction.”
Striving to create family homes with an enduring aesthetic rather than a trendy design that would quickly feel dated either in style or durability, both women say they find their design inspirations in a variety of places.
“Being a designer, you just look at the world differently,” explains Judaken. “You more closely examine the branches on a tree and the shape of a flower. Everything and everyone serves as a form of inspiration, and becomes the catalyst to conceiving a better design. We are also very interested in integrating artwork into our spaces, whether our clients have an extensive collection, which many do, or whether we can help them acquire pieces that compliment their homes.”
When working with new clients, the HVJ Design team visits their existing home to get a better idea of what does and does not work in the space.
“We want to understand why they made the choices they did and what part of the interiors resonates with them,” says Vest. “We also want to establish how we can help the space function better for the client’s individual needs.”
The team also has clients leaf through magazines, searching for components that speak to them, whether it is something specific like the color of a wall, the style of a sofa or simply the overall feeling of a place.
Known for “creating environments of taste and innovation, as well as focusing on the architectural integrity of spaces”, the pair has recently worked on a number of vibrant and diverse projects, including a warm contemporary residence in Los Angeles, an edgy loft in an historic downtown building and an art-filled, transitional home in Century City.
Much of the focus of HVJ Design’s work is on the function and details of each room, with the pair going great lengths to work out exactly how each material meets with its adjoin surface, and communicating this through comprehensive construction documents that help to ensure that everyone, from the designers to the clients to the contractors are all on the same page.
HVJ Design also says that they consider it very important to guide their clients on how to best manage their budget, focusing on the items which will have the most impact on the home and bring the greatest satisfaction.
“We always approach our interiors with an architectural eye, using that as our launching point,” explains Vest, whose firm designs custom cabinetry and furniture. “We don’t simply take what is, but rather, we look for the potential of what it can become.”
