DIGS is the premiere luxury real estate lifestyle magazine serving the most affluent neighborhoods in the South Bay and Westside of Los Angeles, California.
Issue link: https://www.southbaydiggs.com/i/1202958
P R O F I L E | N I C O L E H O L L I S A R C H I T E C T U R E + D E S I G N DESIGNED BY NICOLE HOLLIS FOR MCGUIRE FURNITURE, THE TRESSER SOFA AND LOUNGE CHAIRS ARE NAMED AFTER THE FRENCH WORD MEANING "TO BRAID". I had been wanting to get into product design," confesses Hollis. "I have had an established relationship with McGuire over the years by using their products in my projects." This, she adds, was the beginning of the collaboration. "The brand and its history resonated with me." A dream come true, the bold NICOLEHOLLIS for McGuire collection represents the designer's first major dive into product—a deep dive, at that. The collection includes 27 pieces (comprising chairs, tables, benches, ottomans, stools and accessories) and epitomizes the sophisticated California lifestyle. "We are proud and excited to collaborate with a like-minded brand to develop our first furniture collection," says Hollis. "We sought to create pieces that pay homage to McGuire's timeless sense of everyday luxury and seamlessly offer a lively perspective on modern furnishings. Reminiscent of the holistic NICOLEHOLLIS approach to the art of living, the collection works to conceive interiors that elevate the human spirit. It's fresh and unexpected, without compromising classic design elements." Taking cues from different disciplines, the collection imagines materials in new ways through handcrafted pieces that mix both classic and innovative techniques. "I was heavily inspired by fashion and the intricacies of materials used in haute couture," says Hollis. "I really wanted to focus on texture versus textile patterns for all the collection pieces." Consider: McGuire's signature rattan and woven frames paired with decadent rawhide patterns in the Exalt series, which encompasses a counter stool, barstool, dining chair, host chair and rocking chair; leather for the Tresser lounge chair and sofa (named for the French word meaning "to braid") and woven Danish cord for the Rollick series, which includes a rocking chair, counter stool and barstool. These are just some of the other materials used in the collection, which is characterized by dark finishes, soft whites and bold combinations. For McGuire, the partnership supports a dynamic direction. "McGuire's latest collection is bolder than ever before, and we are thrilled to debut such a style-forward, dramatic interpretation of our naturally luxurious furniture in collaboration with the astute vision and talent of Nicole Hollis," says Ron Fiore, global chief creative officer for McGuire, which for the past few years has developed other collaborations with other renowned designers such as Marmol Radziner, Barbara Barry and Bill Sofield. Of the color palette, which is aesthetically bold, "I decided to use dark hues and more muted tones for the collection because I felt this color scheme translated my aesthetic while upholding the modern and timelessness of McGuire," Hollis explains. "The biggest challenge was marrying the two brands and finding commonalities to celebrate. McGuire's "