h-monthly.com April 2008 h Magazine 27

Rows of bronze-mirrored tabletops shim-mer with radiant chic. A gargantuan,

hand-blown glass chandelier hovers over the tawny brown ottoman near the front entrance. Amethyst wallpaper highlighted with gilded patterns envel-ops the room. And the glow of lavender-tinted lights divides the world outside from the stylish environs of the newest jewel in the tiara of L.A.’s revitalized downtown area.

Mae Brunken was describing in vivid detail her vi-sion on a recent Saturday afternoon at the site of Seven Restaurant and Bar. There was still work to be done. And before the !rst drink had been poured or the !rst meal was served, here she was – smartly coordinated out!t and all – giving me a mental tour of the place, which occupies the ground "oor of the historic Quinby Building at the corner of Seventh and Grand.

Working with Owner Joseph Tahanian and creator and developer Garry G, Brunken sought to take el-ements of classic art deco and infuse them with a Studio 54 sensibility. There’s a DJ station next to the bar. Sheer curtains create separation between the lounge and the dining area. The lighting design is ultramodern yet welcoming.

Brunken’s team includes artist Jordan Carlyle, who contributed an eye-catching piece of art in a light-box behind the bar. Designer Laser Rosenberg was also an integral part of the creative process.

The restaurant, opening in April, is the !rst of several planned collaborations between Tahanian, G, and Mae Brunken Design. The interior designer, whose extensive background includes set decoration for TV and !lm, discussed her approach to creating a social environment that is both alluring and enduring.

h: What types of projects do you !nd yourself at-tracted to?

MB: Restaurants and clubs – hospitality in general – is what I’m most interested in right now. I like to create environments; it’s like creating a set for some-one's night out. It’s di#erent than residential proj-ects, where you’re creating a lifestyle.

h: To what extent is fashion an in"uence on your work?

MB: I try to keep the color palette fresh. When I see a color trend on the runway, I know it will hit [in in-terior design] about a year later. So I’m very inspired by fashion.

h: Your style has been described as ‘classic with an edge’. How do you keep that edge fresh?

MB: I believe in mixing it up, not doing what’s ex-pected. I like to take classic elements and jar the senses or maybe introduce a subliminal aspect. If I keep evolving, the edge is always there. I don’t like to repeat myself.

h: Were there any jobs you’ve had that were particu-larly challenging?

MB (laughing): Well, there’s a lot of psychology in-volved in design when you’re working with any cli-ent. Probably the most challenging was a Moroccan fantasy project. I had never been to Morocco, and it was di$cult to !nd artisans who could understand how to create that environment. But now it’s ten years old, and people are still amazed by it, so it’s become one of my most satisfying projects.

h: What’s your least-favorite trend in interior design today?

MB (laughing): It has to be HGTV. It’s just bad reality. It’s not realistically possible to do what they say you can with the amount of money and time involved.

h: And all this time I thought I was just an inept slacker! h

To learn more about Mae Brunken Design and see more samples of her work visit her site www.maebrunken.com

For more information on Seven Restaurant and Bar visit their website at www.sevenrestaurantbar.com

styled by Rita Burns hair and make-up by Patricia Le

26 h Magazine April 2008 h-monthly.com

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28 h Magazine November 2007 h-monthly.com

FASH

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Photos: Robert Todd WilliamsonHair: Richard CollinsMakeup: Kayleen McAdamsStylist: Emilie Pereira Styling Assistant: Gabe De DiosArt Direction: Laura Ann

Fashion Thriller with P2’sRachel Nichols

Dress - Corey Lynn Calter

Vintage Bracelet - Stylist’s own

DRESS - COREY LYNN CALTER

SHOES - STUART WEITZMAN

TIGHTS - GIVENCHY

NECKLACE - CHAN LUU

Dress - Corey Lynn CalterNecklace - Madley

h-monthly.com November 2007 h Magazine I

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Sir Michael CaineRachel Nichols

Swoosie KurtzJoe PantolianoJames Snyder

Girl in a Coma

The bloody genius of Michael C. HallHmag_112007.indd 1

11/20/07 9:54:41 PM

Contact: Heidi Johnson

Hijinx PR

heidi@thinkhijinx.com 323.204.7246

WEST COAST DESIGNER MAE BRUNKEN BRINGS A SLICE OF HEAVEN TO NEW YORK DWELLING

Mae Brunken Designs Brings a Truly Inspired Vision to Life in One Manhattan Loft

New York, NY, May 14, 2008 – Los Angeles based designer Mae Brunken has been

busy on both coasts by the work done for her latest client, JS2 Communications C.E.O.

Jeff Smith. Tasked to design a loft in the Chelsea Arts District of Manhattan, Mae had the opportunity to bring her Californian sensibilities to the seasonally moody and

spatially limited environment of New York City. But that was not the only chance Mae

jumped at.

Jeff Smith’s home in the Hollywood Hills has a very traditional East Coast aesthetic to it,

and in New York he was attracted to a more modern, minimal canvas in which to entertain and showcase his art. The loft, it was decided, needed to be entirely white.

Mae Brunken’s previous work has been steeped in rich saturated colors, most schemes

consisting of an opposite palette to what Jeff was proposing. Mae was thrilled by the

idea of creating with such a minimal range of color. Built in 1903, the industrial loft was formerly used to manufacture printing presses, making this the perfect place on which to

stamp her imagination. Recently revitalized by the building’s developer, the ash floors,

12’ ceilings, Shiffini glass kitchen and luxury of a balcony gave Mae a lot to work with.

The fruits of Mae’s vision are as beautifully stunning as they are warm and welcoming.

The living room, bathed in a heavenly glow by light from the floor-to-ceiling windows,

invites us into the home. This space features a Vioski sofa and tables contrasted by 1970’s Milo Baughman chairs in chrome and rich chocolate velvet. The room’s

aesthetics compliment and beautifully showcase the photography Jeff has collected on

his many travels, giving him a sense of consistency to the bi-coastal living arrangements his company requires.

It was the bedroom that provided Mae with the most challenge on this assignment. Unheard of in Los Angeles but not entirely uncommon in New York, the master bedroom

was small and windowless. Not only did Mae have to stick to the white theme of the

apartment, she had to manage the miracle of brightening the room. The solution was

found in the strengths of her previous experience. When a bronze metallic wallpaper caught the designer’s eye, she decided to use it as the bedroom’s backdrop. The

resulting dark and moody background, when paired with white lacquered furniture and

the patent leather upholstered platform bed, creates a sense that all of the pieces in the room float. A bronze-taupe curtain drapes the back wall, creating the illusion that

sunlight lies just behind.

The centerpiece of the home is undoubtedly the dining alcove. The wall above the cozy

banquette dazzles with white and metallic wallpaper. Simultaneously the most energizing and friendly place in the apartment, it also features a creation that has

become a staple to Mae Brunken’s work: an innovative and stunning chandelier.

Combining the elegant purity of the rest of the apartment with the glossy buzz of the

dining alcove, the chandelier consists of crystal spheres encased by a mirror film cylinder. Jeff, one of the first residents of the updated building, is thrilled with Mae’s work

and excited to be closer to his company’s Greenwich Village offices.

ABOUT MAE BRUNKEN

Mae Brunken is constantly evolving as an artist, as a pragmatist and as a visionary even a decade after the inception of Mae Brunken Design, her LA based interior design firm.

Crossing hip style with dramatic flair, the interior environments created by Mae Brunken

are seductive, stylish worlds that envelope you with their bold visualization, striking

originality and harmonious cohesion.

ABOUT JEFF SMITH

Founder and C.E.O. of JS2 Communications, a bi-coastal PR and Marketing consulting

firm with offices in New York and Los Angeles, Jeff Smith’s extensive experience in corporate branding, crisis communications and entertainment communications strategies

makes him a leading figure in the industry for helping companies achieve their corporate

goals and then solidifying their niche. He has worked with the country’s best known

consumer brands and has been a key principal in developing, launching and publicizing exceptionally well-known and successful products.

# # # #

Contact: Heidi Johnson Hijinx PR heidi@thinkhijinx.com 323.204.7246

MAE BRUNKEN CHOSEN TO DESIGN HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SEVEN RESTAURANT & BAR IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

OPENING IN FEBRUARY 2008

Mae Brunken Design Captures The Style And Energy Of Downtown Los Angeles In Joseph Tahanian and Restaurateur Garry G’s Sexy New Restaurant, Seven, At 7th And Grand

Los Angeles, CA, January 4, 2008 — Los Angeles based Mae Brunken Design has been selected to design the highly anticipated Seven Restaurant & Bar on the ground- !oor of the historical Quinby Building at 7th and Grand in downtown Los Angeles. Set to open in late February of 2008, Seven Restaurant & Bar will offer a rich and moody new spot for the downtown scene to have lunch, dinner and keep the party going in the sexy and sleek lounge with tapas and DJ’s late into the night. Mae Brunken Design brings years of expertise in interior design to this exciting new project that takes this emerging area of Downtown L.A. into the spotlight.

“The moment I met Mae Brunken I knew she was the designer for me,” said Joseph Tahanian, owner of Seven. “She completely understood my concept and vision and made that vision her own. I also love her passion for Seven, which shows in every detail of her innovative and distinctive work. I think people will be thrilled to have a new hotspot in this exciting area of Los Angeles which will also bring a taste of the Westside to the Downtown L.A. scene.”

Mae Brunken’s overall design concept for Seven brings together art deco with a 1970’s feel. With 14-foot ceilings, thick bronze leather ottomans, mirrored tabletops, Knoll chairs, sheer drapery, and an extravagant hand blown glass Chandelier, Seven will embody the drama and fun of the area. Tapping into her fashion roots and passion, Brunken chose a chocolate and amethyst color scheme that adds to the sensual and moody atmosphere. Brunken chose emerging local L.A. artist Jordan Caryle’s artwork for the consistent expression of joy he captures in his work that illuminates the unexpected beauty in the plain and simple multiple images he so magni"cently renders. Seven Restaurant & Bar will offer California cuisine, outdoor seating, and a capacity of 86.

Mae Brunken started Mae Brunken Design, her interior design "rm based in Los Angeles, in 1998. Cross-ing hip style with dramatic !air, the interior environments created by Mae Brunken are seductive, stylish worlds that envelope you with their bold visualization, striking originality and harmonious cohesion.

Garry G joined forces with Joseph Tahanian to open Seven Restaurant & Bar. Tahanian owner of the successful jewelry line Jose Gilbert brings his keen business sense and an undying attachment to Downtown Los Angeles to Seven. Garry G’s club and restaurant experience go back to NYC and the Hamptons with Danceteria, Bedrocks, and Spodee Ode with Tommy Pooch. In Los Angeles, his involvement with restaurants such as Dolce led to his collaboration with Richard Heyman to conceptualize and build such trendy restaurants as Memphis, ICandy, Chapter 8, and Eleven. Joseph Tahanian, Garry G and Mae Brunken are working together on a myriad of new projects that re!ect their vision on new ways to approach and experience L.A. nightlife.