A rule of thumb when decorating shelves or negative space: “Use repetition,” says interior designer Lucien Wolff. The proprietor of Desert Wolff on El Paseo nods to a corner of his gallery where a series of large asymmetrical grass baskets, all handwoven in Ghana, draw the eye floorward. On a shelf, he might display “three or four island artifacts and, below it, two or three onyx discs from China.” Below that, a single African amulet.
Visiting Wolff’s gallery is a worldly and exciting experience. His vast collection of modern art, artifacts from other continents, hand-carved chests, and multimedia sculptures transport visitors around the globe in a matter of minutes. His arrangements — layers of color, texture, richness, simplicity — spark inspiration. “This space reflects a lot of my clients who are [well-traveled] and want to have a taste of exotic countries in their homes,” Wolff says.
Curating pieces his clients covet is second nature for Wolff, a South Africa native whose mother, an archeologist and anthropologist, fostered his own affinity for “ethnic things” early on. Politically motivated to leave Johannesburg in the late 1970s, he settled in Los Angeles before moving to the Coachella Valley in 2000, where he enjoys both designing and staging exquisite homes.
The spacious and contemporary homes he stages work synergistically with items from his gallery. “Interior design doesn’t have to match the architecture,” Wolff says. He originally studied architecture and likes to blend contemporary interiors with Spanish Revival, Tuscan, and midcentury modern structures in the valley and neighboring counties.
When designing a space, Wolff brings along several pieces to “see what works best for the client and their home,” he says. First, he finds the focal points. “The eye is never static; where does it land first? That’s where you spend your money and get the most ‘wow,’” he says. Addressing second and third focal points adds interest, and incorporating art is an obvious way to do this.
Lucien Wolff with a painting.
“One large painting or a group of paintings makes a space interesting,” Wolff says. “In groups, one needs to complement the other in color and energy.” Wolff finds that balance intuitively.
Wolff’s clients prefer abstraction, color, and grandeur. The versatile woven grass baskets, ranging in size and color scheme, make a great addition to most homes. But art remains the “main thrust,” he says.
Midcentury and pop-art afficionados will find a series of four different screen prints of Frank Sinatra by painter Steve Kaufman, who studied under Andy Warhol. Previous sets included icons Marilyn Monroe and Elvis. Ben Michal’s contemporary abstractions, set in mostly primary palettes, also fit into the overall aesthetic of the showroom.
“It’s more than an art gallery in a museum fashion,” Wolff says. “It’s an experience.”