The RealReal Has a New LA Store and We Low-Key Want to Stay There Forever
We know concept stores don’t exist *purely* to give us major design envy, but lately, it’s definitely part of the equation. The latest subject of our obsession? The RealReal‘s brand-new LA location. With tons of laid-back-luxe furniture that embodies that California lifestyle, plus a totally Instagrammable cafe/juice bar area, it’s pretty much a minefield for amazing home finds that we’re gonna want to bring home with us. And yes, it’s 100 percent shoppable.
“For the LA store, we wanted to tap into the laid-back ease that LA is known for and create something with energy and good vibes,” says Rati Levesque, The RealReal’s chief merchant. “The LA store is more modern [than the New York location], and the furniture in the store — also for sale! — complements that style. It’s classic, high-end, or heritage pieces,” Levesque tells us. The result is a space that feels like stepping into your coolest friend’s upscale LA home, and The RealReal’s design team considered every detail to achieve that aspirational vibe.
“We’ve really thought about not only what each woman or man would wear, but what vase would they have in their home, which books, art, what glass would they drink out of,” Levesque tells us. Bookshelves are stocked with a veritable cabinet of curiosities that just beg to be touched. Warm wood tones are a constant throughout the store, making the behemoth 12,000 square-food space — “It’s huge, almost an entire block,” says Levesque — seem cozy and welcoming. Certainly no small feat.
Tons of texture and a unified color palette of neutrals and oranges help define the different zones and make each area feel like a place to hang out. “[The] furniture is a mix of LA mid-century and international design icons,” says Levesque. “Gio Ponti, Jacques Biny, Karl Matsson, [Pierre] Jeanneret, and Mies van der Rohe are mixed with pieces by local artists and hand-picked vintage pieces.” This eclectic combination is what makes the store feel so distinctive and homey. (We’re also obsessed with the slightly irregular tiles that envelop each counter in color. They remind us of something you’d find on a fireplace in a cool LA bungalow.)
The line between art and architecture is purposefully blurred throughout the store. Sculpture from Vincent Szarek’s “Like A Rock” series punctuates the displays, lending a tongue-in-cheek twist to the shopping experience. “It’s our take on a department store,” says Leveque. “We’re reflecting this in our windows so that people are drawn in, and creating moments of drama and interest with site-specific art installations.” By extension, some of the accessories and objects for sale definitely could be mistaken for modern art (and we want them all).
Rest assured we’ll be stopping in on our next trip to LA… and whether we leave with a new purchase or not, we’ll certainly be taking some notes on how to bring this expertly styled look home with us.
Looking for more Cali-cool decor ideas? Follow us on Pinterest for inspo!
(Images via Joyce Lee Studio for The RealReal)
