Go Big Or Go Home
Words ELIZABETH GREGERSON
Men’s Grooming LASHELLE ULLIE
Photography MICHAEL ALLEN
Ryan Saghian, the trailblazing interior designer from Beverly Hills, is taking over the LA design scene and setting his sights on the world next.
Photo by Michael Allen
Ryan Saghian was meant to be an interior designer. His career was an intuitive calling, he says, there was really no other option. His earliest memories include rearranging his parents’ furniture and staying up at night to read architecture and design magazines like House Beautiful, Domino, Metropolitan Home, and, of course, Architectural Digest.
A Beverly Hills native, Saghian grew up in a close-knit Iranian Jewish community. Far from the glitz and glamor often associated with the area, Saghian recalls a childhood built around friendship and tradition. His childhood in Los Angeles served as an influential backdrop when training his eye for interior design.
Photo by Mr. Barcelo
“My favorite historical era of design is the Golden Age of Hollywood,” Saghian says. “During this transformative period, Los Angeles emerged as a vibrant hub of creativity and cultural influence, with designers and architects pushing the boundaries of conventional design norms.”
William Haines, Dorothy Draper and Paul Williams are among the designers and architects that Saghian attributes as sources of inspiration and influence in his own work.
Perhaps one of Saghian’s earliest and biggest influences was Woodson & Rummerfield’s House of Design, the Los Angeles-based design firm of Jaime Rummerfield and Ron Woodson. He saw their work featured frequently in interior design blogs and thought perhaps one day he could emulate their relationship and success. One night, eating dinner at Koi on La Cienega Blvd, 15-year-old Saghian serendipitously found himself right next to the Woodson & Rummerfield’s House of Design store.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is the place,’” Saghian remembers. “I wrote it down and I went home, googled it, got their email and I said, ‘I'm only in high school, but I'm obsessed with you guys. I have to just work with you, watch you, learn from you. I'll pour your coffee, I'll clean your toilets, whatever you want.’”
IN THE LIVING ROOM, SAGHIAN REMOVED A DATED, BUILT-IN BAR AND ADDED A SLEEK BAR WITH A HIDDEN SINK AND A WATERFALL MARBLE TOP. HE WRAPPED THE FIREPLACE WITH FLUTED TERRAZZO STONE, FRAMED BY A PAIR OF SAGE VELVET CHAIRS. “THE TERRAZZO REMINDS ME OF COLONIAL FLUTING, BUT IN A VERY MODERN WAY,” HE EXPLAINS. A FLAT CHANDELIER AND HORSE PORTRAIT ADDED MAXIMUM GLAMOUR. “I LOVE A GOOD DARK EQUESTRIAN-THEMED OIL PAINTING,” SAGHIAN. “IT REMINDS ME OF THE REGAL ECLECTICISM YOU’D ENCOUNTER IN A LONDON MEN’S CLUB.”| Photo by Michael Allen
Impressed, Rummerfield encouraged Saghian to come back and visit the shop so they could meet. He began visiting the shop every day after school, with his mother driving him until he was old enough to have his own car. He says Rummerfield and Woodson helped him apply to college. He continued to work at their firm as a design assistant and then project manager, all while studying Interior Architecture at The Art Institute of California. It was actually Rummerfield who encouraged him to leave their firm and branch out on his own.
Saghian now funnels his talent and experience into Ryan Saghian Interior Design, where he helps both residential and hospitality clients make their dream spaces a reality. He focuses on creating a collaborative process with his clients, making sure their vision and needs are central to his design.
“While the client's desires serve as the guiding force, it's through my creative lens and expertise that these aspirations are translated into inspiring spaces,” Saghian says. “Through extensive consultations and listening, I take insights into their desires, aspirations, and functional requirements. This forms the foundation upon which the design narrative is built.”
“THE DINING ROOM IS THE WIFE’S NEW FAVORITE ROOM,” SAYS SAGHIAN, WHO CHOSE AN EMBOSSED VELVET WALLPAPER; BACCARAT CHANDELIER AND SCONCES; AND CHAIRS IN THE STYLE OF JEAN ROY.RE, A MIDCENTURY FRENCH DESIGNER ONCE FAVORED BY THE SHAH OF IRAN. | Photo by Michael Allen
Each of the design narratives Saghian builds is unique for every client.
Not only because all clients are different but also because he does not consign himself to following only one design aesthetic or style. Saghian says he approaches every project as an opportunity to create a bespoke design for each client that reflects and stays true to their specific sensibilities.
“My goal is to create environments that transcend trends, [with] a sense of authenticity that can leave a mark on all who experience them,” Saghian says.
One signature of Saghian’s is the use of unexpected materials to create, in his words, “a dialogue between opulence and raw, unfiltered beauty.” An example of the juxtaposition between the opulent and the raw can be seen in Saghian's own home where the work of Spanish designer Carla Cascales Alimba is featured. Made of aircraft wire, sculpted metal ironwork creates the silhouette of a woman. The entire piece hangs delicately from a brass L-bracket attached to the wall.
“It just floats. When the light hits it, it almost looks like neon. It's a hard sell,” Saghian admits. “I actually showed it to clients a few times before I bought it for myself. Now that they see it, everybody loves it and they want it.” His ability to see the beauty in art before others reflects the fresh perspective Saghian has on the world around him. A world that he credits as a constant source of inspiration.
KNOWN FOR HIS EMBRACE OF STONE MATERIALS, SAGHIAN IS ALL ABOUT A MOODY POWDER ROOM. HERE, THOUGH, HE SNUCK IN SOME EXTRA STORAGE FOR THE BUSY FAMILY. “USUALLY, WHEN I DO A PLINTH VANITY, I JUST HAVE IT WALL-TO-WALL STONE. HERE, I PUT IN AN INTEGRATED DRAWER FOR THE OWNERS TO STASH THEIR EXTRA SUPPLIES.” | Photo by Mr. Barcelo
“From the digital realm of Pinterest to a busy cityscape, and even the subtle nuances of a restaurant menu, inspiration surrounds me at every turn,” Saghian says. “I am captivated by the beauty of the world around me, in both the mundane and the extraordinary.”
A glimpse into Saghian's creative genius is revealed in his 2022 publication, Unapologetically Chic. This book transcends the typical boundaries of design literature, encapsulating Saghian’s journey as a gay, Jewish, first-generation Iranian-American in Beverly Hills.
“Many people live in places where being gay isn’t socially accepted or where a career in interior design is considered infeasible. I hope I'm helping them by sending my messages of self-empowerment and self-expression into the world.”
Photo by Michael Allen
His eye for design can also be experienced in the shoppable curated collection of interior design items featured on his online store, Mode-De-Vie by Ryan Saghian. When asked, he enthusiastically shares his favorite design tip in five words, “Go big or go home!”
It is an edict that can be seen throughout his work and also in the future goals he holds for himself and Ryan Saghian Interior Design. He hopes to expand globally in the coming years, whether through design, collaborations, or simply inspiring others through his Instagram account — which currently boasts over 400,000 followers.
Saghian says his dream project would be a “one-of-a-kind boutique hotel, where I can unleash my creativity and imagination to craft a truly immersive and unforgettable experience for guests.”
A SNEAK PEAK OF RYAN'S LIGHTING COLLABORATION WITH STUDIO M LIGHTING— PICTURED: CURTAIN CALL
Ryan Saghian will debut his first lighting collection with LA-based Studio M Lighting. The collection officially launches this summer in Los Angeles and will feature two distinct groupings: Curtain Call and Shroud.
Saghian's childhood dreams recently came full circle when Architectural Digest featured his work not once but twice in the past couple of years, with additional coverage in its international editions, including AD Germany and AD Middle East.
“I believe true happiness lies in feeling understood, valued, and inspired,” Saghian says. “I want my clients to walk away from our collaboration feeling genuinely happy, knowing that their space is a true reflection of their vision and brings them joy every day.”
Photo by Michael Allen
BEST DESIGN SHOPS IN LA…
ACCORDING TO RYAN
ANTIQUES
GALLERY HALF
BLACKMAN CRUZ
PASADENA ANTIQUE CENTER
STUDIO BALESTRA
BOOKS BY THE FOOT
FURNITURE
LAWSON FENNING
CROFT HOUSE
FUTURE PERFECT
ART
CARPENTERS WORKSHOP
VIOLA ART
TEXTILES
UNA MALAN
LEE JOFA
RUGS
CARAVAN RUGS (vintage one-of-a-kind)
ART AND LOOM
J ALEXANDER (ready-to-buy and custom)
WALLPAPER
THOMAS LAVIN
SCHUMACHER
S HARRIS
LEE JOFA
GRACIE
LIGHTING
DAVID SUTHERLAND