A Personalized Point of View

By Carolyn O’Neil | Photography courtesy of Aker Interiors

The uplifting style of Los Angeles–based designer Gabrielle Aker is revealed when reading through the unique descriptions of recent projects completed by her firm, Aker Interiors. From Organic Modern Ocean to Contemporary Masculine and ’70s Funky Eclectic, the project titles are a testimony to Aker’s talent for providing clients with highly personalized decor reflecting who they are and their lifestyles.

“It’s about their space and how they live in it, but making it aesthetically pleasing and design-forward,” says Aker. Raised near Pasadena in Southern California, Aker is self-taught and followed an unconventional path to interior design through experiences in fine art and fashion. Her eye for style with a touch of whimsy and her aptitude for balancing natural materials rich in texture give her projects a sense of time and place.

Aker began her design career at home. Six years ago, she moved into an open studio loft in downtown LA with original brick, steel, and concrete. “It was a huge playground of space, so I had to figure out ‘Where do we work, where is the light?’” she shares. “We added some new pieces, moved things around, and it just snowballed.” Her husband, Zack, a woodworker, contributed his skills by building a floor-to-ceiling wall of bookshelves.

Friends loved the results and exclaimed, “You should do this!”

So with Zack and her sister Hannah Brown, Aker launched Aker Interiors to provide clients with elegant organic designs that transform their visions into beautiful realities.

A hallmark of Aker Interiors is another family of sorts—a reliable network of local artisans and tradespeople. “We can’t do what we do without the amazing partnerships we’ve built with companies and brands we trust,” says Aker. To showcase the firm’s aesthetic and highlight pieces from vendors and artists they work with, the firm recently bought and remodeled a 1925 loft in the industrial corner of Downtown LA’s arts district and created the Aker Interiors Showroom.

Collaboration is Key

At the center of every project for Aker Interiors is a meaningful collaboration with each client, inviting them to be part of the process from concept and inception to installation. Mood boards and samples are just the beginning as the client and designer home in on the desired look and feel of a space before moving to the design plan. While most of the completed interior projects reflect Aker’s signature neutral-yet-dramatic color story, emphasizing the natural tones of stone and wood, she thrives on challenge.

“One client loves color because it makes her happy and a bright home makes her calm,” Aker explains. “So, it’s my job to do something different without going bonkers. It really stretches me.” This diplomatic design restraint inspired the client to translate their individuality into a balanced result with artfully placed pops of color.

Noting a strong post-pandemic design trend, Aker reports that walls are back. “With so many people working from home, they want to redo their houses with separate, defined living areas,” she says. That means designing an open flow with unique ways to create quiet spaces through interior architecture.

Naturally Beautiful

At Aker Interiors, the designers draw inspiration from nature and appreciate the raw beauty in chosen materials. A trip to a slab yard to find the stone for countertops and other surfaces is a fantastic field trip for Gabrielle Aker. “Recently, I fell in love with a slab,” she recalls. “When I saw the granite with rusty tones running through the veins, I gasped.” That stone became the central focus of a kitchen, adding natural drama that stretched from the countertop to the waterfall backsplash and open shelving.

The fabrics she prefers range from soft whites to quiet blacks, but they’re always rich in texture, such as nubby bouclé and sheepskin. “I don’t like flat things; neutral colors need big textures,” Aker explains.

While her overall designs might be decidedly modern, the tradition of brass hardware is making a comeback, and Aker loves the way it develops a patina and adds a historical touch. “I’m so lucky to be in LA, but I like to add a tweak to the modern aesthetic,” she says.

Personal Details

To make a house a home, each detail of an Aker Interiors project reflects the client’s personality.

“For instance, I ask clients about their interests and search for books to match,” says Aker. “Recently, I found a beautiful coffee-table book about Porsche cars because that was on their list.” These types of details create a look that certainly doesn’t say Anyone could live here. They are truly personal. To celebrate the completion of each project, the design team plans a housewarming party based on the unique design, introducing the new look to the client’s family and friends. The soiree to reveal for the Contemporary Bohemian Eclectic project must have been quite the party!

What’s next for Gabrielle Aker? Like many of us, she has inspirational travel on her schedule. She says a recent trip to explore the architecture and design of Mexico City fueled her creativity. “The fresh and individual perspective the city has through the mix of styles and time periods was historical yet forward-focused,” says Aker. “It was a breath of fresh air.” Such inspiration will undoubtedly lead to even more uniquely elevated design projects for Aker Interiors in the years to come.

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To learn more or see more projects, visit AkerInteriors.com.