From Classroom to Cult Favorite: How Lawson-Fenning Accidentally Became a Design Powerhouse

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#### Before Glenn Lawson and Grant Fenning even graduated from furniture design school, customers were trying to buy their pieces.

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As students at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, the duo had rented a small retail space for their studio because it was the cheapest lease they could find. “It was our workshop, but people started coming in,” Glenn remembers. “After a few months, we realized we had a business on our hands.” To meet demand, he and Grant created a small living room collection—a sofa, a cabinet, a table, a lamp—and never looked back.

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Twenty-five years later, [Lawson-Fenning](https://www.theexpert.com/shop/brands/lawson-fenning) is beloved by interior designers and homeowners alike for its 20th-century California-inspired furniture. Though the brand is deeply influenced by its West Coast roots, nearly half of its business comes from New York—a data point that pushed the founders to debut a Downtown Manhattan showroom this year, conveniently located in the same building as ceramicist and collaborator [Danny Kaplan](https://www.theexpert.com/blog/get-to-know-danny-kaplan-studio).

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Designed by Expert [Josh Greene](https://www.theexpert.com/consultations/find-an-expert/joshgreene/consultations), the century-old loft is drenched in rich, autumnal shades like terracotta and plum. “The color story is beautiful,” reflects Glenn. “It's not colors we would typically use outside of our furniture. We're typically pretty neutral in our spaces, but Josh really pushed us on material and the result is striking.” Here, Glenn shares the brand’s sources of inspiration and what differentiates them from the rest.

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#### **Our design philosophy**

Quality is our number one tenet, even before design and comfort. Those are the three must-haves for all our pieces. We want them to last and stand the test of time. It's cool to be this far removed from where we started and see people coming back 20 years later to reupholster a sofa that’s still in great shape. That makes us feel good.

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#### **Where we find inspiration**

Vintage is huge for us. We take twice-a-year buying trips in Europe. We have enough years under our belt that we have a real language for our detailing. A lot of pieces are based on other pieces—old and new—that did well for us. It’s super fun to be inspired by ourselves, it’s one of the advantages of getting older.

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#### **Our main materials**

Most of our pieces are walnut or oak. Everything is custom and made to order, which makes it easy to carry multiple wood finishes and fabrics. Our easy-clean velvet, which we spent a lot of time and energy sourcing, has been a big hit. This chunkier weave does well for us, too. It’s not a bouclé, exactly, but it’s more textured. Many people are upholstering indoor pieces in outdoor fabrics because of their durability.

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#### **What differentiates Lawson-Fenning from the rest**

We make everything locally in Southern California, so our production line is very hands-on. We really are bench-made. Everything goes through rigorous quality control, which sets us apart. We have a nice team that's easy to deal with, and we make beautiful products, so we get a lot of repeat business.

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#### **Our design process**

We start with a big pinboard that covers our whole office—we pull colors, textures, landscapes, paintings, everything. We throw it all together and live with it. We’re constantly repinning and moving stuff around. We soak it in, and that slowly informs a collection. We'll probably take a year from initial inspiration to development and sampling. We're slow, but we like to be very thoughtful about how we're doing things.

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#### **Our most popular collections**

Our [San Rafael collection](https://www.theexpert.com/shop/products/san-rafael-lounge-chair-p5213/san-rafael-lounge-chair-v12762) is the proof of concept for our new direction. We're leaning into a more 1920s-30s aesthetic. Earlier 20th-century pieces have incredible details in the wood grains, inlays, and shapes. We're designing more solid wood pieces where the joinery is visible and you understand the honesty of the material. We love pairing those with luxe fabrics that are generous in depth and scale. Our [Carrillo Lounge Chair](https://www.theexpert.com/shop/products/carrillo-lounge-chair-p5214/carrillo-lounge-chair-v12763), which is very Deco-inspired but also streamlined, has quickly become our bestseller.

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#### **The place that most accurately represents our brand**

Southern California. We started in Pasadena, where there's a rich design history. Many benchmark movements—from the early 20th century to Craftsman and mid-century—all squarely landed in Pasadena. There is an incredible amount of architecture and design preserved here.

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#### **Our favorite collaborators**

We did a beautiful line with [Brian Paquette](https://www.theexpert.com/consultations/find-an-expert/brianpaquette/consultations) and another with [DISC Interiors](https://www.theexpert.com/consultations/find-an-expert/discinteriors/consultations) which were extremely fun and rewarding. The cool thing is we end up with furniture that feels like both us and them. They’re not pieces we would've created on our own, nor would they have designed them on their own. They’re a true marriage of two aesthetics, and when they’re successful, it's exciting.

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#### **The colors we’re loving right now**

We love muted jewel tones, like plum, dark ochre, deep sage green, and reddish brandy. They're a little darker and moodier than true gemstone hues.

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#### **What’s next**

We're launching a furniture collection with Josh Greene in May and a couple of smaller launches with ceramicists we enjoy working with. That'll be super fun.

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Lawson-Fenning

Get to Know - Lawson-Fenning - 1

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Get to Know - Lawson-Fenning - 5

Rainier Dining Table

Rolled Perforated Sconce

Ivanhoe Desk 

6-Globe Chandelier

Ojai Dresser 

Caned Bed

Curved Back Sectional

Ojai Nightstand

Mesa Sofa

Niguel Desk

Stacked Box Nightstand

Ojai Bench

Seymour Chaise

Monterey Bed

Portola Ottoman

Ojai Lounge Chair

Portola Lounge Chair

Forster Sofa

Ojai Barstool

Justin Bed

Rainier End Table

Rainier Coffee Table

George Lounge Chair

George Sofa

Oliver Nightstand

Alta Brass Dome

San Rafael Sofa

San Rafael Console Table

San Rafael Dining Table

San Rafael Lounge Chair

San Rafael Palo Coffee Table

San Rafael Side Table

Curved Back Swivel Chair

Furniture

Storage

Accent Chairs

Sofas, Sectionals & Settees

Coffee Tables

Daybeds & Chaises

Stools & Ottomans

Tables

Side Tables

Bookcases & Shelving

Cabinets & Credenzas

Console Tables

Headboards

Seating

Ceiling Lights

Floor & Table Lamps

Table & Task Lamps

Wall Lights

Sconces & Wall Lights

Floor Lamps

Outdoor Lighting

Dining Tables

Shades

Picture Lights

Lighting

Chandeliers

Pendants

Bar & Counter Stools

Flush Mounts

Nightstands

Benches

Dressers and Armoires

Beds

Bedframes

Desks

Dining Chairs

finish

material

size

Flint Lounge Chair

Ojai Counterstool

Get to know Lawson-Fenning, a Southern California-based furniture brand deeply influenced by its roots.

Everything You Need to Know About Lawson-Fenning