Filigree: A Store You Can Call Home

If you've been around Studio City since 1998, you may remember a home furnishing design store called The Crimson Rooster that was housed in the Ventura Boulevard cottage now occupied by Canyon Beachwear.  It was owned by Michael McHugh and his partner, Tom Connor.  It felt like a home with its white painted wood, pitched ceiling, front porch, stenciled designs and a welcoming red door.

Celebrities, local residents and others from parts of Los Angeles and beyond flocked to the store because of  The Crimson Rooster's classic taste,  McHugh's innate design ability and the genuine congeniality of both men. 

The Crimson Rooster was my place too.  I had just moved to Studio City that same year and spent hours at the store and at my home with McHugh as he helped with the tricky design specifications of my house.  

Sadly, the store closed four years later when Connor passed away.

McHugh didn't leave the home furnishing business and eventually started working at Bedfellows on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. Although Bedfellows is modern design, McHugh quickly adopted to the store's style.

Flash-forward to winter of 2009 when I spot a new store called Filigree on Ventura Boulevard and Laurel Grove in Studio City,  just a few doors down from Bedfellows, that reminds me of The Crimson Rooster with windows filled with beautiful fabrics, pillows, ceramics, paintings and furniture evoking the same sense of a Hamptons, CT or New England lifestyle.

I meandered in and started perusing around when I heard my name — "Karen?"

I looked up and it was Michael McHugh — the man who spent hours with me and helped turn my house into a home.  Turns out Filigree is his store which he owns with his sister, Beth Matustik, and her husband, Pavel Matustik. Together they have re-created the spirit of The Crimson Rooster, only doubled in size with an even larger and more appointed inventory.

Once the location of a clothing store, Filigree feels like an East Coast home anchored by a floor to ceiling stone fireplace designed by McHugh. With a refined rustic theme permeating every corner, it is a sophisticated and classic full scale home furnishing shop complete with a collection that includes John Robshaw, Pamela Kline , Ralph Lauren (exclusive line for Filigree), Chelsea of London Textiles, Les Indiennes, Astier de Villate Ceramics and many more upscale designers.

There are also one-of-a-kind pieces such as various antiques, a coffee table made from a Chinese window frame and arranged under glass, an antique shutter console, and filigree lampshades made by a Czechoslovakian artist.

The art on the walls is by Susan Hovel who paints American Primitive works exclusively for Filigree. She can also be commissioned for original art work. Unique photographs are by Pavel Matustik and are available for sale. Especially delightful are his images of rooftops resembling a face.

Unique to the shop is 3D porcelain wallpaper in various shapes such as roses, birds, crosses and airplanes designed by artist Daniel Birsc, who designs many pieces with Filigree, and was the inspiration for the store's name.

In addition to furniture and textiles, there are also wonderful independent pieces such as clocks, mirrors, candlesticks, vases, plates, rugs, throws and so much more.  If you don't see what you want, McHugh can order or design according to specifications.

McHugh offers in home consultations for $250, but then deducts it from purchases. His personal service runs the gamut from scaled floor plans to working on renovations to finding or building furniture, and accessorizing the home.

And with the belief that a house is truly not a home without a pet, Filigree has many pet friendly design materials, such as Dash and Albert rugs, which enable people and animals to live together with décor that is practical and sophisticated. There's even a selection of wonderful dog books.

Filigree stands apart from other design and furniture stores locally —as much for its style and inventory, as the innovative, hands on design skills and calm demeanor of Michael McHugh.

Filigree is at 12262 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. 818-508-0560 Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 11am to 5pm www.filigreestore.com.