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Steve Melendrez's eclectic furniture offerings work well together at Living Room... Unique pieces from various continents sit alongside retro-inspired couches, while funky light fixtures share real estate with side tables shaped like tree stumps. According to Melendrez, fusing the eclectic and unexpected is the concept behind the store, but he takes careful measure when applying it... Melendrez earned his stripes as managing partner of the Westside furniture store Civilization. When it came time to pursue his own venture, he chose to launch Living Room close to home. "Silver Lake is the only place where I wanted to open," says the Orange County native, who lives nearby with his wife and three sons... He credits Silver Lake's diverse population as well as his own Latino roots as inspirations.

By ENID PORTUGUEZ

PERIOD PIECES THAT LEAN TOWARDS HIP. Adding the look of antiques without the exspense of the real deal has become easier thanks to the contemporary takes such as Philippe Starck's plastic Ghost chairs. If those seem too transparently modern, shoppers have other options. At Living Room in Silver Lake, Indian imports bridge the gap between ultramodern riffs on antiques and overly fussy period reproductions.

Wells, Annie. "Finds." Los Angeles Times 1 November 2007: F4

Steve Melendrez, owner of the Silver Lake store Living Room, says Clark's chandeliers are true art pieces, designs that have received the dubious compliment of being knocked off by imitators. "She's a trendsetter," he says. "My customers like them."

But in an industry obsessed with luxury, she has pulled off the biggest luxury of all: successfully growing a business that she can manage with her children close at hand. "I love what I'm doing," she says, "but I want to be at home with them."

LA Vida Sunset Rising With a handful of splashy new shops, Sunset Boulevard is becoming a red-hot furniture spot.

Walk into any of the new home-furnishing stores on Sunset in Echo Park and Silver Lake, and you’re more likely to hear talk of Danish modern and Design Center than deco and dinette sets. Credit the downtown loft boom, or the spike of interest in modern design and hand craftsmanship: An eclectic new sensibility has blossomed, making the area a destination for decorators and homeowners... Suddenly, it feels almost like a furniture district, and chances are that more and more businesses will continue to hop onboard.

The Living Room - When Steve Melendrez was still a managing partner of Civilization in Culver City, he began to notice the number of Eastside addresses on the store’s invoices. Already a resident of Silver Lake for 13 years, he knew that his hood was “ready” for a high-end shop. Five months ago, he opened his doors in a former city councilman’s office. Readers of home-design mags will recognize names like Jonathan Adler (rugs and pillows), John Robshaw (bedding) and Vietri (dishware). Locals may recognize the names of their friends; Melendrez makes a point of carrying the work of L.A. craftspeople and designers. As I walk into the 4,000-square-foot space, my eye is immediately drawn to a spectacular terrazzo table, inlaid with precious stones and antique tile, by local artist Ulli Bogue. Melendrez points out pieces by other Angelenos: glass-bead chandeliers by Meredith Baxter, mixed-media art by Mark Hobley, and a cement bench made by a guy who just walked in off the street. Upholstered furniture from the L.A.-based Cisco Brothers and other companies is chic and, most importantly, comfortable; stacks of coffee-table books invite you to cozy up and take advantage. Melendrez is happy to report that his invoices now show Westside addresses. “One of my proudest moments,” he recalls, “was selling a sofa and a couple lamps to a lady in Malibu.” 3531 Sunset Blvd.; (323) 665-5070, www.livingroomhome.com.

By STEFFIE NELSON