Dan Marty's new showroom gets earthy: Take a peek inside Maison Au Naturel No. 819

 
Designer and showroom owner Dan Marty has closed his sprawling space in the Pacific Design Center in favor of a smaller showroom on La Cienega Boulevard named Maison Au Naturel No. 819.

Marty says that name change reflects his shift toward “more earthiness in design,” such as his growing collection of vegetable-dyed hemp throw pillows, sea grass rugs and shell-encrusted  mirrors. Even hay bales are used to delineate different areas of the shop.

Marty was one of the first to use French grain sacks as upholstery fabric. It’s a much-copied look -- Pottery Barn has come out with a line of grain-sack-inspired throw pillows -- so he's now busy trying out new ideas. The latest involves using subway scroll fabric for pillows and lamp shades. They've just arrived in the store.

Au Naturel upholstered pieces aren’t cheap: Linen-covered chairs and sofas run $1,000 to $3,000. But some of the hemp pillows (photo on the jump) can be had for under $200. And a new line of glass domes set atop antique cogs, pictured here — they’re a cool  twist on bell jars — go for around $250. 

Maison Au Naturel No. 819, 819 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 657-1002. Open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More photos after the jump ...

Above: Pillows in Marty's new store start at less than $200.

Above: A local artist takes brass instrument mouthpieces and adds a marching band music-holding clip. The pieces, called "Toot Your Own Horn," are intended to hold cherished postcards, photos or place cards. Price: $90.

-- Alexandria Abramian Mott

Photos courtesy of Maison Au Naturel No. 819