The following interview with Mary Ta was first published in The Agency Report – Second Quarter 2014.
Mary Ta is owner of the LA showroom of Minotti, an Italian company specializing in high-end, contemporary furniture and design. The Minotti Penthouse at The Carlyle, asking $9.225 million, offers panoramic north, south and east views, and extensive artwork was brought in. Under Minotti’s design, the penthouse is a contemporary masterpiece with clean lines, noble furniture, representing the best of LA for high-rise living.
You recently completed the Minotti Penthouse at The Carlyle. What was your inspiration for the design?
I imagined someone who’s been to modern Asia – influenced by the beautiful Asian hotels like the Upper House in Hong Kong designed by Andre Fu, and the Park Hyatt in Shanghai, designed by Tony Chi. This soft, elegant serenity with a stunning metropolitan skyline as the backdrop.
The Minotti Penthouse at The Carlyle
Minotti LA is located in WHDD. What is it about LA that yields such a concentration of cutting edge designers?
LA is the bridge between the eastern and western hemispheres, linking Asia to the US and Europe. With its perfect blend of healthy living and laid-back metropolitan lifestyle, it is attracting people from around the globe and becoming a melting pot of sorts, still with an air of youth and innovation – a perfect inspiration for cutting edge design.
Minotti is synonymous with the words Elegance and Quality; how does the brand work in a city defined by laid-back luxury?
We believe that Minotti is synonymous with luxury and the comfort that LA represents. The design details that inspire all our collections are about comfort that never compromises our timeless modern aesthetic.
You just got back from Salone del Mobile in Milan. What inspired you there?
Hana Cha, Mauricio Umansky, Samantha Sax, Mary Ta, Shereen El Gazzar, and Erin O’Connor at the unveiling of the Minotti Penthouse at The Carlyle Residences.
The Minotti 2014 collection was very inspiring; it graciously blended art deco and modern, and the new luxury is really about these elegant details. Also, the quality of each piece along with the use of different materials such as pewter, bronze finishes, agate stone and velvet, was quite beautiful.
Can you tell us more about the new showroom you’re opening next to Minotti LA?
The new showroom will be opening this summer on Beverly Blvd. It is a design resource 360 concept. In our experience working with our discerning clients, architects, designers and developers, we have found that they are looking for design products similar to Minotti in quality that can complete an entire project. So our new showroom will provide kitchens, baths, closets, doors, architectural lighting, surfaces, finishes, etc that really were not available in our market.
