Renowned for their unique creative vision, the storied careers of Adam Blackman and David Cruz are documented in their book entitled Beauty & Mischief: The Design Alchemy of Blackman Cruz. The pair spoke with Upscale Living magazine Blackman Cruz and the homes they live in.
Adam & David, please tell us a bit about yourselves.
A + D together: We are two lucky guys from disparate backgrounds with dissimilar interests who found ourselves in the happy position of getting to search out our hearts’ desires for a living.
Was there a person or event that you grew up with who influenced your career?
Adam: Actually, no. While I am drawn to dramatic works, my first love was theater.
David: Not at all. The career I have today is organically mine.
How did the two of you get into business together?
A + D together: Both of us were established dealers. We met, and eventually shared a room in an antique collective. Our styles blended together in a unique and interesting way almost instantly. After 30 years of working the same way, we are still doing it.
Antiques and collectibles are your specialty.
A + D together: We like to say we sell ‘life enhancers’, meaning we sell whatever strikes our fancy, whether it be new or old, notable or not. We also have a Blackman Cruz Workshop line of furniture, objects and accessories that represents the work of diverse artisans and designers.
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Please tell us about your homes.
Adam: My wife and me have two homes. One is in Los Angeles and the other one is in Ojai. The style is similar, but the vibes are different. Our Ojai home is open, rustic and casual, while our LA house is more treehouse-like. We’ve had our home in LA for 25 years and our place in Ojai for almost 6 years. We restored our LA home over 15 years ago and expect to do the same in Ojai.
David: My LA home is a 1939 Paul Laszlo house that I got 20 years ago and every time I walk downstairs and look over the Hollywood landscape, I’m still grateful for living here. My San Miguel house has a mixture of the old with the new. Its restoration was equally rewarding as it was challenging.
What would be the best way to describe your design?
Adam: We’re not ones to follow trends. We are drawn to items that make a statement, particularly what we haven’t seen before. We are drawn to the beauty of a carving or something massive in size or material.
Who or what inspires you to design?
Adam: We find inspiration in so many things – whether it be an aging tree stump or the work of an amazing designer or craftsman. Traveling gives us a rush because we are exposed to new ideas and histories. You will always remember a visit to a place, such as Villa Necchi Campiglio designed by Piero Portauppi.
How do you stay on top of the latest trends in decorating?
Adam: Every day I try to add something fresh. There are certainly items I’ll never part with, but I enjoy letting spaces evolve. My wife and I also subscribe to the concept of ‘trading up.’ Rather than getting hung up on finding that perfect piece for a specific space, we live with something for a while and then change it up when we see something we like better.
David: I don’t think it’s necessary to keep things fresh. I think it’s necessary to keep things consistent and keep my interests alive.
Do you have a favorite color for interior design?
Adam: Not consciously. We prefer natural tones to white or black, but we’re not opposed to a pop of bright color in the mix.
Do you think that repurposing is a good idea?
A + D together: Absolutely.
Are there any special pieces in your collection?
Adam: I do. My grandmother’s Sarouk rug from her home in the Bronx has a special place in our home in Ojai. We also have a number of pieces from my wife’s family, including a watercolor painted by her Great Grandmother.
David: I have my Uncle Billy’s 18th-century doors from his house in Northern Mexico that I just installed in San Miguel.
What is your favourite part of your house?
Adam: That’s a hard one.
David: My favorite room is the bedroom with a view of the garden, where I enjoy spending time in nature.
What part of the house do you spend your most time?
Adam: In LA I would say that the sitting room. In Ojai I spend most of my time in the garden.
David: My yoga/office studio has a beautiful view of downtown Hollywood.
What designers inspire you the most?
A + D together: Many … Rick Owens, Francoix Catreau, Carlo Scarpa, Louis Kahn, Carlo Mollino, Carlo Bugatti, Eileen Gray, Luis Barragan, Clara Porset. List goes on.
Please tell us about your book: Beauty & Mischief – The Design Alchemy of Blackman Cruz.
A + D together: The process was unexpectedly enjoyable, sometimes revealing, and other times humble. We can say with certainty that after 30 years of sweat, blood and tears, we still enjoy the thrill of hunting.
Final thoughts?
A + D together: It’s important to know that beauty is intrinsically healing.