There is a calming, grounding quality to Artemis Studio, much like its founder, interior designer, decorator, and stylist Elizabeth Flynn. The newest arrival at Pine Tree Circle in Topanga draws its name and inspiration from the ancient Greek goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, and the moon.
Artemis Studio offers a thoughtfully curated collection of homewares, gifts, textiles, lamps, flowers, and larger furniture items. Elizabeth also provides consultations, styling, product sourcing, art, and full-scale interior and exterior renovation services in collaboration with architects and contractors.
Elizabeth has a background in fine art and interior design, attending art schools in London and Paris. She shares that Artemis brewed under the surface for years, but that the brick and mortar shop was born rather quickly.
“The last couple years, having a young family, and living in Topanga, I really felt the significance of community and I wanted to be a part of that,” she says. “Working as an interior designer so much of the work you do is online, you drift from space to space and meanwhile get to know your clients a bit, but you’re not as part of a specific location or community.”
In addition to her creative work, Elizabeth has also worked with women for about ten years, teaching yoga and leading community based events, which suffered greatly during the pandemic. “The pandemic was very damaging for community based spirit,” she shares. “It was nice to be able to have yoga classes and workshops online, but it’s just not the same.”
“When I was pregnant with my daughter, my first child, we were living in West LA and one of my teachers—Britta Bushnell, who was also a mentor to me—told us the story of Artemis and Apollo,” Elizabeth explains.
Like Artemis, Dr. Bushnell is a significant figure specifically in the field of childbirth, and for Elizabeth, she illuminated the transformative power of space. Her shop became an offering in itself to the goddess.
The idea behind Artemis is to curate intentional space, space for community, and living in. “As an interior designer, unfortunately I have seen a lot of waste,” Elizabeth says. “In interior design and homewares, there’s a similarity to fast fashion. It isn’t talked about as much but there are trends that come about very quickly and leave very quickly whether it’s tiling or the colors on your wall, or the furnishings you have. Large homewares shops are pumping out a lot of products very rapidly, with the idea for them to be disposable.”
That waste doesn’t have to occur. “One thing that’s very important to me with design and homes is that design is as sustainable as possible,” Elizabeth says.“Yes, we want nice homes to live in because it makes people feel better but it doesn’t have to be done in a way that is super damaging to our planet.”
“The universe sort of pointed me in this direction and luckily I was able to make it happen,” she says. I have had a great time with people helping me like Durga, the Nepalese artist who installed a stunning rammed earth piece in the shop as a countertop and register.”
Vendors in the shop include Jesse Hammer, Candice Luter, Simon et Marcel, Boheme Fragrance, Ini Ceramique, Slow Down Studio, Yield, Casa Amarosa, August Sage, and more. Nearly everything is handmade and is as sustainable and ethically produced as possible.
“As a design studio we try to retain as much of the feel of the home as possible, working with the bones of the house, putting things in that are made of natural materials or things that are as good for the planet as possible,” Elizabeth says.
“At the moment, we have this artist that is based just at the bottom of the road in Woodland Hills, Ewan Roberton. Raised in Scotland, some of his works explore the Scottish Highlands, others explore surf culture, the California deserts and coastlines.
“This show really does highlight the natural world, and in some aspects, man’s relationship to nature. In these pieces with the surfers you really see the vastness of the ocean. It is a reminder that nature is so powerful and integral to us.” The show will be displayed until May 28th.
When asked why she picked Topanga as the home for her studio and shop Elizabeth says, “I think people are trying to do the best that they can and they are drawn here because nature is important to them. There are so many amazing artists here and my focus is to show art that will be placed in a home rather than a collectors vault.”
She is also working on a program of events and creative workshops as well, navigating the waters of the pandemic. “Our plan is to have a place that celebrates art. We have a free writing workshop that’s coming up on April 15, where we will explore writing cues and creative cues. Participants will have an opportunity to share if they like: poems or prose, whatever comes to mind. We’ll have a natural dyes workshop, dry floral workshops, with updates on Instagram or via their event page on the website. Find out more @artemisstudiola or www.artemisstudiola.com
