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Shopper’s Diary: Block Shop’s LA Emporium Makes a Spirited Case for Color and Pattern

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Shopper’s Diary: Block Shop’s LA Emporium Makes a Spirited Case for Color and Pattern

May 28, 2024

“Imagine if four sisters raised on Louisa May Alcott designed a Milanese apartment inside Dr. Doolittle’s snail,” says Hopie Stockman of Block Shop’s new headquarters—which happen to have a bronze snail as a front doorknob. The family textile and art company recently relocated from a showroom in LA’s Atwater Village to a nearby storefront that houses the shop up front and a workspace, full kitchen, and warehouse in the back. The look is delightfully fanciful as is the Block Shop way: “We turned away from the prevailing neutral, blond wood aesthetic of LA retail towards a symphony of color and joy and personal details.”

The business was founded 2012 by two of the Stockman sisters: Hopie is an artist who got her MBA from Harvard with a goal of founding a socially responsible enterprise. Her sister Lily, also a Harvard grad (in visual studies) spent a year studying in Jaipur, where they met the textile collective that they’ve been working with ever since. Lily is now a full-time artist, and Hopie and another sister, Grier, run Block Shop. The business is beyond-fair in its practices, invests 5 percent of profits into community initiatives in India and LA, and environmentally conscientious (details here).

“It was a major demo and build-out dreamed up by us sisters,” they write on Instagram of their first brick and mortar store. “We designed every last detail ourselves (on a tiny, bootstrapped budget).” Join us for a look.

Photography by Laure Joliet, unless noted, all courtesy of Block Shop (@blockshoptextiles).

the shop is at 3\2\15 glendale boulevard in atwater village in what was formerl 17
Above: The shop is at 3215 Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village in what was formerly a crystal boutique—and before that a coffin store. “We delight in the magic and macabre of it all,” says Hopie, “the combined energy feels otherworldly.”
curiouser and curiouser: the aforementioned snail knob was sculpted by hopie an 18
Above: Curiouser and curiouser: The aforementioned snail knob was sculpted by Hopie and cast in bronze by their friend Imerio Palumbo.
block shop&#8\2\17;s home goods, art, and apparel are all designed to look  19
Above: Block Shop’s home goods, art, and apparel are all designed to look good together. That’s their Trellis Rug (jute with woven wool detailing) under the bandana table. They use the mezzanine level for meeting with designers.

“It was very dark when we moved in—the walls were painted a deep purple with crimson details, there were lots of small storage rooms, and most of the windows were barred.” Hopie tells us. “It was quite a renovation: we knocked down walls, put internal windows in, and did the whole thing in four months, which I don’t advise.”

sisters grier and hopie stockman run the business: grier (left) is head of bran 20
Above: Sisters Grier and Hopie Stockman run the business: Grier (left) is head of brand; Hopie is CEO and creative director: while nine months pregnant, she painted the parrots behind them, which pay tribute to the famous wild flock of nearby Pasadena.

The counter is topped with Rosso Francia marble sourced from a stone yard in the Valley. Local artist Guillermo Bert finished the front in Block Shop’s Poiret motif and created the finial around the mural. The blown glass Candy Ceiling Lamps are from Mille Fiori of Copenhagen, which has them made in Italy. Photograph by Block Shop.

block shop&#8\2\17;s signature woodblock prints hang over stacks of tablecl 21
Above: Block Shop’s signature woodblock prints hang over stacks of tablecloths and napkins. The shelves are also stocked with books, beautifully packaged beauty potions, jewelry, and vintage finds. The chandelier is turn-of-the-century Murano glass and was purchased on eBay.
liza stegall, block shop&#8\2\17;s head of operations, designed the bookcas 22
Above: Liza Stegall, Block Shop’s head of operations, designed the bookcase with sawtooth (aka bird’s mouth) shelf supports: it was originally painted biscuit but “after much debate” was repainted flame orange,” and serves as the Block Shop Pillow department. Staircase and Eclipse rugs hang overhead.
the dressing room is cloaked in little zipper—block shop&#8\2\17;s&# 23
Above: The dressing room is cloaked in Little Zipper—Block Shop’s  “joie de vivre pattern”—in Lemon. Hopie designs all of the wallpaper patterns: they begin as drawings that she sends to their workshop in Jaipur where they’re carved into wood blocks and printed by fifth generation master block printers. The prints then get sent to Twenty2 Wallpaper and Textiles in Naugatuck, Connecticut, where they’re scanned and printed on clay-coated grounds that “meet the highest production standards of environmental sustainability.”
vintage tole hooks hang on little zipper wallpaper. “our patterns are a  24
Above: Vintage tole hooks hang on Little Zipper Wallpaper. “Our patterns are a choreography of dots and stripes dancing together at different speeds,” says Hopie.
steel framed glass doors divide the shop from the kitchen and office. the exist 25
Above: Steel-framed glass doors divide the shop from the kitchen and office. The existing cement tiled floor was left in place and painted white to showcase their rugs (this one is Ripple.)
the kitchen is used as the studio gathering spot and for parties, cooking class 26
Above: The kitchen is used as the studio gathering spot and for parties, cooking classes, and other community events. Squiggle tiles from Block Shop’s collaboration with Fireclay Tile pattern the back wall.the kitchen is used as the studio gathering spot and for parties, cooking class 27Above: The powder room is ablaze with Rosso Francia marble and Block Shop’s new Peony Wallpaper. “At Block Shop we’re all about world building and creating joy through pattern and texture,” the sister write on Instagram. “We believe in living your art.”

We’ve been following Block Shop from the get-go; here’s a sampling:

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Frequently asked questions

When was Block Shop founded?

Block Shop was founded in 2012 by two of the Stockman sisters.

What is the business model of Block Shop?

The business is socially responsible, invests 5 percent of profits into community initiatives, and is environmentally conscientious.

Where is Block Shop's new headquarters located?

Block Shop's new headquarters is in LA's Atwater Village.

Who designed the snail-shaped doorknob at Block Shop's headquarters?

The snail-shaped doorknob was sculpted by Hopie and cast in bronze by their friend Imerio Palumbo.

What materials are used in Block Shop's Trellis Rug?

The Trellis Rug is made of jute with woven wool detailing.

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