Designer Spotlight: Pierce & Ward — Vintage Maximalism with Soul
The story of Pierce & Ward reads like a design-world fairy tale. Louisa Pierce and Emily Ward met by chance in a New York City bar in 2012 — two creative souls who instantly clicked. When life led them both to Nashville, their friendship evolved into a creative partnership that would go on to define a new kind of American interiors — soulful, storied, and delightfully unexpected.
With no formal design training, they began by decorating each other’s homes, discovering a shared eye for the layered and the lived-in. Their style quickly took shape — a maximalist blend of vintage finds, modern art, and old-world charm, infused with an effortless sense of glamour. Their first big project came when musician Karen Elson asked them to design her home, and from there, things took off. Soon, they were creating spaces for Emma Roberts, Dakota Johnson, and Kate Hudson, each one imbued with that signature Pierce & Ward magic.
Today, Louisa is based in Nashville and Emily in Los Angeles, but their creative chemistry remains as strong as ever. Between their bi-coastal studio, their Los Angeles boutique, and collaborations with brands like West Elm, the duo continues to shape how we think about interior design — one collected, soulful space at a time. Their debut book, A Tale of Interiors, captures it all: a visual love letter to homes that tell stories.
A Visit to Pierce & Ward Los Feliz
When I finally stepped into the Pierce & Ward store in Los Feliz, it was like stepping into another world — one where design feels personal, soulful, and alive. At the time, I had just gone back to school to study architectural interior design, and I was completely immersed in learning how to create spaces that tell a story. Walking through that shop felt like witnessing a masterclass in exactly that.
The space was stunning — every corner carefully considered, yet nothing felt forced or over-styled. The curation of vintage pieces was breathtaking; I found myself wondering about the stories behind each find, how Louisa and Emily might have discovered them, and the histories they carried. The art was equally captivating — bold, textural, and evocative — each piece adding to the layered, lived-in beauty of the space.
What struck me most was how different it felt from your typical interior design store. This wasn’t a showroom of predictable furniture and trend-driven décor. It was finely curated, intentional, and deeply unique — a reflection of Pierce & Ward’s ability to make design feel both eclectic and refined. Every object, every artwork, every texture felt chosen with heart. It was the kind of environment that reminded me why I fell in love with design in the first place.
I couldn’t leave without a copy of A Tale of Interiors, their debut book — and since then, it’s been one of my most treasured sources of inspiration. Every page feels like a conversation between past and present, luxury and imperfection.
Holiday Magic, the Pierce & Ward Way
Now that I live in Austin, Texas, I can’t just pop into the Los Feliz store whenever inspiration strikes — but I routinely check their website to see what’s new and to gather ideas for my own projects. That’s how I recently discovered their Hosting & Gathering collection, and I knew instantly that I had to share it with you.
It’s not your typical holiday décor. There’s no glitter, no red-and-green palette — just an elevated, soulful approach to the art of entertaining that feels perfectly Pierce & Ward.
Picture this: music spinning softly on a record player, candles flickering as guests linger around the table, conversation spilling into the night. The setting? A mix of sculptural and tactile pieces that make hosting feel effortless. A Geometrical Pawn side table in dark brown stoneware, its shape bold and grounding, sits ready to hold a glass of wine or a vase of foraged greenery. The table is dressed with Studio Ford’s Vesuvius napkins, hand-block printed in India, their mosaic-like patterns evoking ancient frescoes and rich textiles.
Nearby, a hand-blown mint tortoiseshell glass pitcher catches the light, perfectly paired with green stem glasses and the Sabre Bistro tortoise flatware — casual yet impossibly chic. On the counter, the large end grain cutting board by Untitled Co. in Southern Yellow Pine becomes the heart of the gathering — layered with cheeses, citrus, and herbs. Beeswax taper candles in harlequin florals, painted by hand in Los Angeles, cast a golden glow across the scene.
It’s all deeply textural, timeless, and meant to be lived with — an edit of pieces that make hosting feel as beautiful as it does natural. You can almost hear the soft hum of jazz from a record player, glasses clinking, someone laughing in the kitchen. This isn’t about the perfect holiday table — it’s about the perfectly imperfect moments shared around it.
“Shop The Cane & Chrome Cantilever Chairs”
“Shop The Enamel Nesting Bowls”
“Shop The Charvet French Linen Towel”
“Shop Mystic By Esme Tapered Candle”
“Shop Hand Blown Glass Tortoise Shell Pitcher”
“Shop Vesuvius Napkin Set By Studio Ford”
“Shop The Geometrical Stoneware Side Table”
“Shop The Small Bowl Green Ra By Ann Demeulemeester”
“Shop The Dinner Plate Green Ra By Ann Demeulemeester”
“Shop The Round Beechwood Cutting Board”
“Shop The Calla Lilly Vase By Pearce Williams”
“Shop The Checkered Board Oven Mitt”
“Shop The Sabre Paris Bistro Set In Tortoise”
“Shop The Sabre Paris Bottle Opener In Tortoise”
“Shop The Craighill Wine Key In Tortoise”
“Shop The White Wine Glass By Ann Demeulemeester”
Shop Our HOST + GATHER Guide featuring products from Pierce + Ward, Shop Amber Interiors, Sabre Paris, Goop, and Le Creuset here.
Gather, Don’t Decorate
What Pierce & Ward remind us — through their interiors, their book, and now their Hosting & Gathering collection — is that home isn’t about styling for a season, it’s about curating a feeling. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas dinner, a New Year’s toast, or an impromptu weeknight gathering, their pieces encourage you to slow down, layer textures, and surround yourself with things you love.
This holiday season, skip the trends and lean into what’s timeless — warmth, comfort, and soul. That’s the Pierce & Ward way.
Explore the Hosting & Gathering collection here, and let your home tell a story worth remembering.
xo,
Codi
