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Nathan Warkentin he tried his hand at numerous artistic activities, from photography to music, but he felt the desire to go in a different direction, so interiors became that space for exploration. “It’s the most immersive and dimensional creative process I’ve found,” he says. “It has a little bit of everything I’ve done in the past, but it feels limitless.
Varkentin founded his eponymous firm in 2023, known for a refined, strategic approach. With offices in New York and Los Angeles, he captures the essence of both coasts in hospitality and residential settings. Varkentin also seamlessly integrates originality with functionality to build spaces that resonate on a deeper level.
Nathan Warkentin \\\ Photo: Anna Arnett
A designer doesn’t have to go far to find inspiration because he has a research library full of books. Covering a range of topics, some of his favorites are fashion and Japanese design. He’s also always adding to the collection, checking out used bookstores when traveling or looking for rare finds.
For Varkentin, there is really no separation between life and career. Instead of trying too hard to share, he embraces all aspects. However, whatever he chooses to consume, be it food or mass media, will eventually serve to influence him in one way or another.
Change is constant on the field, and while some people find this stressful, Warkentin thrives. “Each project brings a new set of conditions: different city, different scale, different client,” he notes. “I enjoy the variety the most.”
Today Nathan Warkentin joins us for friday friday!
Photo: Nathan Warkentin
I got to see this piece in person at M+ in Hong Kong earlier this year. Kuramata started with a bent wood chair by Josef Hoffmann, wrapped it in steel wire, then set it on fire. The wood burned away, leaving only the silhouette of the steel wire as the ghost of the chair. I like how the layers of references, materiality and transformation. Finding the line between functional design and art object is always interesting to me.
Photo: Nathan Warkentin
2. Music and fashion magazines of the 90s
I love old magazines from the 90s An interview and Raigun. There is something about it that is so raw. Schedules are always a bit chaotic in the best way. I also like small advertisements for obscure nightclubs, record stores or galleries in New York or LA. You don’t see that whole underground culture in print anymore. Does it still exist?
Photo: Nathan Warkentin
I always stop by the Museo Tamaio when I’m in Mexico City. I love the architecture, the simplicity of the materials, the volume and how it all seems bold but restrained. It’s really well balanced, where you can appreciate the building without it ever distracting from the art.
Photo: Nathan Warkentin
4. The view through my window
Our studio is in the Orpheum building in downtown Los Angeles, where the street outside is never dull. From my desk, I get a front-row seat to the chaos and charm of LA (K-Pop fans wrapped around the block, amateur photography, or the occasional character on a soap box). It’s unpredictable, sometimes a bit wild, but always fun and a welcome distraction when I’m working late.
Photo: Nathan Warkentin
5. Brown color or variations
Not many kids would choose brown as their favorite color, but I keep coming back to it or some variation (sienna, ochre, caramel, amber, rust). These warm neutrals have so much depth and versatility and age beautifully in a space. More and more I find myself trading black for brown for the warmth it adds.
Works by Nathan Warkentin and Warkentin Associates:
photo: Yoshihiro Makino
Venice Lighthouse
The Lighthouse is a creative campus that we designed on Venice Beach in the old Venice Post Office from 1939. We have reimagined the historic building in the spirit of Bauhaus. The idea was to keep things really simple, functional and honest. The spaces flow between analog and digital work, encouraging both focus and collaboration. I think this background allows people and ideas to really come through.
photo: Anna Arnett
Echo Park Residence
This home on a hill in Echo Park was inspired by Ray Cape’s Rustic Canyon House, where light and materiality really shape the space. Our interiors build on that spirit with moments of playfulness and unexpected colors in layers. Since it was new construction, we really wanted to create a lived-in feel achieved by mixing vintage pieces with custom site-specific designs. The dramatic double-height volumes also allowed for an internal bridge with recessed sculptural lighting. The home was designed in collaboration with Bunch Design as the architect.
photo: Anna Arnett
Noun coffee and wine
Noun is a new cafe and lounge that we designed in Marina del Rey. It is intended to operate as an all-day venue, coffee in the morning and natural wine at night. We leaned on the concept of eclectic comfort, drawing from 90s coffee shops with seating that looks more like a living room than a coffee shop. Vintage pieces, post-modern accessories and some DIY elements give it an art loft charm. It’s relaxed, personal and a bit unexpected.
photo: Austin Leis
Eagle Rock Residence
Our Eagle Rock home has a simple, open floor plan that connects with the outdoors and makes the most of the view. We used it up when we first moved in, then continued to add to it over time with art, furniture and items collected from estate sales, shops and travels. Pieces are always moving or being replaced, so the house never feels finished. It’s constantly evolving, which makes it fun.
photo: Yoshihiro Makino
Los Angeles Residence
This mid-century home in Mount Washington hadn’t been touched since the 60s, so we wanted to bring it forward without losing its soul. We looked to Japanese and Chinese principles of light and empty space and avoided the usual mid-century clichés. I love the warm and calming feel of this home.
