William Emmerson
INTERIOR DESIGNER
British designer William Emmerson was born in London, England in 1966. Emmerson cites a small sculpted wooden head which his father hand-carved for him when he was 12 years old as both his prize possession and the impetus for beginning his life as a designer. Watching his father carve, it became obvious to him that he wanted to create. From that point forward, his journey has been a natural progression.
William attended Polytech in London where he studied design, wood and metal work. As a young man with a lust for travel, William left college and saw the world, gaining invaluable experience and inspiration all along the way.
Nearly a decade after graduating, the designer embarked on the most significant piece of his journey to date. He purchased an around the world ticket, planning to visit the Far East "to find oneself" and to see the land where his father grew up. However, after a stopover in Los Angeles to visit a friend on his way to Panang, Malaysia, Emmerson never made the trip.
Upon arrival in LA, Emmerson unknowingly developed a passion for interiors. With his magnetic personality, Emmerson went on to make priceless connections in Hollywood, which led to 8 years in the film business as an Art Director. After growing tired of "building elaborate sets only to tear them down", William started building custom furniture on the side. In 1997, William opened his storefront Emmerson Troop, which has become a Mecca for modern and vintage furniture collectors alike.
Since opening the store, the multitalented designer has completed more than a dozen notable interior design and renovation projects including his own Robert Byrd house and most recently an apartment in the landmark 1920's El Royale building.
Starting in 1999, William also began designing a series of furniture collections, sold exclusively through Emmerson Troop. These collections – which included a colorfully upholstered outdoor collection, a couple different seating and lighting lines, and a set of tables he called Tetraskelion – officially put him on the map as a furniture designer and caught the unwavering attention of the press.
Today, William Emmerson is an internationally known artist running William Emmerson Inc. in Los Angeles, CA. William Emmerson Inc. is a multi-disciplinary company that works in interior and furniture design, antiques, modern art and renovation for residential and commercial buildings.
