Big Design in Little China
In downtown Los Angeles, nonprofit worker turned design-savvy entrepreneur Willard Ford turned the historic Kim Sing Theatre into a haven for modern furniture and design, now known as Ford&Ching.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and when, in 2005, Willard Ford needed to pay his rent, his business acumen and design-savvy eye saw him through: He launched FordBrady, a furniture showroom in downtown Los Angeles, with designer John Brady. Earlier this year, Ford relaunched the company as Ford&Ching with Andrea Ching and opened a showroom in Oakland, California. The goal is still
the same—–to bring high design to our living rooms.
The old Kim Sing Theatre on North Figueroa Street, home to Ford&Ching. Photo by Jeff Minton.
How did you end up in the old Kim Sing Theatre?
I’d seen movies here when I was little. It had been abandoned for about 20 years and I bought it dirt cheap. I decided to live here and needed to quickly figure out how to afford to do that, which is part of why we started the company.
Is Los Angeles a good place to sell contemporary design?
It’s probably one of the worst, actually. Los Angeles peaked with mid-century-modern design and that continues to take up most of the market. We’re trying to open the market to a wider perspective that includes new ideas about furniture and design.
The Chair walker by SIngh Intrachooto.
Is there an object that changed how you think about design?
When we first started sourcing products, we were introduced to the idea of green furniture by designer Singh Intrachooto. We hadn’t considered green issues when purchasing for our business, but now about half of our products are sustainable.
What’s your most recent purchase?
Wood coasters from Sam Moyer, one of our designers.
The Rian Collection end table by Semigood Design.
What’s your favorite item you sell?
The Ted daybed or anything by Semigood Design.
What are you currently longing for?
A couch—–but I don’t know which one.
How do you define “good design”?
It’s usable and matches your personal aesthetic. I also like easily recognizable materials like metal or wood.
What makes a good customer?
People who come in to see something new. Those who want to buy the same Eames chair don’t want to talk about something new or made from recycled materials, only the Eames chair.
What’s next for Ford&Ching?
Getting more into contract work. We’re working on some restaurant and hotel projects we hope to see through.
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