Our projects are driven by meticulous attention to concept and guest experience. We seek to create unconventional spaces animated by narrative, wit, and an idiosyncratic touch. Our individualized approach to each interior reflects a passion for timeless design, comfort, and luxurious materials, down to the smallest detail. We set the scene to conjure a mood. The spaces are brought to life by people and their interactions.
Befitting the cinematic quality of his designs, Shawn Hausman was born in Hollywood in 1956. Shawn’s childhood supplied him with a unique artistic education as he lived a nomadic life imbued with the creativity of his mother, the late film actress Diane Varsi, and his father, Michael Hausman, a film producer.
After studying art in the Bay Area, Shawn moved to New York City in the late Seventies to work as a production assistant on feature films including Saturday Night Fever. In 1983, Shawn opened the experimental nightclub, Area, with three of his high school friends. Area revolutionized Manhattan’s nightlife with its evocative sets and bimonthly transformations; every eight weeks the space was radically overhauled to conjure up a new and all-absorbing theme.
Shawn returned to California in the late Eighties to work in production design for feature films and television commercials. This soon segued into the creation of interiors when he was asked to apply his skills to the Hollywood Canteen. Next, a landmark commission ensued in the form of the Chateau Marmont. World renowned hotelier, Andre Balazs, enlisted Shawn’s talents to renovate the iconic space, and launched a successful partnership that continues today, two decades later.
Around this time, in another enduring partnership, Jessica Kimberley joined Shawn Hausman as life-work partner. A Hollywood native, Jessica brought her own expertise in international design and hospitality to SHD.
The company has since earned numerous commissions – from unique private residences to striking corporate headquarters. Increasingly, the design team is specialized in the creation of extraordinary restaurants and hotels. Their signature mastery in setting a mood – through exquisite materials and meticulous attention to detail – evoke experiences in which guests and patrons are transported to a place of timeless design.
SHD is recognized for landmark projects including the Standard Hotels in Hollywood, Downtown LA, Miami, East Village NYC, and London; and restaurants including Le Diplomate in Washington DC; The Continental, Parc, and Butcher & Singer in Philadelphia; and Little Dom’s in LA. The consistent professional acclaim and commercial success of these properties has earned loyal collaborations with key industry figures, such as Andre Balazs, and restauranteurs Warner Ebbink and Stephen Starr.
Rather than following a set aesthetic, SHD’s approach is governed by context and concept. Diverse factors such as building location, architectural history, or a restaurant’s menu can all inform the resulting design. The through-line connecting each project is a devoted attention to how space is experienced.