The iconic Eames House in Pacific Palisades, California, has reopened to the public after being closed for six months due to damage from devastating wildfires that swept through the area earlier this year. The architectural masterpiece, designed by Charles and Ray Eames in the mid-1940s, offers enduring lessons in interior design through their innovative "Select and Arrange" philosophy that continues to inspire homeowners and designers today.
The Case Study House No. 8, as it was originally known, was part of a groundbreaking project initiated by John Entenza, editor of Arts & Architecture magazine, who championed modern residential concepts. Built on a wooded clifftop site overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Eames designed their living study as two rectangular, two-story flat-roofed buildings connected by a small courtyard. One structure served as their residence, while the other functioned as their workspace, both constructed using standardized industrial components.
The house's distinctive facade featuring numerous windows and colorful panels quickly gained international recognition, leading to its designation as a historic landmark in 2006, long after both designers had passed away. Since then, the couple's descendants have maintained the property through the Eames Foundation. When catastrophic wildfires raged through Pacific Palisades for nearly a month in January, destroying over 16,000 buildings including architectural icons by Richard Neutra and Ray Kappe, the Eames House faced serious threat.
Ironically, the house survived because many of the fast-burning eucalyptus trees that Ray and Charles had originally cherished as part of their design's integration with nature had been removed the previous year. While the structure itself escaped destruction, smoke damage was significant enough to necessitate a six-month closure for restoration and cleaning before it could safely welcome visitors again.
The reopening provides an opportunity to examine the Eames' enduring approach to interior design, which they conceptualized as a form of collage. Their "Select and Arrange" principle, while seemingly simple, represented a sophisticated understanding of spatial composition that treated furnishing as an art form. The couple worked not with paper cutouts like traditional collage artists, but with forms, colors, and proportions to create harmonious living spaces.
This collage approach is immediately evident in the house's living room, where objects and furniture are layered and overlapped to create visual connections. From a bird's-eye view, the large carpet itself appears as a collage, topped with a smaller rug. Behind it sits a sofa adorned with a large animal hide (which contemporary designers might replace with faux alternatives), while a marble slab serves as a base for candlesticks and vases. Side tables are stacked with books, and cushions rest casually on wooden chairs.
Despite the abundance of objects and what might be considered clutter, the room never appears overwhelming due to the collage-like arrangement. Plants grouped together provide structure to the large space, while the overall composition maintains the relaxed, informal lifestyle the Eames embraced. This approach reflects Ray Eames' background in fashion and art studies, as she never fully abandoned her artistic thinking, evident in how the couple played with layers, shapes, colors, and proportions throughout their home.
The "Select and Arrange" methodology functions similarly to layering in fashion, where the key rule allows furniture and objects to overlap and build connections with one another. This technique creates depth and visual interest while maintaining coherence throughout the space. The Eames demonstrated that interior design is an accessible art form that anyone can master by thinking of their living spaces as evolving collages.
Their assemblage was continuously repositioned and recombined over the years, with new pieces constantly added while maintaining a distinctly personal expression of Charles and Ray Eames' design philosophy. This dynamic approach to living spaces challenged the static nature of traditional interior design, showing that homes could be creative, ever-changing expressions of their inhabitants' personalities and interests.
The Eames House stands as more than just an architectural landmark; it represents a revolutionary approach to domestic design that emphasized creativity, personal expression, and the thoughtful curation of objects and spaces. As the house welcomes visitors once again, it continues to offer valuable lessons in creating meaningful, beautiful living environments through the simple yet profound practice of thoughtful selection and arrangement.
