About Us
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Erler Design provides complete coordination of all aspects of design to
ensure that the resulting home is harmonious and consistent. This
includes the landscape, home design, exterior trim,
interior trim and furnishings. Integrated design management is what
separates truly beautiful homes from merely expensive homes. For
example, the Gamble House, which is widely regarded as one of the finest
Arts & Crafts homes in America, was designed by the Greene brothers in
1908 with a singular aesthetic vision. This approach avoids dissonant
designs that are all too common in homes today. |
James Erler | From Engineering to Arts & Crafts
Mr. Erler has had a lifelong interest in the Arts and Crafts movement
and Greene and Greene in particular. He grew up in a period Arts and
Crafts home outside of Los Angeles, not far from several Greene and
Greene homes, including the Gamble House. His other interests include
piano performance and composition, classical music, science and
engineering. After earning undergraduate degrees in physics and
chemistry, and a graduate degree in optical engineering, he spent 20
years managing the development of advanced optical and electronic
systems. However, the need for creative expression brought him back to
Arts and Crafts homes and their design. In the 1990s he became actively
involved in the restoration of older homes and, more recently, the
design and construction of Arts and Crafts inspired homes.
Building Loblolly House
Mr. Erler managed the design and was also the general contractor for
Loblolly House,
a Greene and Greene inspired home. With the help of a art historian, who
is also the interior designer for the house, Mr. Erler designed the
exterior and interior trim, some furnishings and lighting, as well as
elements of the hardscape. An architect assisted with the layout the
house, exterior elevations and engineering. A landscape architect
provided plans for water management, bedding areas, paths and patios.
Throughout construction, local craftsmen studied the work of the Greene
brothers, enabling them to contribute to the design process.
Beyond Greene and Greene
After extensive study of the Greenes, and building Loblolly House, Mr.
Erler developed a deep understanding of how to design and build
structural and decorative elements to the Greene and Greene
aesthetic. Erler Design applies the same approach to the work of other period architects, while ensuring that adaptations for modern lifestyles and
construction standards remain consistent with the Arts & Crafts tradition. Our
objective is to create homes that period architects would
recognize and embrace as modern adaptations of their work.
Erler Design Partners
The specialized skills and talents of licensed professionals, interior designers and artisans are essential to the design and construction of an art-inspired home. Independent partners of Erler Design support our vision for creating an artful, harmonious homes. While some of our partners work nationally, others cover specific regions. Our partners include: licensed architects and engineers, interior designers, custom millwork shops, stained glass artisans, woodworkers and custom furniture makers.
Interested in becoming an independent partner of Erler Design? If so, please contact us.
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