Back in 2005, LA furniture dealer marketing firm FordBrady set up shop inside former Kim Sing Theatre on North Figueroa–appropriate for co-founder Willard Ford, son of Harrison.  When his partner, John Brady, left the company this summer, Ford teamed up with childhood friend Andrea Ching, who, since their high school days in the Valley, had worked at such design emporiums as Arkitektura In Situ, Design Within Reach and LIMN Contract, all in San Francisco.

Their new partnership, Ford & Ching, now operates to the trade (and, twice a week, to the public) out of Ford’s original LA digs and a new Oakland warehouse.  In addition to a house brand, they specialize in representing emerging designers such as Seattle-based Semigood Design, LA’s own PAD Outdoor and –new this year–Skram, from Hillsborough, North Carolina.  “It’s a highly edited selection of products,” Ford says.  “Andrea has a great eye for more traditional stuff, and I have a somewhat demonstrated ability to find new designers.”  The result is an eclectic combination of shapes and sizes that complements the modern need for multifaceted design.   fordandching.com

posted on November 12th, 2009