Entertaining powerhouse Fran Berger cultivates the extraordinary with a signature sophisticated style that makes every occasion special. Fran first earned her expert status as a highly regarded restaurateur at the helm of the landmark The Farm of Beverly Hills for more than two decades. Her innate passion for entertaining and effortless elegance as the consummate host of an ever-widening circle of celebrities, friends and family, made her a beloved tastemaker within her community and raised her Beverly Hills restaurant and brand to national recognition. Deep in her second act, Fran has evolved her iconic experience into a flourishing personal brand as an entrepreneur, luxury lifestyle designer and consultant, author, e-shop owner, influencer and TV personality. Fran’s coffee table book The Catalogue VOL. 01 features a selection of beautiful objects from her celebrated career and advice on making home entertaining more memorable and infinitely pleasurable. A bespoke service offers clients direct access to Fran’s coveted expertise on all facets of home design and styling, personal shopping, object curation and elevated lifestyle experiences in close collaboration with interior designers and industry-leading lifestyle brands. Take a peek at Fran’s new coffee table book while learning more about Fran in today’s Maker Monday.
E.R. Butler by Ted Meuhling: Biedermeier, Candlesticks; GioBagnara: Bellini, Tray
Andrew Joseph: What inspired you to become a designer?
Fran Berger: Creating extraordinary experiences for guests was always at the heart of my career as a restaurateur. I became a designer to share my passion for entertaining and encourage people to bring intentional, authentic, and beauty-filled moments into their everyday lives.
AJ: Can you describe your design philosophy in three words?
FB: Elevate everyday living….
AJ: What is the most important element in a successful interior design?
FB: The convergence of feeling, form and function. Whether I shop for a personal client or on behalf of an interior designer I am obsessed with seeking distinctive designs that will make a home exceptionally inviting and functional and create transformative, feel-good experiences. A client’s absolute affinity for every object that touches their lives is a great measure of success.
AJ: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a designer?
FB: Listen to your client. Understanding their day-to-day needs, personal lifestyle choices and tastes is critical to successfully enhancing their lives through design and bringing their idea of a dream home to fruition.
Richard Ginori: Oriente Italiano; GEARYS Beverly Hills
AJ: What is your favorite place to find inspiration?
FB: My travels! There are so many inspiring surprises to uncover just about everywhere, from hidden second-hand shops, the abundance of colors on a city street, the assortment of tableware at a restaurant – everything sparks a thought. I am constantly taking photos of things that catch my eye.
AJ: What is your favorite aspect of your job?
FB: The shopping and curation of objects that will artfully elevate the living experience for my clients. I love the entire process of discovering and selecting designs that absolutely wow the client at first sight and every single time they use them.
AJ: How do you approach designing for different types of clients?
FB: I ask a lot of questions to truly connect with the way clients live beyond the basics. How do you like to spend time with your family? How do you entertain? What is your morning routine? What is an ideal Saturday evening at home? Taking great notes on a client’s overarching lifestyle allows me to articulate the design to specific preferences.
Buccellati: Tahiti; GEARYS Beverly Hills
AJ: How do you balance functionality and aesthetics in your designs?
FB: The balance of functionality and aesthetics is my north star for everything I design and do! I believe there is sophistication in simplicity. When something is well-considered, it doesn’t need a lot of bells and whistles. I designed my artisanal crystal glassware collection to be both striking to the eye with elegant silhouettes, and light to the touch in the hand and on the lip in order to create a full-sensory drink experience. Beauty truly resounds from the thoughtful coming together of form and function.
AJ: What is your favorite type of space to design?
FB: Anywhere you can entertain. I’m all about leveling up the experiences we have in spaces. From a morning ritual cup of coffee and crossword in bed to an al fresco springtime brunch on a backyard patio, it is the creation of heartwarming at-home experiences that result in the most special of environments.
AJ: Can you tell us about a project where you had to incorporate a client’s personal collection into the design?
FB: This happens all the time in what I do. Unless you’re setting up a brand-new home, there will be sets of wine glasses and cutlery from wedding registries, inherited China and crystal from grandparents, or personal collections of just about anything that don’t necessarily want to be tossed or forgotten. There are many creative ways to incorporate special elements – including selecting a few key pieces of China and merging with other designs or using objects as decorative pieces rather than for utility – that honor the personal effects that you love without sending them out to pasture.
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