Name: Russell Brown // Poke Acupuncture
Location: Los Angeles, CA
The last time we visited Russell's office at Poke Acupuncture, he was at his old location in West Hollywood. Just in the past couple months, he's moved to an actual storefront and brought his DIY talent to this incredibly curated new office space. Succulents, fine art, books and hand crafted furniture are just some of the truly awesome elements of this acupuncture office.
Russell is by far one of the most crafty people I know. His love of plants and handmade craftsmanship extends to all corners of his office. He's always looking for new solutions in designing his space and always has new creative ways to display his plants and succulents.
I knew that when we moved from his previous location in West Hollywood, which was a basement office- and into his new storefront- that this would be a very cool transition! " I wanted to move to a store front because I want to show people that Acupuncture can be designed and fun and not just hidden, creepy and in a skeevy strip mall."
Regardless of his location, he still maintains that the most essential aspect of his office is to create a calming yet different space for his clients to enjoy. To bring out the warmth of the space, while staying true to himself, he veered away from anything "clinical" or "medical" like. Much like his personal home, Poke is filled with a ton of artwork, books and personality!
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My Style: Rough, vibrant, textured, tranquil, clubhouse-y..
The Inspiration For My Office: For a space to be therapeutic or healing, it doesn't need to be bland or muted: on the contrary, it should remind people to be alive. I find that patients--especially those who suffer from chronic conditions who have been to more than their share of medical offices--really need whimsy, color and art as part of the healing process and thats what I want to give them here.
Favorite Element In Your Space: The plant life. Having a storefront is a chance for me to live out my fantasy of someday running a nursery. My latest obsessive project is kokedama--the Japanese string gardens which hang in my storefront windows.
Biggest Challenge In Designing My Space:The entire space needed a lot of work, particularly the bathroom which was flooded and featured half of a decrepit shower like it was from the set of the movie Saw. It was unsettling enough that Phyllis, my dear friend and devoted office painter, feared that paying customers "should not have to go in there alone."
What Friends Say: They seem to really like the "No she is not wearing two scrunchies" needlepoint by Stephanie Tillman.
Area where there is room for improvement/future projects: There is a hidden office that will some day be a workshop but currently looks like the room where I store the bodies.
Proudest DIY: I have a few favorites: I have a few favorites: my pipe desk, whose table top is an old door I found on the street; the oddly-secure wall of books installation; and the antique-phonograph-turned-bathroom-sink. This space was also my first foray into staining concrete floors and yes, I did stain myself into a corner, despite my carefully thought-out attack plan.
Biggest Indulgence:Nothing means more to me than the serenity of my patients so I doubled down on insulating and paneling the wood treatment rooms. For all of the stimulation outside of the rooms, inside my patients can feel safe, anchored and quiet, and transported away from their real lives.
Best Advice: Not every project works out. And I am well aware that I can fall prey to an expired Etsy trend or hipster cliche. But nine times out of ten, I gotta do it anyway (i.e. Edison lightbulbs, Mason jars, succulent garden). There is no fun in deathly editing yourself. Design should be fun. If it makes my patients laugh or makes them curious or chases away a little bit of darkness, that's a pretty good "thank you" for trusting me with their care--which is really what this studio is about.
Dream Sources: I typically dream of food not furniture, but Galerie Half is two doors down and it makes me drool every time I pass by on my way to my daily afternoon cookie break.
Resources of Note:
FURNITURE
- • Most everything is from Flea Markets, Garage Sales and
• Antiques at the Barn, Lancaster, CA
• Stuff SF
• Estate Sale, Palm Springs, CA
ACCESSORIES
- • Most Photographs by John Arsenault, ClampArt Gallery, NYC
• Other art by Allison Miller, Ali Gallagher, Eriq Madsen, Roman Udalov, and me
• Plants by Holly Flora, Kit Kan at Branch of Life, and me
LIGHTING
- • Mine
• Sub(Urban) Home
• Warehouse LA
• Hemmingway and Pickett
POKE ACUPUNCTURE is located at 6917 Melrose Ave Los Angeles CA 90038
Thanks, Russell!
Images: Bethany Nauert
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.
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OMG...deep breath...where do I start?!
First let me say I'd jump on a chance to have anyone with this much heart and passion offer me an acupuncture treatment. Your space fills and restores the body and soul. I'd arrive an hour early to take it all in...each time. Somany wonderful elements had me smiling and relaxing.
I love the many succulents, so many in one space. It fills me with a sense of complete nourishment...I've always loved the odds of their survival in their native harsh environments, based on their ability to store water and nutrients.
It doesn't feel like you've filled the space just because you can or had an urgency to do so...more, it feels like a playful use of space with just enough room to include all the elements that make you, and those who enter, happy.
I'll have to go back to this one again and again.
dear lord... that is one gorgeous hunk o' man!
yeahhhhh... i totally agree with you @bennemans!
Gorgeous office as well!!
Say what everyone is thinking Bennemans.
lovely space..interesting yet calm...and he's easy on the eyes.
Whoa. I have to pick myself up off the floor.
I've seen a lot of massage therapy establishments and other places designed for healing vibes, and they do tend to overplay the "soothing" note, frequently with a nod to some vaguely oriental decor. At first, I thought this guy's style would wind up being too busy and distracting, but I learned from his comment about reminding people to be alive. He didn't really mention the message I get from this decor: It seems to say "I dig deep into old traditions," which, for an acupuncturist, is much better than a look that just says "Relax." The downside is that it's going to be really hard to make this place look as clean as I want a medical venue to be.
The abundance of objects and the mass of detail probably tempt clients to want to dawdle more than they need to, but if he's staffed so that they can wander around while he's with another client, good for him and them.
There is nothing that I don't like here ... oh wait, I don't like that the "where I store the bodies" room was not shown. ;-)
I really appreciate Russell's thoughts about medical offices needing more spice and colour instead the universal "blah" design that is so prominent everywhere. Although I have to say if I was coming for treatment to his place I would have to arrive an hour early just to take it all in.
I also like that the treatment room or rooms have more insulation .... personally, I have a hard time relaxing (I wish I was one of those who fall asleep during a massage) and hearing everything what's going on outside of the room doesn't help.
I tried accupuncture and although it did nothing for me I would definitely give it another try at his place.
Okay, and yes, I'm a total believer in acupuncture. I've had many years (off and on) of treatment. It has taken care everything from reducing/eliminating scar tissue to helping me eliminate back pain after two years of numerous other types treatment to mending my broken spirit and then some.
Yes, if I lived in LA I'd be a regular.
This guy's energy is wonderful.
(Psst...I've never seen tattoos I've liked. Then you and your crows appeared. Big like.)
It's hard to do a lot of aesthetic layering without looking too try, but this space is very successful. Well done. It's got a kind of old, apothecary vibe to it, which is perfect.
Also, um, are you single? :)
How effective can acupuncture be if studies have shown that it doesn't matter WHERE you place the needles for the patient to feel "relieved"?
"It does not make any difference where you put the needles or whether you use needles at all. Touching the skin with toothpicks works just as well. The crucial factor seems to be whether patients believe they are getting true acupuncture. It is becoming increasingly clear that the surrounding ritual, the beliefs of patient and practitioner, and the nonspecific effects of treatment are likely responsible for any reported benefits."
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/acupuncture-revisited/
On to look at the furniture and tattoos ("surrounding ritual")...
I love this. It is so layered and yet so peaceful. Agree, I'd have to get there early to take everythign in. And, I'd probably want to hang out and chill after a treatment there as well.
I was just watching a show on television that talked about the healing power of music during chemo treatments. It got me wondering why more hospitals/treatment centers/doctor's offices don't incorporate music, art, and soothing decor into their spaces? Wouldn't patients feel less anxiety about their visit if they were going to a location that had efforts to heal not only their body but also their soul? Kuddos to Russell. It looks like he made that connection. I've never had an acupuncture treatment, but if I had a place like this to go to, I would certainly give it a go!
I may have to fly to LA for my next acupuncture session. Amazing, and I would really like to know the name of the green paint.
Jaw drop.
Well, that's one opinion...@architecturalculturalreference May you never have to endure years of endless pain on the way to trying the usual last resort, acupuncture. Science doesn't quite deliver all the time.
No, in fact, yours is one opinion. :) Thanks for the "architectural"!
i want to go to there. (for many reasons!)
What a unique and lovely space! I love the plants, the art, those shelves, all of it! Great job.
After I had a major hot flash staring at Russell (crafty AND handsome? Whew...) I thoroughly enjoyed the pictures of the shop. I really like the combination of the industrial (the desk and book shelves made with pipes) and the natural (the little succulent gardens and flowers). I love the little collections of things, such as plates, plants, photographs all arranged together into beautiful little vignettes. Though I've never had accupuncture, just looking at this lovely space made me feel relaxed. I'm definitely going to learn how to make those moss hanging plants for my patio! Thank you Russell for sharing your shop and your design savvy. I'm sure you're a good sport over all the comments about YOU as well. ;-)
I love the book wall! How did you do that??
Everything else too. I love the plants especially.
AT doesn't feature the abodes of sexy crafty men with bird tattoos often enough. Let's have more of this!
Love this space. Love. Is it to New Agey to say it has great vibes? Probably. Just the same...it's hard to pin point a single element. Looks like the cumulative effort of years of thoughtful selections. Considerate. Comfortable.
The one time I got acupuncture the office was inside a former KFC hut from a guy who smelled like burning hair. Maybe now I will have to give it a second chance. If only I lived in LA. Sigh.
Well Russell, you did it again. And you've only hit your mid-point. Astounded and breathless at the scope of your design aesthetic and you should definitely do a class on japanese gardening. Beautiful, Bountiful, Brilliant!!
When it's good - yes folks, it's THIS GOOD!
Oh yeah.
This is truly a lovely office. It's very whimsical and nicely curated. And yes, Russell is indeed very attractive with an awesome tattoo.
For JUSTANOTHERCULTURALREFERENCE--
I've never had acupuncture, nor do I know any acupuncturists, but I am a biologist, and there was an interesting publication in a highly respected journal (Nature Neuroscience) not too long ago showing that acupuncture can result in the local release of adenosine, which inhibits pain (i.e., it's anti-nociceptive). Here's the abstract for that paper:
"Acupuncture is an invasive procedure commonly used to relieve pain. Acupuncture is practiced worldwide, despite difficulties in reconciling its principles with evidence-based medicine. We found that adenosine, a neuromodulator with anti-nociceptive properties, was released during acupuncture in mice and that its anti-nociceptive actions required adenosine A1 receptor expression. Direct injection of an adenosine A1 receptor agonist replicated the analgesic effect of acupuncture. Inhibition of enzymes involved in adenosine degradation potentiated the acupuncture-elicited increase in adenosine, as well as its anti-nociceptive effect. These observations indicate that adenosine mediates the effects of acupuncture and that interfering with adenosine metabolism may prolong the clinical benefit of acupuncture."
Other groups have also made similar findings, which is how I happened to hear about this work (I was at some academic talks on the neurobiology of pain).
That said, this is a FANTASTIC office!
This office is ridiculously amazing...I might just move in and sleep under the pipe shelves :)
Too much eye candy in this post. I don't know whether to look at the man or the space. I guess I'll oogle both.
Mamma mia!
Cookies! My first word, my first food (I’d eat voluntarily), the word I named everything I loved, and now eat each and every afternoon. I once saw a news story about a 103 year old hospital volunteer candy striper and her secret to long life, cookies every day!
Sorry, I go off the deep end when cookies are mention, I do love the office design as well!!
Russel is hot! just sayin.
I felt already puzzled when I read the comment by JUSTANOTHERCULTURALREF....
This is a design website, not a medical opinion survey. Then I felt even more puzzled when I read the comment right above mine: what book abuse? The arrangement of the books is so decorative and creative. I want to copy it along with all the other creative elements of this office space.
Need How To on those string gardens please!
Lovely tour, but I'd be scared to be in a home in CA with that many books piled up next to the front door- I hope there's *lots* of (low) windows! :/
After clicking back to Russell's house tour, I remember it well. Clearly Russell has awesome style and taste. Plus, he's gorgeous and can probably heal some ailments. Somebody needs to snatch him up because he's a catch!
this is amazing!! can i ask where you got that awesome wire raven sculpture?