From an iconic ceramics brand to artisans who make stylish seating to a small-batch, boutique paint brand, these makers create the art that details the most stunning homes in the West. Take a look at the full list of winners here, and view the 2025 Sunset Western Home & Design Directory here.
Croft House: Best Made-in-L.A. Seating
Photo by Carley Rudd
Founded in 2010, Croft House aims to encompass the sophisticated, relaxed feel of the California lifestyle through its handmade furniture: All timeless pieces focus on function and quality. Of particular note are Croft’s made-to-order sofas and chairs, which are crafted in Los Angeles and built to last.
Thomas Hayes Studio: Best “Everybody Wants One” Kitchen Seating
Photo by Hugo Landa Garcia
Thomas Hayes is the master of luxe, livable seating. His always striking and incredibly comfortable dining chairs and barstools are mainstays of top interior designers. Shearling-upholstered, supple vegetable-tanned leather-strapped creations combine bold international and midcentury lines with casual California comfort, and transform dining at home into a dramatic everyday event.
Una Malan: Best Artful Accessories
Photo by Douglas Friedman
Born in London and based in California, Una Malan has applied her discerning eye to the home accessories world and curated a collection of artisan-made lighting, textiles, and decorative objects that celebrate high-level craftsmanship. With showrooms in San Francisco and L.A., Malan is particularly skilled at finding elegant, sculptural lighting, like the Cameron Design House custom chandelier above.
Heath Ceramics: Lifetime Achievement Award
Photo by Nicole Franzen
Heath has been the beating heart of West Coast craftsmanship since its inception in 1948, using locally sourced clay and an efficient firing technique decades before it became a movement. With three dedicated stores in the Bay Area and one in Los Angeles, and its ever popular discounted “seconds,” the California brand is still the leader when it comes to chic, simple, ageless tableware and dinnerware that’s built to last a lifetime.
Portola Paints: Best Fine Finishes
Courtesy of Portola Paints
Blended in small batches in Los Angeles with eco-friendly materials, Portola has been a designer favorite for more than 25 years. Its limewashes in particular, available in dozens of earthy shades, lend any room instant depth and character with matte, almost chalky, finishes and characteristic imperfect brushstrokes.
Pratt & Larson: Best Color-Forward Tile
Photo courtesy of Pratt + Larson
Founded in 1982 by a husband-and-wife team, Pratt & Larson tiles are made to order and bisque-fired in kilns in the brand’s three-story Portland factory and are a beloved Pacific Northwest heritage brand. Anyone who’s spent time at the quaint PDX Airport might be familiar with its floral tile mosaics (above).
