ABOUT JOHNNY MOALLEMPOUR
MJM Interior Design is an exceptional choice when it comes to creating beautiful spaces. Led by Mehran Jean-Michelle (Johnny) Moallempour with over 25 years of experience, MJM is a full-service, award-winning team of team of talented, dedicated interior designers based in San Francisco, with residential and commercial projects around the country.
Founder and principal designer Johnny Moallempour grew up overseas and in Southern California. He established MJM Interior Design in San Francisco more than two decades ago to become a highly sought-after interior designer.
Johnny imbues his team’s design aesthetic with a global perspective from his extensive travels. He draws upon a vast knowledge of superior products and design principles from across the country and around the world. Johnny has also developed a large network of industry colleagues including contractors, artists, and vendors. This enables MJM Interior Design clients to take advantage of Johnny’s access to special products and savings, built on many years of trust and esteem.
MJM Interior Design’s work has been featured regularly in leading interior design publications and the recipient of numerous awards. He has taken part in many designer showcase houses and completed projects for highly respected development companies.
HONOLULU HAWAII PROJECT
The breathtaking views from the property, overlooking the ocean and the majestic mountains of Honolulu, serve as a captivating backdrop for this remarkable project. The MJM Interior Design team has masterfully crafted interior design and architecture to harmonize with the tropical landscape, seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor spaces to maximize the beauty of the surroundings.
Johnny Moallempour's meticulous attention to detail in crafting the design of the cabinetry throughout this property, alongside careful selections of materials such as lighting, stone slabs and tiles, wall coverings, and individual furniture pieces that seamlessly complement both the art and architecture, ensures a remarkable sense of cohesion and balance throughout the home. From sleek modern pieces to rustic accents, every furnishing is thoughtfully curated and custom-designed to elevate the overall design aesthetic and foster a harmonious relationship between form and function.
This project stands as a prime example of the profound impact of thoughtful design in enhancing the living experience and creating spaces that not only inspire but also resonate deeply on a personal level. By embracing the inherent beauty of the surrounding landscape, honoring the client's art collection, and meticulously curating every detail with unwavering care, Johnny Moallempour and his design team have achieved the creation of a truly harmonious and immersive environment for our clients to cherish and enjoy for many years to come.
DESIGN ELEMENTS
This project seamlessly integrates artwork and other design elements that pay homage to both the property’s storied history and the client’s cultural heritage.
Celebrity Connection: The project’s location, nestled in one of the most beautiful areas of Honolulu and once belonging to beloved Hollywood celebrity Jim Nabors, adds a layer of intrigue and nostalgia. Many other celebrities were guests at Jim’s house throughout the years, including his best friend Carol Burnett. The famous artist John Young painted a mural in one of the guest rooms as a gift to Jim. Johnny incorporated the mural wall into a prominent space in the new home. By salvaging the mural and other artworks from the Jim Nabors home, the design team honors the property’s rich history and pays homage to the memories created within its walls.
Artistic Legacy: The incorporation of artwork by renowned Chinese artists adds depth and cultural significance to the design. By selecting pieces that have graced international museums and galleries, the project celebrates the global influence of Chinese art while also reflecting the client’s heritage and personal tastes.
Organic and Tropical Aesthetics: The interior design and selection of furniture crafted by various artists evoke the organic and tropical beauty of the surrounding landscape. By seamlessly blending natural materials, textures, and colors, the design captures the essence of the Hawaiian paradise, creating a harmonious connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Cultural Integration: The design elements not only complement the architecture and landscape but also reflect the client’s Chinese heritage. Through careful curation and placement of artwork, furnishings, and decorative accents, the design team created a space that feels both rooted in tradition and effortlessly contemporary.
Holistic Approach: By considering the property’s history, location, and the client’s cultural background, the project achieves a holistic and cohesive design that transcends mere aesthetics. It becomes a true reflection of the client’s identity, values, and connection to the land, enriching the living experience and imbuing the space with a sense of soulful authenticity. The meticulous incorporation of artwork and other design elements in this project elevates it from mere renovation to a deeply meaningful and culturally resonant transformation. It not only honors the property’s past but also celebrates the clients’ heritage while creating a stunningly beautiful and harmonious living environment.
FEATURED ARTWORK
One of the standout features of this project is the client’s art collection, which plays a pivotal role in enhancing the overall experience. The vibrant colors, rich textures, and diverse materials used in creating the art pieces add depth and character to the space, infusing it with warmth and personality. By strategically incorporating the artwork into the design scheme, the project achieves a dynamic visual appeal that captivates the senses and sparks conversation.
CYANO-COLLAGE 184
By artist Wu Chi-Tsung, this piece is a combination of cyanotype, Xuan paper, acrylic and acrylic gel mounted on aluminum board. The round format of the metal panel is called TONDO. The idea for this panel has come from the artist’s exposure to Chinese Gardens full moon shape of framed scenery through the walls into the gardens. According to the artist, this piece can be interpreted as mountain and water/sea waves. The diameter is 150 cm.
OUR PLACE, “THROUGH THE FOG, INTO THE MOONLIGHT”
By artist Crystal Liu, this piece is gouache, watercolor, ink and collage on paper. Triptych, 111.76 x 76.2 cm each; The overall size is 111.76 x 228.6 cm.
MIXED MEDIA ON CANVAS
By Chinese modern artist Fong Chung-Ray, this piece is mixed media on canvas and hand painted. This art piece is based on Zen philosophy, with a famous passage from the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. The overall size is 122 x 122 cm.
Inscription translation:
菩提本無樹 Originally Bodhi has no tree,
明鏡亦非台 The bright mirror has no stand.
本來無一物 Originally there is not a single thing:
何處惹塵埃 Where can dust alight?
BETWEEN EAST AND EAST
By artist Lam Tung Pang, this piece is a charcoal image transfer and acrylic on wood. It was commissioned specifically for this Hawaii project. The San Francisco Asian Art Museum has a larger presentation of this piece on exhibit named “Past Continuous Tense.”
PANGEA SCONCES
By artist Barlas Baylar, these great room bronze art wall sconces are beautifully designed exclusively for this project. They are crafted of slid polished bronze and illuminated by warm LED lights which complement the stone backdrop walls. These sconces are conceptualized from the Pangea supercontinent.
LE CIRQUE
By artist John Young, this piece is an oil painting mural on plaster. It was created exclusively for Jim Nabors for his guest bedroom overlooking the pool and the backyard. This piece was saved and is displayed in a place where it can be enjoyed everyday by everyone that visits this house.
SEIROCRINUS SUBANGULARIS FOSSIL
Species: Seirocrinus subangularis | Formation: Posidonia Shale | Location: Holzmaden, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany | Age: Lower Jurassic (approximately 180 million years old)
This stunning double plate of pyritized crinoids is from the Holzmaden Shale in Germany, which boasts some of the best-preserved fossils ever documented. This specimen is a testament to the beauty and intricacy of prehistoric life. The immaculate preservation and striking aesthetics make it a world class piece. These crinoids thrived in the warm Jurassic seas, which teemed with marine reptiles like ichthyosaurs, a variety of ammonites and many fish species. Although they resemble plants, crinoids are in fact filter-feeding invertebrates related to starfish and sea urchins. Interestingly, crinoids are considered living fossils - about 600 species inhabit today’s oceans, many of which have vibrant coloration. This exceptional piece from the best fossil dealer in Canada, Fossil Realm, who sourced his piece directly from Germany and the piece was shipped directly to Kulamanu from Germany.
LE CIRQUE, THE BALLERINA, UNTITLED
By artist John Young, Le Cirque is a framed original painting on canvas. The overall size 29” x 41”. The Ballerina is a framed original signed painting on canvas. The overall size is 22.5” x 14.5”. The third untitled piece is a framed painting on canvas. These pieces belonged to Jim Nabors personal collection.
HIGH LEVEL VENDORS
HOLLY HUNT: Dining area dining table, great room ceiling wallpaper, dining area ceiling wallpaper, master bedroom ceiling wallpaper, recreation room ceiling wallpaper
HARTMANN & FORBES: Great room wallpaper, dining area wallpaper, TV/piano lounge area wallpaper, primary woven grass center door panels
A.RUDIN: Great room sofa, TV/piano lounge area sectional, recreation room sectional, primary bedroom sofa
VAHEED TAHERI: Master bedroom rug, great room TV/piano area rug, great room center, living room rug
LUMA: Entry float console table
GREGORIOUS PINEO: Primary bedroom bedside table lamps
HILLIARD LAMPS: Recreation room wall sconces
BARLAS BAYLAR: Great room brass art wall sconces
AGRIPPA FURNITURE: Primary bedroom lounge chair
OCHRE: Main staircase chandelier, powder room light pendants
HERSH DESIGN: Primary bathroom chandelier
ANEES: Vienna dining chairs, kitchen counter stools, great room swivel chairs
ELAN ATELIER: Recreation room hallway console table
ELIO RAFFAELI: Vintage Murano glass sculpture piano area cabinet
MASSIMO MICHELUZZI: Exclusively available at MICUCCI, dining area top shelf Venetian sculpture pieces
FABIO MARIA MICUCCI: Glass sculpture piano area display cabinet
COUP DE TATE STUDIO: Dining area ceiling chandelier
MJ ATELIER: Powder room wall art, recreation room hallway wall art
STUDIO JOSEPH WATTS: Exterior bronze light fixtures
ANTOINE PROULX: Great room end table
AMORPH STUDIO: Console table in the wine lounge area, great room center cocktail table base
PERENNIALS: Fabric for the great room sofas, great room swivel chairs, fabric for the TV/piano area sectional, fabric for the kitchen counter stools, fabric for the Lanai teak furniture
SOUTHERLAND: Lanai teak sofa, lanai teak lounge chairs, lanai teak dining chairs
JEFFREY ALAN MARKS: Primary bedroom window treatment
ASSEMBLAGE ARTS: Primary bedroom wallpaper, primary hallway wallpaper
DONGHIA: Primary bedroom decorative pillows, primary closet bench cushion and decorative pillows
DEMURO DAS: Primary bedroom wallpaper, media console cabinet
DA VINCI MARBLE: Kitchen stone countertops and backsplash, bar area stone countertop, powder room stone countertop, primary bathroom stone countertop, pool and guest bathroom stone countertops
NEW RAVENNA: Pool bathroom mosaic wall tile, bunk bathroom mosaic wall tile
ARTISTIC TILE: Pool bathroom accent trim, bunk bathroom field tile, ADU bathroom tiles, study bathroom tiles
COUNTRY FLOORS: Recreation room stone floor tiles, all outdoor stone field tile, lanai stone floor tiles
SUBZERO: Kitchen refrigerator, pantry freezer, recreation room refrigerator/freezer, dining area wine refrigerator
WOLF: Main kitchen cooktop
MIELE: Main kitchen speed oven, wall oven, warming drawer, dishwashers
SHARP: Recreation room microwave drawer
DESIGN TEAM
Interior Design Firm/Contact: Johnny Moallempour, MJM Interior Design
Phone: (415) 269-6412
Address: 560 Miramar Avenue San Francisco, California 94112
Email: johnnym@mjminteriors.com
Website: www.mjminteriors.com
Project Role: Interior Design
Architecture Firm/Contact: Peter Vincent, Peter Vincent Architects
Phone: (808) 524-8255
Address: 55 Merchant Street #1430 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Email: peterv@pva.com
Website: www.pva.com
Project Role: Architect
Contractor/Builder/Contact: Gregory Design Build INC,
Phone: (808) 381-2929
Email: jhgiv@gdbhawaii.com
Project Role: Contractor
Landscape Architect/Contact: Rick Quinn at HHF Planners
Phone: (808) 451-3137
Email: rquinn@hhf.com
Project Role: Landscape Architect
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photography/Contact: Jose Manuel Alorda
Photography Date: December 2023
Phone: (415) 969-1200
Email: jose@josemanuelalorda.com
Website: www.josemanuelalorda.com
Project Role: Professional Photographer
MEDIA CONTACT
Lisa Davis
DAVIS GONTHIER
415.793.3334
lisa@davisgonthier.com
Instagram: @davisgonthier