RICK CARUSO—The Ocean View

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Occupant: Rick Caruso

Title: Founder and president

Company: Caruso Affiliated Holdings

Designer: Diane Johnson

Style: Classical

Rick Caruso, developer of upscale shopping centers, has a Santa Monica office with a view that stretches to Catalina Island and beyond. But his desk faces away from that seascape.

It’s not that he doesn’t love it “I have one of the greatest views in the world,” he says contentedly it’s that he loves the view too much. If he faced it all the time, he wouldn’t get any work done. Instead, he uses a swivel chair when he is on the phone and has two sets of binoculars in case he needs to get a closer look.

He also employs another technique when the view becomes too tempting.

“I take a walk almost every day to clear my thoughts,” he said.

While the view is the main attraction of his office on the 14th floor of 100 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica it is framed with three sets of windows the d & #233;cor is just as important to him. He describes his office design as “classical,” meaning antiques mixed with newer traditional pieces in a somewhat minimalist style.

He had two goals in mind when he hired Diane Johnson, an independent interior designer in Newport Beach who primarily works on private residences and had previously designed Caruso’s home. “I didn’t want anything to obstruct the views,” Caruso said. “And since I spend most of my time here, I wanted it to feel like home.”

The overall scheme is a sort of beige on beige, with dark wood and splashes of color from the area rugs, which cover sections of the mahogany wood floors. The office is decidedly traditional, but has some modernist touches. The drop ceiling has been removed to reveal the concrete bones of the building.

Johnson has emphasized the office’s homey feel with built-in furnishings like a bookcase and a TV cabinet, which give the look of stable longevity rather than the usual movable office units.

Caruso, who says he is a traditional guy, favors antiques for their warm feel the antique desk is a French working table, and an old credenza has been refinished and topped with marble. Caruso also has plenty of reminders of home in his office, such as family photographs.

“Around here, we call it cozy,” Caruso said of the d & #233;cor.

It’s important for Caruso that his employees enjoy interesting workspaces as well. He points out that most of his workers also have views, and he urges them to take advantage of the company’s beachfront setting.

“I encourage the people who work for me, since we are on the beach, to take a walk also,” he said.

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