A Visit With Tess And Zach: Partners In Life, Work, And Creative Exploration
How does a creative empire get built? One passion project at a time. Or that's been the case for Tess Tran and Zach Schau, an L.A.-based couple whose home has become a reflection of — and inspiration for — their multiple creative partnerships.
"We're a perfect complement," Tran said. "I'm definitely more creative and he's more business-minded, so together we're always talking about new ideas."
It started with candles, a hobby Tran had pursued since childhood and still made time for despite her high-powered day job as creative director for accessories powerhouse Chan Luu. Formulating her own scents and hand-pouring the candles at home, she gave them out as gifts to friends. But Schau, a serial entrepreneur ( he co-founded a successful bicycle business in 2010 ), saw the potential for something more and built a website for the brand — The Milo House. Today, they sell to stores all over the country.
1. Bright White Kitchen
The white-on-wood kitchen does double duty as the hub for food prep and candle-making.
2. Vintage Wedgewood Stove
Paul Anderson for Hunker
Even the stovetop is true to Tran's aesthetic, with pops of saturated color against a bright white backdrop.
3. Kitchen Confidence
Paul Anderson for Hunker
"When I'm in the kitchen, I'm happiest," Tran said, a skilled chef and avid hostess. The couple is known among friends for their convivial dinner parties.
4. Milo House Candle
Paul Anderson for Hunker
The Milo House candle business began as a hobby for Tran, who started developing her own scents and hand-pouring the candles at home to give to friends as gifts. The company still operates out of the couple's home.
5. Living Room
Paul Anderson for Hunker
Pale neutrals and white walls are offset by in the form of a cheery green coffee table, bohemian pillows, and other accessories and adornments.
6. Window Seat
Paul Anderson for Hunker
A serene, upholstered window seat gets a boost of color and texture from an array of pillows and provides an extra perch for visitors.
7. Shelf Life
Paul Anderson for Hunker
A bookcase tells the story of the couple's range of interests: fashion, photography, travel, and, of course, food.
8. Bedroom
Paul Anderson for Hunker
Light, bright, and airy, the bedroom keeps distractions to a minimum. "In our home, things are ideally very minimal," Schau shared. "To me, it seems like we have everything that we need and nothing more.
9. Fender Bender
Paul Anderson for Hunker
Schau, a musician ( when he's not launching new startups ), keeps upwards of 20 guitars in their home. The instruments, scattered throughout the space, double as design elements — and make for extra fun when company's over.
10. Bedroom View
Paul Anderson for Hunker
A large, uncurtained bay window off the bedroom affords unobstructed views of the hilly, historic neighborhood of Highland Park — and a cozy seating option for reading or practicing.
11. Work Station
Paul Anderson for Hunker
A busy corner shows signs of the creative energy that drives the couple and their many projects.
12. Fashion Inspiration
Paul Anderson for Hunker
In addition to the candles, the new bath linens venture, and a day job as creative director for Chan Luu, Tran also designs Cremona, a line of classic women's one-piece swimsuits.
13. Exterior of House
Paul Anderson for Hunker
The inky blue hue of the home's exterior serves as a serene backdrop for the surrounding greenery, blooms, and white trim.
14. The Family That Rides Together
Paul Anderson for Hunker
Tran and Schau reside in Highland Park, a historic neighborhood in northeast Los Angeles. In recent years, the region has grown in popularity, attracting creative residents as well as trendy businesses and development.
Their home in L.A.'s Highland Park neighborhood serves as headquarters for the business — and its aesthetic perfectly matches the clean, unfussy sensibility of the candles. "My style is very low-key," Tran said. "I'm all about good quality and a design that will last forever." A collection of textiles and gems from Tran's travels to Morocco, India, and Japan add warmth to the home's clean, modern lines— and drives her creativity at work and at home.
Paul Anderson for Hunker
My style is very low-key. I'm all about good quality and a design that will last forever. -Tran
The couple loves entertaining — a passion that, like their business, is driven by Tran's vision. Their popular dinner parties are a regular hit with friends. "Tess is an incredible chef," Schau shared. For him, he confides, the recipe for a great night is simple: "I'm a musician, and we have probably twenty guitars and a piano in the living room," he said. "That, coupled with good food and friends, is all it takes for me."
1. The Graces Towel in Stone
The Graces was founded on sustainably, and it's responsibly produced in a Turkish mill that places a high value on employee welfare. The towels are certified organic and of the highest quality.
2. Attention to Detail
Paul Anderson for Hunker
The Graces is a line of chic, high-quality, organic towels. The tag, shown here, appears to be designed with as much care as the linens themselves.
Not that it's all relaxation. "We decided it was time to switch gears," Schau said about his most recent venture: This summer, Schau launched The Graces, a line of luxury organic cotton towels, with a friend. Still, the new endeavor embodies the couple's shared preference for simple, beautiful design and high-quality product.
1. Until Next Time
As they embark on the next phase of their shared work and home lives, they make sure to return to the values and priorities that brought them together in the first place. "This has really just been a passion," Schau said, "Creating something cool that we'd like to build together, for each other."
Thanks Tess and Zach!