Most fabrication shops do one thing well. Calico does two.
One side of us is rooted in the scenic arts — the kind of hand-applied decorative work that comes from decades on film and television sets, where the standard is "make it look real from two feet away, under camera, on the first take." The other side is rooted in industrial design and CNC technology — precision-engineered components and assemblies where tolerances are measured in thousandths and drawings are production law.
What makes this unusual is that both disciplines share a shop floor and a project management process. When a project calls for a gilded glass storefront sign mounted on a custom-milled walnut surround, it doesn't get split across two vendors with two timelines. It gets built in one place, by people who talk to each other every day.
Color and material design, scenic fabrication, and art direction — developed across Walt Disney Imagineering, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and major productions for HBO, Warner Bros., and Apple TV+. Formal graphic design and typography training that brings typographic precision to hand-lettered signage and branded environments. The skill set that comes from building immersive environments at theme park and studio scale, now applied to commercial and residential projects.
Industrial design, CNC fabrication, and technical design leadership — 15+ years across entertainment, hospitality, and architectural environments. The combination of design thinking, production management, and hands-on making that lets us anticipate problems before they reach the shop floor.
The projects we're proudest of are the ones where everybody contributes. A hospitality entry with hand-lettered gold leaf on custom millwork. A retail environment where scenic-aged feature walls frame precision-built display fixtures. A private residence where every surface — painted, gilded, milled, and finished — was coordinated under one roof.
Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire
Calico is named after a silver mining ghost town two hours east of LA, out past the mountains where the Mojave opens up. That's where the ethos comes from — figure it out yourself, build it with what you've got, don't wait for permission.
The studio started in 2017 when the gap between what designers needed built and what most shops were willing to take on became too obvious to ignore. Too many minimum order requirements. Too many shops that wouldn't touch a one-off. Too many default answers of "we can't do that."
We work with interior designers and architects specifying custom elements for hospitality and retail projects. We work with brand teams translating identity systems into physical environments. We work with residential clients and audiophiles who care about craft at a level most manufacturers won't accommodate. Every project is different, but the through-line is the same: someone needs something built that doesn't exist yet, built well, and delivered on time.
East Los Angeles since 2017.
We interpret design intent, not just dimensions. If something in your drawings won't work in the field, we'll flag it before it reaches the shop floor — not after it's built.
Decorative finishes and precision fabrication under one roof means you're not coordinating between a painter, a millwork shop, and a sign vendor. One scope, one schedule, one person who picks up the phone.
We price honestly upfront and communicate proactively when scope shifts. If a revision affects budget or timeline, you'll hear about it before it becomes a problem — not on the invoice.
No cheap finishes, no single-use mindset, no corners cut on materials. We've operated this way since 2017 — it's a shop standard, not a line item.
Tell us about it. We'll review your scope, provide a realistic timeline, and get back to you, typically within 48 hours.
CONTACT USCONTACT US