LOS ANGELES - The former studio of furniture design legends Charles and Ray Eames in Venice, CA, was purchased last week by DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners LLC (DLJ RECP.

The iconic husband and wife design team are best known for inventing the Eames chair trademarked by Herman Miller Inc. Their creative and sometimes complex relationship is examined in a new documentary recently released on DVD: Eames: The Architect and the Painter. (View trailer.)

While the Eames got their start in New York City, their wealth and fame led them to Venice, CA. The 14,275-square-foot office building at 901 Abbot Kinney Boulevard that served as their studio features open floor plates the original brick walls and 20-foot ceilings.

"Despite being one of the creative capitals of the world, Los Angeles suffers from a shortage of vintage properties such as 901 Abbot Kinney that cater to creative office tenants," said Jay Glaubach, a director in DLJ RECP's Los Angeles office.  "We believe the property offers unique, design-oriented space for creative professionals such as design firms and media and technology businesses. Google's recent relocation to the Venice sub market underscores the area's appeal to companies seeking to attract high-quality creative professionals."    

DLJ RECP's purchase of the Eames' studio comes less than a year after it purchased the historic Taft office building at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. The company is investing $15 million in renovations to retrofit the 1923 building's office suites.