Emma Vanhal’s career in decorative concrete started as an investment in a family friend’s business that was headed toward failure. She offered to buy the business, taking on all of the former business owner’s debt, confident she could build Studio Four Los Angeles into a viable business entity.
That was three years ago. Since then, Vanhal has dedicated herself to learning, step-by-step, everything about concrete that she can, so she can offer her clients individual pieces that feature smooth finishes and clean lines. Her products, which are both cotemporary and classic, include water features, planters, wall coverings, tiles, and custom designs.
While all of Vanhal’s products are concrete, she occasionally uses stainless steel accents, aluminum with tiles, and copper in some fountains.While Studio Four Los Angeles offers both interior and exterior concrete designs, Vanhal says, “It tends to be more exterior designs because our pre-cuts lend themselves to the garden. However, we do have clients who ask to have tiles put in their homes, and we do that, too.
Vanhal doesn’t cater to one particular type of client. Rather, she works with clients with a wide variety of needs, both large and small.
Studio Four Los Angeles serves Los Angeles and all of California. Vanhal also ships wherever her customers may be, whether across the country or overseas.
The typical lifespan of Vanhal’s products, while they can last for years, ultimately depends upon where the product is placed and how well the client takes care of the product. 
“As long as the product is taken care of and cleaned regularly, it can last for years and years,” Vanhal says.
Studio Four Los Angeles’s products are backed by a one-year guarantee against faulty workmanship and products. The guarantee does not include natural wear and tear.
Vanhal, who secures the majority of her business from the Internet and via word-of-mouth, has worked with clients all over the state and, indeed, the world. But, there is one project that stands out among the best during the company’s three-year history.
“We provided Saks Fifth Avenue with thousands of tiles,” Vanhal says. “That has probably been our best job so far.”
