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Hope to see you there!!

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My “best in show” ribbon went to the geometric cocktail table made of reclaimed wood pieces by Terry Hansen. I’m hoping to use this in our funky, meditation room at Maison Luxe Greystone Mansion Showcase Event. 

Came Sculpture playful metal pieces put a smile on every one’s face, captivating young and old.

A sucker for anything high glossed and nautical, I loved the combo by Neil Zeye.

Malen Pierson delighted with his life sized animals made of recycled iron.

The glazed pears by Ojima Ceramics were sublime.

Other worth mentioning were: Gabe Leonard’s spin on movie art, Iris Work’s large landscape photographs, Steve Keating’s photography and Veronica Schmitt  paintings. 

 Later that night we headed over to Robert Reynold’s studio for a birthday bash.  The beginnings of his latest body of work were on display - a Zen inspired boat.  Perhaps he’s feeling a bit free these days due to the move he and studio director Gemma are making to LA’s Old Building District.  They’ve scored an amazing studio on the roof with a birds eye view of the city from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean.   The bonus here for all you  art buyers is that the entire 5,000 square foot studio (in the LA  Arts District) is on SALE.  The studio at 821 Traction Ave. is open 9-8 throughout Memorial Day Weekend.

This one’s favorite and I’m trying to score it for a client, so hands off!

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  SFERRA’s TABLE SETTING

 In honor of  SFERRA’s 120th anniversary, ten top bloggers and a sprinkling of design elite sat down to a one of a kind luncheon,  table styled by team SFERRA- Hutton Wilkinson and placed in one of the many magical outdoor spaces of the Dawnridge Estate. 

 Brand Ambassador Ronda Carman

Being a spokesperson for Milgard Windows and a business owner, I am constantly faced with “designing” clever ways to market.  I hit the idea jackpot at Dawnridge.  Ronda nailed it.  

Step 1. LEAVE AN IMPRESSION- If you haven’t picked up a copy of Tony Duquette’s More is More, you should because words will never describe the decadence of the estate.  ( Better yet, get yourself invited… somehow. )   No one who attended the event will ever forget the experience that afternoon or the gracious hosts who invited us.

Tracy Porter and Hutton Wilkinson

Step 2. DON’T MARKET- INSTEAD INVITE and INSPIRE AS A BRAND AMBASSADOR- There was no tradtional marketing at the luncheon, not one piece of literature or signage- but the entire experience sang SFERRA- permanence, luxury, generational, fine, perfection.  The location, the setting and the guests left everyone in awe. SFERRA and Ronda treated us like honored guests instead of marketing targets. Being invited by a “brand ambassador” set the tone for a unique experience that would not be forgotten.   

Hutton Wilkinson and Lori Dennis

Step 3. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TIMING- Ronda coincided the event with the first annual Blogger’s Convention, on calendar for the following day.  Since the best of the best were already in town, she made an offer no design affectionado could refuse.   Bloggers blog about the things they do and see.  Ambassador Carman made sure they saw something worth blogging.  And let’s face it, when respected people say  positive (and unsolicited) things about your brand, it’s the most valuable advertising there is. 

Tobi Fairley and Kyle Knight

Step 4. INVITE THE RIGHT GUESTS- Suzzane Rheinstein, Jan Showers, Barclay Butera, Hutton Wilkinson, Anne Sage, Ronda Carman, Lori Dennis, Tobi Fairley, Clinton Smith,  Tracy Porter… the list went on and on.   I read Tobi Fairley’s blog religiously… and there she sat across from me -along with 9 other major leaguers. A mutual admiration society meeting is a good thing and makes for very happy guests.

Barclay Butera and Suzzane Rheinstein 

 Ronda Carman and Jan Showers

Step 6.  GIVE GOOD SWAG- Each guest left with a boldly colored, personally monogrammed set of SFERRA cocktail napkins.  Think about this.  SFERRA makes heirloom quality linens that can be passed through generations.  Each time these exquisite cocktail napkins are pulled out for decades, it becomes an opportunity to tell the story of Ambassador Carman’s luncheon for SFERRA’s 120th Anniversary at Dawnridge.

That’s a better way to brand.

SFERRA’s TABLE

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The atelier concept  is a new one for La Cienega  showrooms, as Barclay is more interested in bringing in his existing clients for a little “shop time”  and is a bit less concerned with retail sales.  (I’m not saying you can’t purchase his scrumptious furnishings at the shop, you can. It’s just an amuse bouche, instead of a smorgasbord.) 

“Often times with celebrities and moguls there is a demand for the utmost discretion and privacy.  These clients will now enjoy a very on-brand setting to meet and review projects.  We will have our material at our fingertips, access to internet, samplings of furniture all handy.  It’s the quintessential arrangement for both designer and client” said Butera. 

 With appointments already booked and a  staff of capable, design assistants to cater to one’s every need,  Barclay is sure to have yet another grandslam.

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Thanks just isn’t enough for something of this magnitude.  I need to design a spa pronto and get both Pam and the publisher, Jo Campbell-Fujii comped for a week of massages, facials and great food. Trust me, I’m working on it!

Speaking of Jo Campbell Fujii, I had the pleasure of meeting her at the cocktail and private preview she hosted for the Avenues Design Show House by Billy Rose Design and Assembledge+.     The entire experience was a WOW moment from the bus ride up from Skirball, passing through the Bel Air gates, walking up the split stone driveway big enough to park 30 cars and then entering the 8 foot wide solid wood, pivot door. 

 The eye candy continued with a rustic, but refined, floating stairwell made from entire trunks of bleached oak (FSC certified logs), an exposed wine cellar under the stairs, a media room the size of a small AMC theater(by Innovative), a kitchen that I would kill for, one of the most glamorous master bath suites I’ve ever seen- can you say unlimited material budget?- and my personal favorite an entire wall of Miele washers and dryers in the laundry room.  

Oh wait a minute, I forgot to mention the back patio, with not one, but two jacuzzis (seen below) over looking the twinkling lights of the City of Angels.  Really it was a” pinch me, I’m dreaming” moment when I looked down and saw my magazine cover sitting on the side table of the outdoor lounge.  

Having participated in a few show houses, I realize how much vendors add to the experience.  Here’s a shout out to old favorites like Kallista, Vanatage, EcoSmart Fire, Ann Sacks and Samuel Moyer Furniture and new found treasures from artists Daniel Wheeler and Patte Stayrook.  Kudos to all, the production was A-list all night and I felt right at home. 

Now I’ve got to trot over to the PDC and see what’s going on with Martyn Lawrence-Bullard and his big award.

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 Michela O’Conner, Dwell Media President;Frances Anderton, wunderkind reporter KCRW- – P.S. Frances I will not stop bugging you until you interview me on your show;  Jennifer Siegal, Office Of Mobile Design and Funky Williard Ford, Ford and Ching told us all about their experiences with the new affluent.  Basically they love Apple, the environment and will place  Ikea directly next to a rare antique.  MY PEOPLE!  I also got confirmation that my efforts on Facebook were worth the while, as 87% of “them” are using it.  Now, I liken the FB experience to having a phone number.  You’re simply out of touch without one.  Perhaps the most provoking part of the presentation was the comment from a woman in the audience who reminded us not to forget the design loving,  Chinese consumer, attending the EXPO in Shanghai to the tune of 46 million visitors.  Michela O’ Conner wholeheartedly agreed.  I owe a lot to that lady in the audience- my big public relations meeting the following day took on a whole new direction focusing also on China- NI HAO!

When the keynote ended, I was minding my own business when I walked down the hall by the new ASID office.  There sat the  past president, president and president elect who summonsed me in and told me I had been appointed Editor in Chief of LA Design Magazine, the chapters’ Quarterly. WTF?  So, now I’m an editor of a design magazine -pretty cool.  First order of business: CALLING ALL WRITERS: anyone who thinks they have something to contribute- – Hollah Back at me!

Other things at market that inspired me were the exhibit at Mya Stark’s pop up gallery featuring a massive collection of other people’s old photos.  I seriously wish I had a few hours to really look at all of them (there had to be thousands) because they really told a story of American history without saying a word- although some had some did have informative comments written on the back ranging from racy to ridiculous.  Greg Gorman’s A Distinct Vision was also among my favorites with striking, larger than life (literally) photography displayed along glass walls.   Get over there and take a look before they’re gone.

After a day full of informative programs Janus Et Cie threw… yet another fab party with killer appies, a stocked bar and hip deejay.  Unfortunately for them 3/4 of the regular crowd was gone.  Margaret Russell was up on the third floor throwin’ down one hell of a shin dig for Thomas Lavin’s  10th Anniversary. The SoCal Contractorwas VERY impressed with the Scotch selection, not an easy fete for a man who bar-tended in Scotland. I saw people I haven’t seen in ages including Keith Granet and Lloyd Princeton. I’ve known and loved Thomas from way back and was delighted to see all stars aligning for this wonderful man. Congrats TL, you really deserve it.

Thomas and Lori: Back in the Days Before I Needed Botox!

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Unlike 2009, this year’s DOD had a pulse, jam packed with people and product.  The producers and participants  turned up the heat  with every booth more stylish than the next. This year I was asked to speak on two panels: ASID Glamorous Green Secrets and the joint project of  the USGBC and ASID- ReGreen.  Paired  up for the third or fourth time with world renown Bau Biologist, Mary Cordaro, it was invigorating to see both  audiences with plenty of interested folks standing all the way in the back.

My daughter and I loved the Paul Frank sponsored kid’s play area and the gumball dispensed SEED BOMBS.   The idea behind the green ammo is to throw them at abandoned urban lots, wait for rain and watch the wild flowers grow.  It reminded me of being a bad little girl who always had a good heart. 

The show was a huge success and more evidence that green power continues to gain strength.

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Truth is that the entire store looks like a perfected, larger than life, 60s musical, set design.  It’s divine and totally defines glamorous green .   Some of the other eco friendly features were Mary Cordaro’s living green lecture at Bausman and the living wall at bookstore-bistro combo, Assouline.

Prosper Assouline chatted with me about how to curate a modern library. According  to him you must have a point of view and make it come to life.  He and his wife are charming folks and I highly suggest you pay the West Hollywood shop a visit the next time you need to purchase a present.  Their books are really something else and who else has candles that smell like leather, old paper and cigars? 

 Other star studded events included the Catherine Malandrino fashion show and an Elle Decor party at Baker to  close the three day extravaganza. I brought Elle to meet Margaret Russell.  She fell in love with my daughter and offered her an internship at the magazine.  Nothing like securing a position early.  Viva Legends of Design Quarter! I can’t wait to see what they do next year. To top this one, I’m expecting the Harlem Choir and elephants!

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Unlike the Westweek event a few weeks ago, which completely neglected any greenspeak, Veranda celebrated the dynamic eco duo from the Q Collection, awarding them with one of their four coveted awards for the Art of Design. 

Each winner and all the panelists championed the green cause, one even defined luxury as a clean glass of water.  Again and again they reminded us that respect for the planet’s resources and healthy built environments go hand in hand with luxury, something our firm has been touting for over a decade.  The slides of their projects were breath taking and entertaining, especially the image of Kid Rock’s bedroom which looked nothing like I thought it would.  It was originally designed as a love nest for him and Pamela Anderson and apparently they were quite taken by a trip to St. Lucia.  Windsor Smith intelligently spoke about redesigning the way we use space, sharing plans on her new Mandeville Canyon equestrian compound. I wanna be Windsor when I grow up!

Dedar and Kneedler Fauchere held the reception.  As always the fabrics, flowers and food were scrumptious.  My favorites were the chocolate dipped macaroons.  Because an HGTV camera was following me around filming a day in my life, I received extra attention and a special, little interview from Carolyn Englefield, Veranda’s Editor At Large.  Fun fun fun.

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