Pacific Design Center

Posts Tagged ‘Pacific Design Center’

Veranda Redefines Luxury

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Yesterday at the PDC Veranda hosted a documentary and all star panel on Redefining Luxury. Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Windsor Smith and Peter Campbell were among the panelists.

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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Tags: Carolyn Englefield, Dedar, HGTV, Kid Rock, Kneedler Fauchere, Luxury, Mandeville Canyon, martyn lawrence bullard, Pacific Design Center, Pamela Anderson, Peter Dunham, Q Collection, Veranda, Windsor Smith
Posted in Events, Green Living, Magazines, Parties | No Comments »

Juan Montoya and His Second Hand Furnishings

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a designer series lecture at the Pacific Design Center. AD 100 and Interior Design Hall of Famer Juan Montoya spent an hour dazzling us with images of his work and insider info on how he does what he does so well.

Anytime I have the opportunity to listen to a person who is this successful, I take it. Mr. Montoya is in his 70s and is going strong after decades due to his common sense approach and passion for interior design and architecture.

One of the things I love so much about being an interior designer, is that if you’re good, you get better with age- like a fine wine. It was reassuring to hear someone I hold in such high esteem, espouse the same principle that I hold dear- a green approach to design. No he didn’t use the words “sustainable” or “eco-friendly” or “green” but he practices these things none the less. In most of his designs he uses furniture, art and accessories from the 20s, 30s and 40s, some of my favorites being Jean Michele Frank and Jacques Rhulmann.

(This one is actually one of my projects, but it’s a Rhulmann table and chairs in the Frederick Lowe Estate.)

He rarely uses carpets and instead creates design in a hard (more easily cleaned and longer lasting) surfaces. He is well known for his liberal use of exquiste veneer on columns, walls, ceilings- but always prefers to restore what is there vs. ripping it out and installing new. And the greenest of all is his attitude, his very best advice being to smile a lot.

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Tags: AD 100, Frederick Lowe, Interior Design Hall of Fame, Jean Michele Frank, Juan Montoya, Pacific Design Center, Ruhlmann
Posted in Furniture, Green Living, Lectures, Public Speaking | No Comments »

Fall Market at the Pacific Design Center

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Badly needing a break from the book writing, I headed over to the festivities at the PDC for some inspiration. I’m currently on the “Living Rooms” Chapter which focuses on maximizing use of space, especially precious outdoor square footage. Luxe Magazine‘s gorgeous, garden party in the lower level lobby featuring stunning vignettes from all our favorite outdoor vendors couldn’t have come at a better time. The wine was delicious and the steel drum band was a breath of fresh air conditioned air from the 102 degree fall weather outside. Michael Wollaeger, the new Luxe Editor at Large, never disappoints.

Christian Liaigre at Holly Hunt

Richard Frinier at Century

Corbin Bronze at Sutherland

Janus Et Cie

Chinoserie at Robert Allen

Janus Et Cie

Richard Schultz at Summit

In a town where we are literally running out of water, it was great to see Synlawnand Astro Chic make a green statement. I’ve noticed about five of these synthetic lawns on my nightly strolls, along with a lot of gravel and succulents. I’d like to say it’s concern for the environment, but it looks like the water bills finally converted a few folks to the sustainable side.

Synlawn at Fall Market

Astro Chic Pillows, Ottoman and Lawn

The first floor gave us a sneak peak of what was to come on the second floor open house. I especially loved these three sculptures made of everything green including cleaners of the kitchen sink.