3 days & 30 events…To give a sense of the incredibly content packed schedule at LCDQ’s LEGENDS event, I thought it would be fun to take you through one of the 16 hour days to see just how much creative energy you can absorb at this spectacular event. The logistics behind this event are mind boggling…not only do the organizers recruit and manage multiple speakers at various venues throughout the week, but they also throw amazing parties, each with their own distinct atmosphere. Designers are by nature a very tough crowd to impress and the LCDQ hosts never disappoint.
The La Cinega Design Quarter was founded in 2007 to promote the burgeoning antiques and design neighborhood on one of LA’s oldest thouroughfares. Since the 1950s, it has been the design destination for legends such as Billy Haines, Elsie de Wolfe, Tony Duquette, and Frances Elkins. These creative spirits seem to permeate the atmosphere…especially during LEGENDS.
Scott Meachum Wood, Me, Denise McGaha, Tami Ramsay, Will Taylor, Jennifer Mehditash
Our first official day began at the beautiful Renaissance Tile showroom for the Blogger Breakfast sponsored by Luxe Magazine. Knowing most of the crowd had very late nights, I was pleasantly surprised to see everyone bright eyed early in the morning to greet us.
With fellow ambassadors Jennifer Boles & Paloma Contreras
The first keynote speech was sponsored by Veranda at the Jonas Showroom. Entitled “Page Turners,” editor-in-chief Clinton Smith led a panel with designers turned authors and the highs of lows of publishing. Discussing the creative and business sides of publishing their monographs, they elaborated on how they translated their individual points of view onto the printed page.
Clinton Smith, Markham Roberts, Winddor Smith, Brian McCarthy
Next keynote, “Not Your Mother’s Traditional sponsored by Traditional Home at George Smith. Senior Design and Lifestyle Editor Jenny Bradley discussed the new meaning of “traditional” with entertaining panelists Elizabeth Dinkel, Madeline Stewart and Thomas Callaway.
The Elle Decor Power Lunch at the stunning Compas Showroom is always one of the most elegant events. The courtyard setting beautifully adorned with abundant flowers is breathtaking every year.
Robert Rufino, Michael Boodroo and Guest
Catherine Connelly, Celerie Kemble, Roxanne Hanna, Joe Lucas and Rebecca Dane
The Egg and Dart Showroom hosted “Branding Beyond the Candle” with interior and product designer Christopher Kennedy, photographer turned fashion designer Jonathan Skow (aka Mr. Turk) and moderated by the delightful Kelly Lee of Kelly Golightly. They shared their secrets of building a brand that appeals to a broad audience while staying true to their creative visions.
Matching ensembles with Mr. Turk
Complete with live mermen, the Tufenkian windows were some of the most visited during LCDQ. They hosted “Makers as Muse” moderated by Pamela Jaccarino, Editor in Chief of Luxe Magazine. She lead a conversation with Molly Luetkemeyer, Joe Lucas and Betsy Burnham on the artisans and craftsmen that serve and inspire them and what fuels them to keep their designs fresh and forward thinking.
The final keynote of the day “The Art of Upcycling” was held at the gorgeous Woven Accents showroom. Led by Domaine’s creative director Mat Sanders, actress and Honest Company founder Jessica Alba, Ginna Christensen of Woven Accents, Chairish.com’s Anna Brockaway discussed innovations in green living and the perks of up-cycling in interior design today.
Next up the parties! House Beautiful and the Stark family hosted a cocktail party welcoming Sophie Donelson, the new Editor in Chief in the stunning stark showroom. The gorgeous rugs provided a beautiful backdrop for another insanely attractive crowd!
Lovely Sophie Donelson taking center stage
Sophie Donelson with Nate Berkus
With Tony Buccola, Holly Phillips and Shaun Smith
The Sherle Wagner showroom hosted the Tributes party complete with live jazz, crafted cocktails and hilarious scenarios for photo ops with their products.
Victoira Larson, Amy Meier, Tami Ramsay and Patrick Dragonette
Danielle Rollins and Bill Ingram
Kerry Joyce, Michael Boodroo and Chuck Comeau hosted the official LEGENDS After Party at the exquisite Therian showroom. Knowing that the crowd had experienced and overload of visual stimulation during the day, they made sure to come up with some imaginative and exciting entertainment to capture everyone’s attention.
Fire eating performers…
Dueling musicians perched above the crowd….
And the grand finale…Cirque du Soleil inspired performance artists to cap off an epic day.
And was just the first day! Be sure to check back to read about the final day of LCDQ which was equally as inspiring and entertaining. For more of my design musings, be sure to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter. Thanks for reading and please come back again!
Photography by JL Photography unless otherwise noted.
Before LCDQ, ELLE DECOR asked us about our favorite summer design trends. Read below for everyone’s most anticipated trends paired with the gorgeous images from Elle Decor.
The ambassadors for this year’s La Cienega Design Quarter (LCDQ) Legends event know a thing or two about design. Here, they share the trends we can look forward to in the warmer months.
“As summer approaches I am most excited about incorporating patterns reminiscent of warmer climates into my designs and wardrobe, such as Balinese batiks, Guatemalan textiles and Indian ikats. I am also leaning towards palettes evocative of fruity cocktails such as chartreuse, citron, and coral, beckoning the carefree days ahead…hopefully to be spent in the sun, surf and salty air!”
“It’s nice to see wicker being used in more sophisticated ways. A lot of the wicker furniture I’m seeing has a high-style, mid 1970s feel to it.”
“India is a great source of ideas, inspiration and design. I love and celebrate fine Indian craftsmanship. I love the delight and surprise of embellished and handwoven Rajasthan fabrics. The randomness and inherent beauty of handcrafted Ikats and sari silks gives rooms character and a charming connection to the past. I’ve just returned from India, which is now the world center for handcrafted fabrics, rugs and weaving, jewels, block-printing, wood carving, quilting, metalwork, and so many centuries-old refined techniques. I love the tradition of exquisite hand embroidery, like those from the Jean-Francois Lesage studio in Chennai. Many American, English and French designers are working on textile design and new product in India now.”
“Summer means a carefree laid back lifestyle, and I am looking forward to entertaining with all the incredible sea-life inspired tabletops and accessories that are made with coral and fish prints. And color, of course! All the vivid bright colors come out in the summertime and stand up to the brighter, longer days and relaxed tome that summer brings. I love the details found in traditional summer settings-rose covered cottages of Sconset in Nantucket, the charming beach escapes along the East Coast. I am ready to enjoy a sandy feet getaway filled with American charm and lots of casual, easy entertaining.”
“I am ecstatic about the return of bold color. It is back with a vengeance with the return of wallpaper and pattern. Say goodbye to neutral walls. My theory exclaiming “beige is boring” has never been more true. Embrace summer with the bold colors of every sunset and sunrise.”
“This summer, I am looking forward to embracing classic design elements that work both indoors and outdoors. Think natural fibers like straw, seagrass, and rattan; blue and white stripes, and pops of vibrant green. These are elements that work as well poolside as they do in a tabletop setting, bedroom or living space. You can’t go wrong with timeless design staples.”
“This summer I am looking forward to a lot of dinner parties on the porch; I’m loving the new enamel flatware that seems to be everywhere. It’s great for casual indoor/ outdoor entertaining.”
“I’m excited about what I’m seeing being done with wood finishes– we’re going back to the classic techniques and finishes of yesteryear and using them in conjunction with more modern shapes and forms. Cerused/ limed oak wood finishes (which originated in England in the 16th century) are becoming even more dramatic with contrasting and non-traditional colors, and are being used in furniture, floors, and wall finishes. Marquetry, the art of applying small pieces of wood veneer in varying wood species and finishes to create a decorative pattern or picture is another summer trend I am looking forward to. The marquetry seen today takes a classic art form and translates it using modern, geometric shapes so that it is relevant to the way we live today. Even though the forms may not be classic, the techniques used to achieve what we are seeing and bringing into our homes are. This goes to show that the past continues to influence the future of design.”
“I’m excited to see blue and white reinterpreted for the 2015 summer season. Influences from Dutch ceramics and classic Chinoiserie are going to be seen alongside graphic geometric patterns, a bold and fresh take on a a classic color combination for a high-summer look.
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter. Thank you for visiting and please come back again!
A creative tsunami is the best way to describe the La Cinega Design Quarter’s LEGENDS event. Imagine having your entire design tribe in one spot…all of your favorite designers, vendors, artists and editors combined with the perfect mix of educational, inspirational and social events in sunny Los Angeles. Often referred to as the “Coachella” or “Fashion Week” of design, LEGENDS broke records this year with over 10,000 RSVPS coming from design aficionados representing 6 countries and 24 states in the US. The 3 day affair brings together VIPS and tastemakers from the worlds of interior design, decor, art, fashion, and architecture for receptions, keynote panels, cocktail parties exhibitions, book signings, personal appearances and special events. This year I was honored to be an ambassador covering the events for social media and mixing and mingling with all of the attendees.
Design fans are constantly seeking beauty and Los Angeles is the perfect backdrop to find inspiration with its stunning scenery, gorgeous showrooms and interiors, and insanely attractive Angelenos. I arrived a day early with my “blonde” (using that term loosely!) brigade/ travelling partners in crime: Tami Ramsay of Cloth & Kind, Julia Buckingham of Buckingham Interiors and Holly Phillips of The English Room who found us our amazing, yet dangerous house in the Hollywood Hills for our west coast adventure. While it may seem that it is “all play / no work,” it is quite the opposite. The ongoing conversation is a design think tank…linked to what inspires us, how to manage our respective practices, and how to troubleshoot different aspects of our businesses. I could not be more grateful to have this trusted group of confidantes. From Paris to High Point to LA, these girls provide constant entertainment and creative energy wherever we go.
Of course, we like to hit all of the LA hot spots to absorb everything LA has to offer. The Ivy is always the first stop with its bold colorful setting, amazing food, and hopes of always seeing a celebrity. Sighting #1: Lisa Vanderpump / Fedora Sightings : 2
Our spectacular view from our house nestled up in the Hollywood Hills.
Next stop…Palihouse in West Hollywood for a Viyet LA launch party sponsored by Traditional Home and Benjamin Moore. Viyet is a luxury consignment site for designer furniture and accessories.
Last year for LEGENDS we stayed in the iconic Sunset Tower Hotel.What amazed me about the setting was how the hotel transformed from day to night. The terrace and views are spectacular during the day, but the atmosphere at night above the twinkling lights of Los Angeles and the dramatic lighting is something to behold.
“Designed in 1929 by architect Leland A. Bryant, the Sunset Tower was a trendsetter from the moment it opened. Its dramatic setting on the Sunset Strip and elegant Art Deco styling, together with its proximity to famous restaurants and nightclubs of the 1930s & ’40s, contributed to its landmark status. West Hollywood has always catered to celebrities wishing to draw attention to their star power. The Sunset Tower embodied these aspirations, counting among its former residents Howard Hughes, John Wayne, Billie Burke, Marilyn Monroe, Errol Flynn, Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, Paulette Goddard, Zasu Pitts, and even gangster Bugsy Siegel. The Sunset Tower is a Hollywood landmark. Up to the 1950s it was as much a tourist attraction as the Hollywood sign itself. It has appeared in a number of films, including The Italian Job, Get Shorty, The Player and Strange Days. Its first literary mention was in Raymond Chandler’s Farewell, My Lovely (1940). The film version of that novel, Murder, My Sweet, released four years later, was its first screen reference.” – Sunset Tower Historian
Star Sightings: Supermodel Janice Dickinson and General Hospital’s Jack Wagner and of course Hollywood’s most famous Maître D’ Dimitri Dimitrov. Fedora Sightings: 0 (thank goodness)
Presiding over the Tower Bar six, sometimes seven nights a week, Dimitri makes everyone who walks into the bar feel like they are important. With his signature move of palms in front of his chest and a slight bow, he graciously took care of us during cocktails and dinner and even gave us a fabulous table next to his favorite spot, the curved banquette in the corner with the best view of the Hollywood Hills. Hotel owner Jeff Klein hired Dimitri 11 years ago after Tom Ford slipped him Dimitri’s name on a coaster during dinner. A special treat during LEGENDS was to hear an interview with Jeff Klein by Becky Birdwell for the Design Leadership Network hearing the history and legacy of the hotel.
To offset the late nights and nonstop cocktailing, Runyon Canyon is a necessity on our visits.
Star Sightings: 1…We think this little guy may have made a cameo in Caddyshack. Fedoras: 0
Of course we hat to hit the Chateau Marmont which has been described as “touched with scandal, commemorated in literature.” This was my virgin voyage to the Chateau and it did not disappoint. I cannot wait to see it under nightfall on my next trip.
“Hotels are the stuff of stories, of mini dramas, a world unto themselves – we leave our lives behind and become who we want to be. Arriving at Chateau Marmont you surrender yourself to a grandi-loquent environment, an infamous hideaway and the perfect getaway in the center of one of the world’s most exciting cities.Modeled after an infamous royal residence in France’s Loire Valley, Chateau Marmont is a fantastical folly in the land of make believe. While in residence you become part of a highly discriminating, international clientele desiring an experience at once luxurious and unique.
Chateau is the perfect co-conspirator; as Harry Cohn, founder of Columbia Pictures said in 1939, “If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont.” You can be yourself or, better yet, be whomever you want to be; don’t be surprised if your visit brings out your inner Howard Hughes, your Greta Garbo, your Jim Morrison. As public or private as you wish – there are those in residence who are desperate to be seen and others who choose to remain anonymous.The eccentric and highly personal history of the place, its luscious rich past, its tarnished patina are all part of the charm. This great castle on the hill is the set of a film waiting for someone to call action – this is the place where things happen. Checking in is like turning up in the middle of an ongoing party at a European country estate – there is always someone you know staying here. Mindful of its history – but always in the moment – it is contemporary as tomorrow morning – there is great comfort here. Sit in a wicker chair on the veranda writing post-cards imagining you are in an exotic outpost-far far away.
And when the dusk of evening settles, put on some smoky jazz and get lost – sink into the aphrodisiac of the deep couches, take your paramour on an elevator ride – at night everyone comes to Chateau Marmont – this is the pageant and parade that evening brings, they come for the martini, for the sex appeal, to make the deal–naughty or nice, everyone is your darling. And after hours – there is the Bar Marmont – an outpost for the foreign correspondent you’ve become – all hotel guests are insiders – there is no velvet rope here. You are on liberty, sabbatical, furlough from your familiar life, you feel the heat, the sweat, the late night lust that is LA. This is the place you can most be yourself and it is the only grand hotel you can call home.”- A.M Homes
Star Sightings: 0 Fedora Sightings: 5
Next stop…a visit to Julia’s fabulous Slim Aarons-inspired window for The Rug Company. Aaron’s iconic “Poolside Gossip” at the Kaufmann House was reinterpreted 45 years after with the original models Helen Dzo Dzo and Nelda Linsk as “Poolside Reunion” by Palm Springs based photographer Fred Moser. Wife Kelly Lee of esteemed Kelly Golightly makes a cameo in the shot
Amanda Reynal. Marisa Marcontonio and Joe Lucas
Chad Graci, Fab photographer Sarah D’Orio, Danielle Rollins, and Bill Ingram
Julia Carr Baylor and John Bossard
Lindsay Fleege and Ellen Toler of Urban Electric
Young Huh, Shaun Smith. Mercedes Desio, Alberto Villalobos
Where is Julia? With Holly Phillips and Tami Ramsay
Final stop….Soho House with gal pal Lizzie Wibbelsman of Holland & Sherry. A perfect end to a perfect day with all of my favorite people!
Star/ Fedora Sightings: Boy George wearing a Fedora!
15 minutes of fame…attaching our mug shot to the photo wall!
For more of my design inspiration, please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and subscribe to Bespoke Banter. Thanks for reading and please come back again!
*Gala Photographs from JL Photography
Bumping into Jonathan Adler at Marche Biron |
It is a rare and wonderful thing to find a kindred spirit like Holly Phillips who has almost identical taste in art, design, shopping and even wine! Our design adventures have taken us to New York, High Point, Nashville, Atlanta, Paris, and on the horizon are trips to Charleston for The Southern C Summit and Los Angeles for La Cinega Design week.
Late night at Hotel Costes |
I recently had the pleasure to write an article on a fabulous project of Holly’s for Peachy Magazine. Here are some more questions I had for this social media maven and designer extraordinaire along with some favorite images of her work…