Los Angeles Design Blog | Material Girls | LA Interior Design

I’ve  just returned from an amazing few days at High Point Market in North Carolina! I was invited to attend and tour the Lexington Home Brands headquarters (more on that in an upcoming post). But first wanted to share some highlights of the past few days’ events and experiences!

Had the best time ever hanging out with these fabulous bloggers: (l-r) Christian of Maison21, Julieann of Create Girl, me, Cassandra of Coco + Kelley, Ashlina of The Decorista, Crystal of Plush Palate & Rue Magazine, and Katie of The Neo Traditionalist & Matchbook Magazine.

On the very first evening upon arriving at High Point, we were invited to meet Charles, the 9th Earl Spencer (Princess Diana’s brother) at the Theodore Alexander showroom.

The Althrop Collection features over 500 years of English tradition and heritage.

Theodore Alexander hosts the opening of the new Althorp Living History Showroom at High Point.

On Day 2, we went over to the IHFC (International Home Furnishings Center) to check out the Elite Leather Company space.

A vignette at Elite Leather Company.

Cassie testing out a chair at Elite Leather Company.

And another chair!

Next, we headed over to Visual Comfort where Paloma (also of the blog La Dolce Vita) gave us a tour of the Circa Lighting collections.

Each & every individual fixture from Circa Lighting is exquisite!

Cute pic: Paloma & Katie!

From there, Katie & I headed over to Market Square for a book signing event hosted by Rizzoli featuring Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Mary McDonald, Suzanne Kasler, Bobby McAlpine, Michael Connors, Henrietta Churchill Spencer, & Florence de Dampierre.

Interior Designer & Bravo TV’s Million Dollar Decorator star, Mary McDonald signing Katie’s book.

Both Katie & Mary share a love for pugs!

Back at High Point headquarters, I took a group shot of Julieann, Crystal, Christian, Katie, & Ashlina before we left for the Architectural Design party.

photo via The Decorista

The party scene at the AD party hosted by Margaret Russell.

We wrapped the night up at a super fab party at the Halo showroom!

The ambiance at the very cool Halo party in it’s amazing space!

Early the next morning we were invited to attend the press breakfast with Martyn Lawrence Bullard where he gave us highlights and excerpts on his most famous client’s & their interiors!

Viewing the work of Martyn Lawrence Bullard from his recent book, “Live, Love, Decorate.”

After the press breakfast, Katie & I, along with Erin of the blog Elements of Style headed over to Lexington Home Brands for an exclusive tour (more on that next!).

Back again at High Point headquarters, we happen to meet Deborah Needleman, former editor of Domino magazine and current editor of the WSJ magazine. She had just spoken at an event at High Point & given away copies of her book, “The Perfectly Imperfect Home.”

The rest of the afternoon, we checked out InterHall at the IHFC wrapping up with cocktail hour at the very cool Global Views space – thanks to Erin for hosting us!

“Chair model” Cassie at the Global Views space.

The last event of our few day’s at High Point was the anticipated (& packed!) party hosted by Four Hands in a very cool industrial showroom.

Thanks to the High Point Market Authority for an amazing experience! More to come!

I recently came across the Lilly Pulitzer Home Collection at Horchow, featuring a line of furniture and accents. I had previously seen the bedding line at Garnet Hill, but hadn’t realized there was a furniture collection too! I’m really liking some of the items in the collection – especially the desk and accent chest featured above and below!

Aster Writing Desk

Aster Rolling Accent Chest

Boulevard Armchair

Sara Sofa

Rousseau Ottoman

Paramount Daybed

Breakers Side Chair

Yellow Barstool

If you haven’t already seen, Kelly Wearstler has completely redesigned her website to incorporate not only her interiors but her new line of accessories and fashion, along with her home accessory line.  Dubbed “World of Kelly” – her site now features everything from her collaborations to her books to her blog. During the recent New York Fashion Week, she launched her new ready to wear line where she now has boutiques in Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Holt Renfrew – along with an anticipated Los Angeles Flagship boutique (can’t wait to visit!).

Kelly Wearstler ready to wear fashion and accessories:

Chevron Dress

Pleated Clutch

Chanteuse Blouse

Tanzanite Blazer

Stripes Scarf

For more, visit KellyWearstler.com

Traveling this summer?

Check out the blog Hotel Chic Blog for the chicest hotels around the globe.

A room at the J.K. Place in Capri, a hotel I have longed to visit.

Appartement Stagadon on the Brittany Coast of France.

Mr.C Beverly Hills – I have not been to this local (for me) hotel, but I must check it out – including the rooftop pool (below).

The pool at Mr.C Beverly Hills, CA.

The Tiffany Suite at New York’s St. Regis Hotel, a one bedroom suite for $8500 a night!

The Tiffany Suite at the St. Regis in NYC.

Hotel Pulitzer in Barcelona.

Check out the blog post about interior designer Ruthie Sommers‘ honeymoon at the Palazzo Sasso on Italy’s Amafly Coast.

Aman Sveti Stefan in Montenegro (located on the Adriatic Coast of Eastern Europe).

All images via Hotel Chic Blog.

Be sure to check out more chic travel destinations on the Hotel Chic Blog (like the Pantone Hotel in Brussels!)

SUITE New York has launched The Pink Swan Project, a collection of nineteen Arne Jacobsen chairs designed by well known designers to be auctioned off for charity to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The chairs were donated by Fritz Hansen and the auction will take place in October. The chairs will be on rotating display at the Gagosian Shop on Madison Avenue while the rest of the chairs rest in SUITE New York’s showroom on Park Avenue.

Have a favorite?

Designed by Victoria Hagan.

Designed by Windsor Smith.

Designed by Vicente Wolf.

Designed by Madeline Weinrib.

Designed by Margherita Maccapani Missoni.

To view all the nineteen chairs, check them out here.

Continuing with our blog series about our paths, which started with Emily’s post back awhile ago, and began with this reader request:

…is my story:

JILL SEIDNER | INTERIOR DESIGN

Background: I think given my lineage, I was destined to become an interior designer. I grew up in a family involved in the design and building industry. My grandfather was a developer (and one of the early developer’s of the Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills), my father (now retired) was president of a division of a carpet mill, my mother is an interior designer (and currently working as a designer in a furniture showroom), my aunt is an interior designer (fun fact: decorator Michael Smith grew up next door to her, and a few streets over from where I grew up, and used to come over and read my aunt’s Architectural Design magazines), my aunt’s husband, Russell Jacques, is a well known artist, my other uncle is a builder (specializing in historical and structural restoration, has completed notable projects such as the restoration of the Museum of Science in Downtown Los Angeles), another relative (by marriage) was an early developer of Bunker Hill in Downtown Los Angeles and Promontory Point in Newport Beach, and his children, my cousins John & Craig are successful builders in Orange County.  And I thought I would consider interior design as a hobby.  Right. I guess that’s not how it works when it’s embedded in your genes.  (Even my last name in German Seide means silk, apparently my Austrian ancestors were silk traders.)

Early Signs: Since I can remember, I have been drawing furniture plans and houses.  While other kids in school were drawing stick figures, I would draw floor plans and layouts of houses.  When we got to play with clay and play-doh in school, I used to mold it into rooms complete with furniture. Later on, I started rearranging the furniture in my bedroom. I actually have a letter I wrote (and was hoping to find it for this post, but it wasn’t where I thought it might be, so I need to keep searching) – but it was a letter I wrote when I was probably in second or third grade, and I guess we had to write “When I grow up…” and I wrote how I wanted to be an interior designer like my mom. In the letter I listed all the things interior designers do (looking back, I actually can’t believe I knew some of the things I wrote!). I guess when you grow up with a mom working at her drafting board (until late at night, which is what I remember!) – you learn these things!

Education: When I was in high school, I decided to spend a summer attending a pre-college program at Otis/Parsons School of Art & Design (now Otis here in Los Angeles).  It was a lot of work for a summer program, but a great experience and an insightful one into the world of design and architecture.  I think it greatly impacted my interest in architecture, too. After graduating high school, I attended the UCLA Architecture & Interior Design program. I left UCLA for one semester, to attend the Architecture/Landscape/Interiors program at Otis, and then ultimately came back to UCLA to complete my education.

{In one of my design classes, we were given the challenge of creating a 1000 sq ft home.  This is a hand drawing I did of a house plan, which has a very indoor / outdoor feel comprised of just 1000 square feet.}

Freelance Design: After completing my education, I decided to market myself as a freelance design assistant to design firms.  I created a cover letter (which I faxed out to design firms) marketing my services and setting my freelance rate.  This was such a great way of gaining experience, having worked for many different design firms in many different facets of design. I have had the opportunity to work in both commercial and residential interior design firms, design showrooms, large firms and boutique firms, and along the way some very interesting clients (celebs!). I really think for those interested in pursing a career in interior design that taking some time (whether in school or after graduating) to work in different areas of design, possibly as a freelancer, is extraordinarily beneficial. Along the way I learned a lot, made a great deal of connections, and developed relationships with other designers.

{This was my cover letter I included with my resume when I was pursing freelance design work.}

On my own: Eventually there came a time to go out on my own, and start my own design business.  I think for me it was a very natural progression. It sort of came about when one of the designer’s I was working for had slowed down a bit. I listed a profile on Guru.com and my first few projects came in (a client remodeling her bathroom in Santa Monica, a florist retail shop in Orange County). Soon I discovered I was taking on more projects and continuing to freelance a few day’s a week.  As I got busier, I decided I needed more time to focus on my projects and ultimately quit working freelance.  Happy to be completely on my own now, but it’s certainly a lot of work! My days (like Emily mentioned too) are very long – from early morning meetings to late client evening meetings, to running around in between, to catching up on emails and the “real design work”  begins late in the day or night.  However, I enjoy being on my own, working for myself, being responsible for everything that comes with running one’s own business, and the rewards of a project completed.  I also enjoy the process and most of all the learning. Each and every day I seem to learn something new, from blogs to research to subs to vendors to even my clients (whom share experiences with me too!).

{My logo, created for me by my good friend and fellow blogger, Christian May of Maison21.}

And to our readers: If you enjoy interior design, there are so many opportunities and arenas of design that you can work in. I would encourage an education (especially to learn about art history, color, and drawing in addition to the technical/business aspects of design) but also to gain work experience (it’s really the vocational aspect of working that you really learn hand’s on). And I think for the pros and cons, Emily listed it the best, here.

And lastly, social media: It wasn’t around when I first started, but it is now and it’s a huge advantage, to interact with people on a level like never before.  Before I started blogging on the Material Girls blog, I was not very familiar with the blog world.  So much has changed; I now have a whole new community of blogger and twitter friends! I hope you’ll find my there, too!

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

And last, but not least, Lauren is up next for the final post on our blog series! Look forward to seeing her “This is the story of…” in a few short weeks!

Interior Designer Katie Ridder has a collection of fabrics and wallpapers in some very pretty prints!

(Above is the “Attendants” wallpaper that Palmer Weiss used in the mudroom at the San Francisco Elle Decor 2010 Showhouse.)

{Leaf – Violet}

{Peony – Pink}

{Seaweed – Orange}

{Oiseau – Chocolate}

{Attendants – Yellow}

{Moon Flower – Chocolate}

{Pagoda – Persimmon}

To see the full line of both fabrics & wallpaper, visit KatieRidder.com

Just had to share these images – I was looking online for inspiration pictures for a bathroom remodel I am currently working on when I came across these bathrooms done by a San Francisco based interior designer. Love the fresh and creative look of these bathrooms!

I use PayPal as part of my business, as a way to invoice clients, a convenience for them as well as for me. So when I recently saw the headline in an email from California Home + Design, featuring PayPal’s (former) CEO’s home – it got my attention.  Mainly because I wasn’t expecting to see the home of a PayPal CEO.  However, upon looking further I was intrigued by the elegant and sophisticated interior design of a tech entrepreneur’s  home, designed by Shane Reilly founder of Decorati.  The 10,000 square foot home in San Francisco belongs to Peter Thiel, who not only is a former PayPal CEO but was also an early investor in Facebook, and currently president of Clarium Capital, a hedge fund dedicated to supporting the next frontier of technology.  His home is a place of refuge, but also the site of private events in which he has used to host parties for up to 200 people.

The house was originally two side-by-side residences that were combined by a prior owner and has two dining rooms.

The living room comfortably seats 8-12 guests and can be reconfigured for speaking events.

Love this fun guest room (with wallpaper by Marcie Bronkar).

The sunny master suite with citrus colored walls and pale shades of blue and gray, definitely a place of refuge.

The roof top deck with stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge!

For the complete article as featured on California Home + Design, click here.

Just a few weeks ago Emily blogged about Kelly Wearstler’s fabric turned fashion, as seen in the picture below.  Over a year ago, I featured a post on an announcement that Kelly would be venturing into fashion design.  And as many of you may have seen, the collection has made it’s debut launching with a Fall 2011 collection that includes clothes, jewelry, clutches, and scarves.  The collection will be sold at Bergdorf Goodman in a space designed by Kelly herself.  Prince points range from $205 to $1,395 for clothes, $155-$995 for jewelry, and $795-$995 for purses (per source).

{A fabric from Kelly’s fabric line at worn as a skirt.}

Thanks to Kelly’s marketing team, they allowed me access to some additional images of her fashion line to download for the Material Girl’s blog.

Here’s a preview of what will soon be in available!

And check out Kelly’s recent blog post on her trip to NYC to show her collection during New York Fashion Week.