Legends of La Cienega 2014

While this post is long overdue, I hope that the beautiful photos from JL Photographers will make up for the wait. In May I traveled to Los Angeles as a social media ambassador for Legends of La Cienega (LCDQ) 2014.  I was very honored to have been invited, and was in the company of some fabulous social media gurus (pictured below). The highly anticipated event is one of my very favorite in the industry.  Legends of La Cienega is a 3-day celebration of design that brings together VIPs and tastemakers from the worlds of interior design, decor, art, fashion and architecture. Receptions, keynote panel discussions, cocktail parties and book signings are just the icing on the cake. What I love most is that the event feels like one big block party…you see friends and those you know at every turn. And who doesn’t love walking from store to store while being inspired and soaking up the LA sunshine?!

Legends of La Cienega 2014 Social Media Ambassadors:  Julie Carlson of Remodelista, Marisa Marcantnio of Stylebeat, Paloma Contreras of La Dolce Vita, me, Jason Oliver Nixon of Madcap Cottage, Stacey Bewkes of Quintessence, Nicole Cohen of Sketch42, and Lisa Mende of Lisa Mende Design

Each year Legends of La Cienega embraces an overarching theme that is expressed in the windows of LCDQ shops and galleries. This year’s theme was NOVEL INTERIORS: Storytelling by Design. Fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg, New York interior designer David Kleinberg and a roster of talented designers from around the country transformed the windows of the LCDQ storefronts inspired by books and stories. If you are a designer (or in the design industry) and haven’t attended a Legends event, you must put this on your list.  As fellow ambassador Lisa Mende wrote, “The Legends Event, for designers, is equivalent to the Oscars for actors or Sundance for filmmakers. Red carpets were rolled out on the streets of the design district and we were made to feel like celebrities.” A few highlights included:

• Opening Night Gala at Therien & Co sponsored by 1stdibs and Coldwell Banker
• The always fun Elle Decor Power Lunch
• A cocktail tea at Scalamandre hosted by Newell Turner and Steven Stolman
• A Tribute Party hosted by Architectural Digest
• An After Party hosted by Objekt International
• A lovely  Blogger Breakfast at Sherle Wagner International
• The keynote hosted by the Clint Smith, editor in chief of Veranda at Jonas; Panelists included Kim Alexandriuk, Betsy Burnham and Timothy Corrigan
• A panel discussion at George Smith moderated by Pamela Jaccarino, Editor in Chief, Luxe Interiors + Design; Panelists included: Grant Gibson, Catherine Kwong and Chloe Warner
• Shop owner Nathan Turner welcomed Jane Scott Hodges author of Linens: For Every Room and Occasion 
• A charming Cocktail Reception at Rose Tarlow Melrose House
• A Keynote Moderated by Sabine Rothman, Editorial Market Director, Elle Decor and Hearst Design Group and hosted by Design Within Reach
• And the newest national shelter magazine, Milieu, celebrated Legends with cocktail reception at Rose Tarlow Melrose House

Stacey Bewkes of Quintessence

Paloma Contreras of La Dolce Vita

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Paloma Contreras and Mark D. SikesNewell Turner

Tony Bucola

Brad Clifford, me and my partner Matt WhitakerChristian May

Leslie Newsom Rascoe and Christopher Kennedy

Oliver Furth

Lisa Mende, Paloma Contreras , Brad Clifford, me and Patrick SuttonBetsy Burnham and Clint Smith

Timothy Corrigan

Robert RufinoAndrew Joseph 

Michael Boodro and Lee Stanton

Tamar Mashigian and Rich Pedine

Madeline StuartBill Ingram

Susanna Salk

Jane Scott Hodges

John Loecke, Jason Oliver Nixon and Steven Stolman

Sabine RothmanAmy Breedlove and Russell

Corey Damen Jenkins

Margaret Russell and Celerie KembleSuzanne Tucker, Michael S. Smith and Suzanne Kasler

Joe Lucas and Suzanne Rheinstein

Malcolm James Kutner

Shawn Henderson

 Catherine Kwong, Chloe Warner and Grant Gibson Pamela Jaccarino

Tyler Dawson