Visual Merchandising @ LA Mart Design Center

This week has turned into kind of a crazy one for me. On top of my usual work load, the LA Mart asked if I would do their visual displays for their upcoming gift show. I've never technically done window displays before, but how hard can it be? Actually, if I'm being completely honest, I'm a little stressed. I have a limited budget and just 6 days to conceptualize, plan, shop, create, and install all 6 windows. Yes, 6. Here is where my experience with design school all nighters comes into play.

Here are some window photos that I have pulled to give me a little inspiration.

Source LA

I was at the LA Mart with some of my clients today and was conveniently able to take a sneak peak at Source LA happening on the 12th floor. Things were still being moved in and moved around and the walls were still being painted, but from what I saw it's going to be pretty cool.

So what is Source LA exactly? It's "a fresh, gallery-inspired collection of custom design furnishings, unique home fashions and accessories, hand-crafted objects, and original works of art from the region’s most progressive interior product designers, artists and craftsmen emerging on the cutting-edge of California design."

Head over to the opening reception happening tomorrow, November 11 from 6-9 pm (RSVP to 213.763.5813 or ltsironis@lamart.com), or stop by anytime from now until January 11, 2011.

Below are some of my high quality iPhone photos of Source LA in progress.




www.BrittanyStiles.com

Stark Paint

As an interior designer, part of my job is to keep up on the trends and new products on the market, but somehow I missed the memo that Stark has a new line of paint. Some paint decks can be a lot to flip through just to find the perfect color, so I appreciate it when certain companies narrow down the selection (Farrow and Ball is another great one). Stark's paint collection contains 240 beautiful colors.

Stark Paint is the collaborative effort with London-based color specialist David Oliver, who has served as a consultant to Stark in the U.S. paint venture. Stark Paint is not only free of VOC’s and made in the America, but it is also available in three finishes including velvet emulsion, porcelain shell and lacquer gloss.


Stop by the Stark showroom in Laguna Niguel, or Kenneth McDonald in Costa Mesa to pick up a sample book.

Studio Bon @ F. Schumacher

I was at the F. Schumacher showroom today and ran into a new little display full of fabrics from their Studio Bon collection. It felt like spring and made me happy (I've never been much of a cold weather person). Here's a sampling from the collection, or check out the whole line here.

Las Vegas Market

My former business partner and really good friend Nathan went to the last Las Vegas Market and he reminded me that the next one is coming up shortly and he encouraged me to go. Apparently it's a smorgasbord of home furnishings and a great place to scope out new resources and vendors. Go here for more information and to view the online directory listing the hundreds of resources available at Las Vegas Market.

See you there!

HD Buttercup

I drove up to HD Buttercup in Culver City today to pick up some rugs for a client. I love that store. They have some really interesting furnishings and often at a good discount. For designers, it may pale in comparison to the Pacific Design Center, but personally I think it's sometimes nice to visit a more condensed furniture mall that doesn't take as long to walk through and has significantly closer (and cheaper) parking.





Even though it's a little bit of a drive from Orange County, I always try to send clients there who are interested in doing some shopping on their own. It's not "to the trade only", like most design centers, but it still helps clients see what new and different furniture is available, outside of the typical Restoration Hardware, Crate and Barrel, Z Gallerie, etc.




Photos curtesy of Apartment Therapy, Home Grown Interiors, and Maison 21, and Cococozy.