Kelly Wearstler's Vibe

One of the most exciting things I did last year in LA was visit Kelly Wearstler's studio.  It is a gorgeous space filled with her watercolor drawings pinned to the inspiration board and a constant hum of creativity.  She is one of the most inspiring designers and I was hoping that some of her magic would rub off on me that day! She has just started her own blog called My Vibe My Life where she will now let everyone into her colorful world.  There is only one post up right now but I can't wait to see what's to come! 

Chic in LA: Kelly Wearstler's Office

When I was planning my trip to LA, I thought about how fun it would be to visit Kelly Wearstler's office. I had seen the first four images that I've posted on her website and could already tell it would be amazing. I later decided that she would probably be busy so I didn't end up contacting her so imagine my delight when Andrea Borda Standford of C Magazine planned it for me! It was definitely the highlight of the day of design for me and Maison21! The visit occurred around 5:00pm Friday so needless to say, none of us, including the office, were ready for our close up! I did manage to take a few shots of the entry and conference rooms but I also couldn't photograph part of the office due to some top secret projects that were on display! By the way, the fact that Kelly was in the office that late on a Friday should tell you something about her work ethic!

I wish I had been able to take a photo of the watercolor sketches for her new designs for The Rug Company that were tacked to the wall. They were absolutely gorgeous and made me want to go out and buy a set of paints!

I love the niches where the books are displayed in this styled photo of the office.

In addition to design, Kelly is branching out into fashion and jewelry. A lot of people have been skeptical of this move but if Oscar de la Renta and other fashion designers can go into home design, why can't an interior designer move into fashion?! It's clear with Kelly that her creativity is so strong that she can't harness it into just one medium!

Kelly's office is in the same building as her hairdresser, Sally Hershberger. If there was a hair salon above my office, I'd be up there everyday for a blow out!

This is what greats you as you exit the elevator! It was even better in person!

I love Kelly's taste in art and her ability to mix various styles and periods in her work.

In this shot, you can see the great light fixture and floor to ceiling windows, the best part of LA!

Here is my shot of one of the conference rooms. That painting is so gorgeous and I love the coral carpet! I also love the brass trim on the double doors.

I'm wondering why there aren't any books on display. I asked Kelly about her vintage book collection and she said those were kept at home. I can only imagine how fabulous her collection must be in person!

Kelly was actually working in the larger conference room when we arrived. As I mentioned, we were all tired after a long day and week so none of us wanted to have our photo taken but that doesn't mean that Kelly didn't look chic! She was wearing a long camp style shirt with short rolled up sleeves, black leggings, bright yellow pumps and tons of fabulous jewelry!

I know that sometimes people don't get Kelly Wearstler but I really admire her. She wrote many years ago that she wanted to own her own "marvelous design and furnishings business" and she turned her dream into a reality. Just being at her office and in her presence made me feel inspired and motivated to keep plugging away at my own dreams! I want to thank Andrea for setting it up and Kelly for taking time out of her busy day to meet with us. I was about to say that it was a great way to end the day but there was one more fabulous surprise to await us that day! Stay tuned for details!

Photos from www.kwid.com and by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Chic in LA: The Avalon Hotel

As I've mentioned a million times, I had an amazing time in LA! I didn't think anything could top my trip to Paris but LA came very close! Paris was all about the architecture and beauty of the city while LA was all about the people and design stores. I definitely could not have experienced as much as I did if I had not had LA local Christian May of Maison21 as my tour guide! Not only did he take me to the best local haunts, he also drove me all around town to see the fabulous sites and joined me to meet some wonderful blogger friends including the lovely world traveler Lisa of A Bloomsbury Life, the ridiculously beautiful and thoughtful Taryn of Taryn Cox The Wife, the talented and tall Becca of Rebecca June Interior Design, and sweet and chic Style Curator who would like to remain anonymous for now!

I also owe a big thank you to Andrea Borda Stanford, the Design + Style Editor of C Magazine who planned the most amazing day of design which included among other things, meeting Kathryn Ireland, Madeline Stuart, Peter Dunham, Windsor Smith, and Kelly Wearstler! It was a dream day! I wasn't sure where to even begin but I figured the best place to start on my LA posts would be the very chic Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills that was designed by Ms. Wearstler and was home away from home during my stay in LA.

Uber chic interior designer Kelly Wearstler originally designed the hotel 10 years ago and is now updating it. The lobby and restaurant have already been transformed in her new 70's glamorous style and the rooms are next in line for a make-over.

The hotel sits on a corner lot and is only three stories so you're guaranteed great service! The hotel staff couldn't have been nicer and even welcomed me "home" when I returned back at the end of the day which I thought was sweet!

A fun fact is that Marilyn Monroe and Mae West both lived here in the 1950's when it was the known as the Beverly Carlton.

I absolutely loved the color scheme of aqua and gold in the lobby and that painted ceiling!

The colors remind me of the ocean and look great with the always blue LA sky!

I'm calling these sculptures modern totem poles.

The Oliverio restaurant is garnering rave reviews for not only the design but the great cuisine! It was packed for lunch and dinner during my entire stay too!

You can see through to the pool when you enter the hotel.

All the lounge chairs face the sun for the serious tanning enthusiasts!

I would sit in the sun by the pool every morning while waiting for Christian to pick me up. It was heaven!

The cabanas are the best part of the pool area and can be reserved for lunch and dinner.

I had a great view of the pool when I walked to my room!

For a small hotel, it was full of greenery!

The rooms on the left have little balconies. I'm kind of jealous that I didn't have one too!

I had fabulous weather for my entire trip to LA as you can see by the bright blue sky in this photo!

As I mentioned, the rooms have not been renovated yet so they still retain the mid-century feel of Kelly Wearstler's first design. They are large and comfortable and will only get better if they decorate them in the blues of the lobby. I especially loved the floor to ceiling windows that afforded me a great view of the sunrise every morning! The rates are actually quite reasonable as well. I paid $168 per night plus tax for two nights and was graciously offered two complimentary nights.

My room also looked out over the little building across the street that can accommodate more hotel guests. I really enjoyed my stay at the Avalon Hotel Beverly Hills and can't wait to stay again after the rooms are updated. I enjoyed this trip to LA so much that I think they are going to become a regular habit!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

In the Closet

I'm off to meet New York Closet Company at one of my projects so we can plan out the dressing room. For inspiration, I'll be taking along the March 2010 issue of Canadian House & Home magazine that featured not one, not two, not three, but four fabulous closets! The pièce de résistance being the "dreamy dressing room" of Kelly Wearstler. I'll be staying at the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills which she recently redesigned when I am in Los Angeles so I will soon have more of her work to share with you! Bon Weekend!

I love the light and airy feel of this closet and the details of the built-ins.

Every dressing room should include a chair for putting on your shoes or holding a handbag.

Here is a look inside Kelly Wearstler's enviable dressing room with what I assume is a carpet of her own design.

I love the idea of adding dividers to keep bags upright and neat. My shelf of clutches looks like a jumbled mess unlike this one!

Kelly's collection of hats and shoes are as colorful as her design work and her new book! Wonder what size she wear.

My client has a lot of jewelry so we'll definitely be planning jewelry drawers that will be lined with velvet just like Kelly's.

Since black has become a popular color in the design world, it's no wonder that it has extended into the closet. It looks really elegant and we're also going to add a chandelier to my client's dressing room. You just have to make sure it gives off enough light so you can see what you're picking out in the morning! The closet below is more clean lined and would look great in modern apartment.

All photos from Canadian House & Home

Day Four Giveaway: HUE by Kelly Wearstler

I know. I know. Not everyone loves Kelly Wearstler's over the top designs. That means those of you who do have a better chance of winning a copy of her new book HUE that AMMO Books was gracious enough to offer to one lucky Habitually Chic reader! I happen to love it and the color combinations in it are amazing!

To enter to win a copy of HUE by Kelly Wearstler, please send your name and address to the special giveaway email address habituallychiccontest@gmail.com. I won't use your address for any other purpose but to send you the book. Please write HUE in the subject line. You can enter each giveaway but only one entry per person per giveaway. Anyone who doesn't follow the rules will be disqualified. Entries may be received until 11:59pm EST on Sunday, December 20, 2009. Winner will be announced on Monday, December 21, 2009. Happy Holidays and Good Luck!

HUE by Kelly Wearstler

Camellia. Wisteria. Vermillion. When the first chapter of a book starts with these three words, you know it's going to be good but HUE is more than just good. It is a kaleidoscope of the most amazing color in some of the most awe inspiring interiors I have ever seen! Tonight was the book signing at Bergdorf Goodman and Ms. Wearstler could not have been nicer or more gracious to the crowd clamoring for her autograph and attention which included actresses Sarah Wynter and Stefanie March, and fashion designer Derek Lam. On sale was the limited edition slipcased book and I highly recommend that you splurge on this copy or ask Santa to bring it to you for Christmas because the outside is just as gorgeous as the photos inside.

What I love about Kelly Wearstler is that she is always blazing a new trail. You may not like it but you have to give her credit for thinking outside the box and creating designs that are uniquely her own. I also highly admire that her ambition was always to own her own design firm and that she made her dream a reality, and then some! I hear her that one of her new ventures will be jewelry and I can already imagine that it will be like nothing we've seen before and just as fabulous as her new book! I think I will be inspired by it for years to come and I think you will be too!