Last month I took a quick trip to LA to check out some of my fav design sources, see some friends and just have a little reset, get out of small town Sonoma and find inspiration!

I used to live in LA in the early 2000’s, back then it was a love/ hate for me. But now that I am gone, I must say I really miss LA! I miss all the fantastic restaurants, shopping, sourcing, sunny skies, palm trees and amazing homes! It’s always good to come home to Sonoma, and soak in the sprawling country but I certainly miss the buzz of LaLa Land. Flying out of our little Sonoma County airport and the quick 1.5 hour flight, you can’t go wrong!

I travelled with my good friend and fellow designer Kim Betzina. We stayed at the Incredibly Designed Proper Hotel Santa Monica by Kelly Wearstler, which was by far a highlight! Design eye candy in every direction. My take away was plaster walls everywhere, loads of grasscloth, incredible art, moody sconces, curated corners, 3-D installations and a toned down color palette. I. Just. Couldn’t. Get. Enough.

We packed every day in with incredible shopping (and a few big celeb sightings, but of course!). Our highlights below…

WEST HOLLYwOOD

West Hollywood (WeHo) is a mecca of furniture shops! But they are spread out so you’ll want to hit a few areas, starting east and working your way west.

MELROSE AVE.

The first is on Melrose between Highland and La Brea Blvd., where you’ll find staple Lawson-Fenning, and a ton of little shops along that strip. This is also the start of the famous Melrose Ave. which continues west.

Lawson-Fenning
Contemporary Furniture
6824 Melrose Ave
lawsonfenning.com

Galerie Half
Antiques
6911 Melrose Ave.
galeriehalf.com

Sumner
Contemporary Furniture
6915 Melrose Ave
sumnershop.com

BEVERLY BLVD.

From here you’ll want to hop west and south to Beverly Blvd. between La Brea and Fairfax to shop must-see Nickey Kehoe

Nickey Kehoe
Globally-Source Furniture & Accessories
7266 Beverly Blvd
nickeykehoe.com

+COOP
Home Decor & Lifestyle Goods
7278 Beverly Blvd
shopcoopla.com

LA CIENEGA

Keep heading west and eventually you’ll hit La Cienega Blvd. Head north to find Una Malan and Harbinger.

Una Malan
Contemporary Furniture
814 N. La Cienega Blvd.
unamalan.com

Harbinger
Textiles, Rugs, Wallpaper, Furniture, Accessories
752 N. La Cienega Blvd.
harbingerla.com

And before you leave WeHo, be sure to head further west and swing by THE Ann Sacks Tile in another little hub of decor shops near the Pacific Design Center.

Ann Sacks
Tile
8935 Beverly Blvd
annsacks.com

ABBOT KINNEY, VENICE

A lot of shops and people watching on a few blocks here in Venice Beach. Some great food spots too to grab a bite (or drinks). Stahl+Band was one of our faves!

Stahl+Band
2308 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
stahlandband.com

I did get to sneak in an incredible dinner at Palma, lobby of The Proper with my girl Kim. But let me say a highlight for sure was lucking out with a last-minute reservation for Santa Monica hotspot Elephante with my friend and marketing maven Erika Brechtel and her friend/client Alessandra Salituri of Citizen Atelier who was visiting from Canada! (Please check out these girls if you are unfamiliar with them!) The food was delish and the decor to die for. So cute.