Chic in LA: Kelly Wearstler’s Office
by habituallychic
03 . 24 . 10
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! 
32 Comments
What a lucky day! So glad you got to see the offices, and shared them with us! Very inspiring indeed. I literally just did a post about her, well, including her. Flipping through her Modern Drama book this a.m., I was reminded that talent is only half, or less, of it. I know from people who have worked with her that she’s as hard working as she is talented. Something for us all to keep in mind. Thanks for the post!
Wow! I am so excited that you had this opportunity. Her office is incredibly chic and so are you!!
Oh, and I love that her skirt in the first image is made from her very own line of fabric. Fabulous! She looks like a modern Chanel!
I love her and her coral carpet! I applaud her for being adventurous and taking risks in her designs. What a stunningly chic office : )
XO Katie
If anyone can expand into the fashion world it’s Kelly! My goodness, her designs would be so fun to see… and you know everyone will be on the edge of their seats just waiting for the grand reveal!
Best to her on this new venture and thank you for this post, a creative spark has been lit in the right side of my brain!
Sweet greetings from Frog Hollow Farm. Sounds like it was a wonderful experience! Ciao, bella!
What a treat – for you and for us!! KW is certainly inspirational. Can’t wait to see what she does next. So excited that you got to meet her and see her place of work.
Who doesn’t get Kelly Wearstler?! She is fabulous.
SO jealous you got a peek into her real world.
WOW we are so totally on the same page here. I just posted a blog about one of Kelly Wearstler’s designs for The Rug Company. What a special treat for me to get a little peek at her office through you. Thanks HC!
Bre @ http://theredbungalow.blogspot.com
oh wow~! That is so awesome. The picutres are fabulous! I just ADOREEEE that painting. :] oh my doughnuts im ready to go paint now!! thanks for the inspiration, love!
Gorgeous
How exciting. That is the most amazing conference room!
I love KWID… She is gorgeous and sooo talented!
Isnt that the quote she gave playboy?
So amazing!! I am super jealous. This must have been an amazing experience.
Thanks for sharing!
~Edyta
Wow, that sounds like so much fun! I know KWID isn’t for everyone, but I love love love Kelly’s style. I met her briefly at the book party for HUE, and she was so sweet. And I hope I look as good as she does when I’m 40!!
Alexandra Rae – I know a lot of people who have had friends who have worked with her and they all say the same thing. She was wonderfully down to earth when we were there too. Love her!
Style Chronicle – I wish I could have showed you more. It’s huge! Thanks for the sweet compliment too! I’m so glad you noticed the skirt too! Makes me want to have one made!
NEO-Traditionalist/Katie – the colors were just stunning in person! Makes me want to paint something coral now too!
Jessica – I wonder where they will be sold! I’ll have to keep an eye out but I’m assuming Bergorfs in New York.
Frog Hollow Farm Girl – It was amazing! Ciao!
Gramercy Home – I think the possibilities are endless for KW! She’s so creative!
Housewife – you know, some people. They must be crazy 😉
Red Bungalow – I’ll have to go take a look! I wonder the designs I saw will go into production. I’ll have to check with my friend who works for them.
mAdi*cakes – I know! I think I might pick up some supplies at the art store tomorrow!
Atelier-M Living – Agreed!
Lavender and Lilies – If I worked there, I’d probably sit around staring at the fabulousness all day!
Edyta – It was a once in a lifetime event! But at least I shared it 😉
Wow! Kelly looks gorgeous on this picture! I’m delighted with those photos
i wish i could have taken you back to see the office kitchen- the most fabulous break room kitchenette in office history! all antique mirror, ebonized wood and book-matched black marble. it was fantabulous, and the thing i was most struck by on my first tour of the space. i mean, who lavishes that kind of attention on where the employees nuke their lean cuisines? ms. wearstler does!
oh yeah- all the cleaning products were mrs. meyers’. yup, i peeked in the cupboards…
Lucky you! Kelly is FABULOUS and you got an inside peek into her world. Can’t get much better than that! Love hearing about your trip to L.A. and living vicariously through you.
okay, that was like the prettiest thing i’ve ever seen. first, her outfit is to die for. that flame-stitch patterned skirt and the bow-tie! oh my! and of course her office is fab. i hope one day soon i can have an office like that!!! oy!
How inpiring!
That must have been an amazing visit! This post left me with a BOOST of inspiration! Thanks for sharing.. 🙂
my jaw has dropped!
her outfit is inspiring my outfit today..i love that she is southern..she sounds like she still has that charm!
I interned at KWID after they had just moved into the La Cienega office…I seriously miss that place!! And I was totally impressed that Kelly was in the office most every day, working on projects. I love that even though she has a private office, she prefers to sit at a desk out in the main room with the rest of the designers. She is SO kind and talented to boot. Glad you got the chance to see that fabulous space in person!
http://mylittleapartment.blogspot.com/
Really terrific post. It’s obvious she was inspiring – not just creatively but personally. She is a woman I truly admire and this peak into her work space was a total treat! Marija
Thanks for sharing that…I don’t see how people can’t get her. Designers are like artists, we can’t really ‘get’ any of them. We can enjoy (or not) their artwork. The fact their making it is just, well, it’s amazing.
Sara
I’ve always been inspired by her as a designer. She’s not licensed…in fact, the state of Florida issued a cease and desist to her because of that….and her talent overshadows any credential that she could ever get. I admire her work ethic and her need to create. Thanks for sharing.
Her offices just look otherworldly. And I love the type on her logo. Classic.
It’s so amazing that you really got to see behind the scenes of KWID. I adore her so much and I bet it must have been incredibly inspiring to meet her and see her work in progress backstage. I would love to have those opportunity once too. Thank you for sharing the story and the photos.
Chris
theoccasionaldigest.blogspot.com
Great experience! Fashion and jewelry (especially jewelry) seem like a natural next step. I can totally see that with her! Fab!
Oh wow! Thanks for the insider’s peek into her office space. I love it and I am dying to steal her outfit. 🙂
I’m a huge Kelly fan as you can see from my style blog (I just wrote an entry about her). Check it out at http://www.FabGabBlog.com
glad to have found you!
She is so pretty in that pretty ensemble in the first image. Thanks for sharing these!!
Regards, Whitley Adkins Hamlin
http://www.thequeencitystyle.com