Pacific Design Center Announces 2012 WESTWEEK Event

PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER ANNOUNCES 2012 WESTWEEK EVENT
Keynote Speaker Margaret Russell, the Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest
Opens West Coast Design Conference
March 20, 21 & 22

Stars of Design and Stars on the Rise 2012 Announced

Artist Sami Hayek Included in Design Loves Art Opening Evening

March 13, 2012 –West Hollywood, CA, The Pacific Design Center has announced its WESTWEEK opening events which include Margaret Russell, Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest to open the West Coast industry gathering on Wednesday, March 20^th and runs through Thursday, March 22, 2012.  Located at the Pacific Design Center (www.pacificdesigncenter.com), the leading resource of interior design trades, the two-day conference is attended by design professionals and enthusiasts in the trade business.

“We are thrilled to have Margaret Russell, the Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest, to participate in our annual event,” said Charles S. Cohen. “This kind of participation to the design community here in Los Angeles, reinforces the strength and talent that the world looks upon in trends and creative direction. It’s an honor to have Margaret be our opening keynote speaker.”

To kick-off the WESTWEEK activities, PDC’s Design Loves Art program will host numerous design and cultural exhibitions that include such highlights as design artist Sami Hayek’s new exhibit of furniture and accessories as well as “Material Matters,” twenty-five works by five architects, inspired by Robert Irwin and James Turrell, that comprise a collectively curated exhibition.  The collaborative effort has resulted in a surprising array of objects that will be displayed in the Lobby spaces of the PDC.   A full preview of the Design Loves Art March 20^th program may be viewed at www.pacificdesigncenter.com website.  The exhibition is open to the public and begins at 5:00p.m.-8:00p.m. on the 2^nd floor of the Blue building.

Day 1

On Wednesday, March 21^st, the official opening day of WESTWEEK, Editor-in-Chief, Margaret Russell of Architectural Digest, will discuss the latest trends in architectural and interior-design photography—covering everything from how to prepare your projects for photo shoots to how to effectively promote your work both in print and online exposure.  10:00a.m.-11:00a.m.—Silver Screen Theatre. Other highlights of the action packed two-day conference include:

• Wednesday, March 21^st — 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.—The Rise of the Rock Stars—panel discussion facilitated by Erin Feher, Executive Editor of California Home + Design will host Interior Design stars Martyn Lawrence-Bullard (Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators), David Bromstad (HGTV’s Color Splash), Antonio Ballatore (HGTV’s The Antonio Treatment) and Kathryn Ireland (Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators).

Location:  Blue Conference Center, B259.

To name a few, The Pacific Design Center’s design showrooms will host numerous parties and open houses including showroom attractions with the following participants:

• Kravet – The Journey from Designer to Brand hosted by Windsor Smith, West Coast Interior Designer (3/21 11:00am-12:00pm, Suite B624)
• Schumacher – Designing For The Sophisticated Child, with designer Lulu DK and Susan North, Schumacher’s Senior Vice President of Design and Creative Director, and Andrea Stanford, VP of Merchandising for One Kings Lane  (3/21, 2:00pm-3:00pm, Suite B259)
• James Perse – Cocktail Open House with James Perse himself, the Southern California purveyor of minimalist, casual and sophisticated style (3/21, 5:00pm-7:00pm, Suite B130)
• Lee Jofa – Designing Your Practice Around Your Passion by Keith Granet, Founder of Granet and Associates  (3/21, 1:00pm-2:00pm, Suite B639)

STARS OF DESIGN AND STARS ON THE RISE 2012

The 2012 Stars of Design and the newly added, Stars on the Rise, will receive their awards in a private annual awards ceremony hosted by Charles S. Cohen and members of the design community.  Established over a decade ago in Los Angeles at the Pacific Design Center, the Stars of Design Awards honor professionals who have achieved recognition in various fields of design.  The Stars on the Rise Award was created this year to recognize those individuals for their achievements in the field of design and are selected as the ones to watch.  All honorees are highly regarded for their significant contributions to their professions.  The 2012 winners include:

Stars of Design:

Luc Leestemaker – ART www.lucleestemaker.com

Regina Rubino – GRAPHIC DESIGN www.imageglobalvision.com

Roger Davis – PHOTOGRAPHY www.rogerdaviesphotography.com

Molly Wood – URBAN DESIGN www.mollywoodgardendesign.com

Donna Livingston – INTERIOR DESIGN www.dlivingstondesign.com

Neil M. Denari – ARCHITECTURE www.nmda-inc.com

Waldo Fernandez – LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT www.waldosdesigns.com

Stars on the Rise:

Natasha Baradaran www.natashabaradaran.com

Tracie Butler www.traciebutlerdesign.com

Alexandra von Furstenberg www.alexandravonfurstenberg.com

DAY 2

Thursday, March 22^nd, 10:00a.m.-11:00a.m.—Take Five: Four Designers Talk About Influence, Fantasy, and How to Stay Inspired: Bold face design talents for this panel discussion include Charlotte Moss, Suzanne Kasler, David Netto and Gaye Tapp for a lively discussion as they share their impressions of exciting room designs, beautiful places, and their influences and inspiration in design today.

Thursday, March 22^nd, 3:00p.m.-4:00p.m.—What Makes The “A” Team? Successful Partnering on Luxury Estates:  How to Maintain a Perfect Storm without Stormy Weather—As a highlight of WESTWEEK 2012, the top residential luxury estate teams discusses the art of successful partnering on high-end homes.  California Homes Editor Susan McFadden moderates a panel of the city’s leading estate professionals. Location:  Blue Conference Center, B259

Other showrooms hosting events include (but not all), Andrew Martin, Cowtan & Tout, Mimi London, Inc., Euro Concepts Kitchen, Thomas Lavin, Fabricut, Inc., Baker Knapp & Tubbs, Aran Cucine, Montanari Group, JANUS et Cie, Witford, L&L-Pesetti Collection, Ralph Pucci West Coast, Elevator Boutique, Poggenpohl, Kneedler Fauchere, Nancy Corzine, Donghia, Michaelian & Kohlberg, Holly Hunt, AIA/ASID/California Homes magazine Keynote, Espasso.

Detailed events, times and locations may be found at:  www.pacificdesigncenter.com

Tuesday March 20^th – Thursday March 22^nd, 2012
Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles
8687 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90069
# 310.657.0800

CONTACT:

Margaret Dunne                                                                                
Director Of Marketing, PDC
Mdunne@pacificdesigncenter.com  
(310) 360-6404   

Karine Joret
Joret Group                                                 
Karine@joretgroup.com
(424) 744-8666

About Pacific Design Center
Pacific Design Center is the west coast’s leading resource for the interior design trades.  With more than 130 showrooms and 2,200 interior product lines, PDC sells to the design professional and enthusiast.  PDC serves the needs of the design, entertainment and arts communities by providing public and private conference spaces for lectures, meetings, special events, screenings, exhibitions and receptions. A premier, multi-use facility, Pacific Design Center features The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA); two Wolfgang Puck restaurants; Design Café by Food+Lab; Silver Screen Theater, a 388 seat state-of-the-art luxury film venue and reception facility featuring sound by Steinway Lyngdorf; and Blue Conference Center, a 200 seat facility fully equipped for lectures, conferences and public meetings. Pacific Design Center is located at 8687 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, CA. For more information, call 310-657-0800 or visit www.pacificdesigncenter.com.