Artists, dreamers, visionaries, eccentrics: they’ve all been lured to La La Land, leaving a visible imprint on the city’s colourful streets. West Hollywood, in particular, abounds with architectural and design eye-candy. We lead you on a jaunt of the neighbourhood’s archi, art with pitstops for decor shopping and viewy dining.
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Firing up your ride, zip up to Stahl House in the sceney Hollywood Hills, where you must book a tour to get the skinny on this Pierre Koenig-designed dream home, owned by the stylish Stahl family. It’s easy to see why this beacon of C.20th architecture was named one of the city’s Historic-Cultural Monuments and has starred in countless movies and magazine spreads – just add staggering outlook across LA and you’ll be most taken.
Continue playing house by zapping back into town, and pulling up at Schindler House, which is home to MAK Center for Art and Architecture. Des-res Cali architecture doesn’t get more memorable than this – for example, instead of bedrooms, the structure has rooftop baskets designed to bed down in.
By now you must be hungrier than an aspiring starlet. Scoot to vibrant, hip strip Fairfax for lunch at our fave, recently spruced feel-good Italian joint, Jon & Vinny’s – while there, ensure you pop into on-site sommelier-run vino shop Helen’s to procure a bottle for lunch or order for delivery later.
PM
Post hand-tossed pizza, hit up the Los Angeles County Museum of Art aka LACMA, which is sparkling from a box-fresh makeover. The museum has a global contemporary focus, with contributions from India, China, Japan, Germany, Africa and across the Americas.
Now you’ve got plenty of design inspiration under your belt, it’s time to inject your own pad with a spruce of Cali glam, starting at Blackman Cruz just north of Melrose. This eccentric king of neo-Gothic interiors hoards exotic, unique and spectacular collectibles, rare finds and conversation-starting decor.
Or, for more carry-on-friendly finery, Heath Ceramics over on Beverly shelves Mid Century-ish tableware and home-enhancing tiles that’ll have you all fired up. The attention to detail is immaculate, and if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, there’s select custom service.
Now, how better to take it all in than from above? LA’s best rooftop beckons… showstopper L.P. offers a panor-glam-a aspect over the Hills, plus handcrafted cocktails and trad Southeast Asian street food. Downstairs, sibling E.P. is a raucous eating house for Thailand-meets-Fuji fare. Phew, you must be exhausted. Back to your pamper pad at The Peninsula Beverly Hills to sleep and dream of Gehry.
The original version of this article was written by LUXE for PenCities.
For more beacons of architecture and design, get your mitts on the LUXE Los Angeles guide…
