"LA Is a Place to Take Risks" — Where Design Superstar Kelly Wearstler Finds Inspiration in the City of Angels

What better way to see the world than through the eyes of our favorite tastemakers? In Hidden Trails, we look at the places that feel most like home to our community of design insiders — wherever those might be — to help you uncover what their cities have in store for you.

If there's a designer who has successfully made of California's sun-bathed palette and textural earthiness her signature trademark, it's Kelly Wearstler. Originally from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, ever since launching her eponymous studio in Los Angeles in 1995, the prolific interiors superstar has been continuously searching for ways to translate the city's dramatic nature, laid-back cool, and warmth into experiential as well as collectible designs that honor its cultural legacy while always looking forward.

The daughter of an antique dealer, Wearstler has paired her early love of vintage and artisanal craft with a worldly-inspired understanding of creativity, letting her genius manifest in projects that span architecture, curation, creative direction, and interior as well as industrial design. Credited with having "changed the look of boutique hotels around the world" by The New York Times, she is to the hospitality scene what Charles and Ray Eames, Gio Ponti, and Paul Evans were to mid-century modern furniture design.

A front-runner of indoor-outdoor living in decor, Wearstler masterfully incorporates location-specific organic materials, contrasting patterns and lines, and theatrical, staggering artwork into residential, holiday, and retail destinations that, while anchored in the heritage of the territory, tell a story of their own. More than anything, though, her portfolio soaks in the radiance and lushness of the West Coast to take it to the rest of the globe.

"Like so many other dreamers, I came to Los Angeles with a vision," she tells me of her decision to relocate to what became her chosen home, which hasn't only allowed her to bring that vision to life but also inspired its continual evolution. At its heart, "LA is a place to take risks," says the designer. "It's about discovery and innovation." So if you're looking to go off the beaten path, this is where creative inspiration is hiding at.

1. See Creativity Evolve at David Kordansky Gallery

5130 W Edgewood Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90019, United States

Whenever I need a dose of pure creative adrenaline, this gallery is my first stop. David has this exceptional eye for artists who are redefining what's possible — exactly the kind of pioneering spirit that makes Los Angeles such a magnetic force for innovators all over the world.

2. Feel at Home at E. Baldi

375 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, United States

E. Baldi is where I go when I need that perfect mix of sophisticated and relaxed — quintessentially LA. The intimate setting feels like being transported to a Tuscan village but with that effortless California energy. The pasta is divine, but it's the warm, familial atmosphere that keeps drawing me back. It's become my personal sanctuary for both business lunches and family dinners.

3. Search for Decor Treasures at The Window

6825 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038, United States

One of my go-to design destinations in LA, this showroom is pure magic — it's the kind of place that makes me want to rearrange my entire home. The curation of The Window is impeccable, mixing rare vintage finds with contemporary pieces in a way that feels distinctly Los Angeles.

4. Get a Slice of LA's Cool at Maxfield

8825 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90069, United States

Maxfield is a true Los Angeles institution where design, art, and fashion collide most extraordinarily. The building itself is a masterpiece of industrial architecture, and inside is an ever-evolving conversation between cutting-edge couture and collectible design. Maxfield's boundless vision captures the fearless spirit of Los Angeles.

5. Witness Design and Nature at Play at The Huntington Library's Botanical Gardens

1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108, United States

The Botanical Gardens at the Huntington Library are pure inspiration. Throughout the park, rare specimens collected over centuries create this extraordinary interplay of texture, form, and light. Every path offers a new study in organic design principles.

6. Revel in Vibrancy at Downtown LA Proper Hotel

1100 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States

The Proper Hotels hold a special place in my heart because they embody everything I love about Los Angeles. Each space tells the story of its neighborhood through a dialogue of custom furniture, curated art, and local design elements. They're layered, unexpected, and pure LA.

Discovering the City of Angels in the footsteps of Kelly Wearstler is your shortcut to unexpected, design-worthy destinations. But what if I told you we have been working hard to bring you the best Los Angeles hotels for interiors obsessives? Crafted by some of the world's leading creatives, these stays allow you to soak in the finest art and decor manifestations directly from your room. Want to bring a piece of the Californian metropolis home with you? Browse our curation of the best concept stores in Los Angeles (or the best furniture ones) to know where local creatives are getting their retail fix at.