Travel. It’s a verb, meaning…well, you know what it means. But did you know that the etymology of the word travel likely comes from the French travail, which means work (or, better yet, travailler: strenuous work)?! Which is genuinely hilarious, given that we all work SO WE CAN TRAVEL. Travel daydreams carry us through the mundane, and the sheer act of planning a trip has been shown to boost the mood. And all that hype and anticipation isn’t in vain. When the time finally arrives, the travels themselves have the incomparable power to bring us fresh perspectives. It’s a conduit to recharge, reset and inspire. And that’s exactly what Anne’s most recent trip to LA delivered (take that, etymology!). Here’s a few musings and an extra helping of photos. 

design inspiration: 1 hotel west hollywood

It should be no surprise that her specific destination would be the West Hollywood Design District. It’s a mecca for organic-modern, the beating heart of light and bright, a cultural destination for creatives! Basically, it’s perfectly teed up to be our BFF. But before we jump into some of our favorite design destinations, a quick word about the hotel, 1 Hotel West Hollywood.

Greenery everywhere, an outdoor oasis seamlessly carried indoors (in the middle of LA’s concrete jungle, no less!), fabulous fixtures, a conscientious environmental footprint…who wouldn’t want this to be their home away from home for a weekend? Honestly, there was enough design inspiration packed into this hotel for a blog of its own, but we have way too many photos on our phones to stop there. Check out some of our favorite stops from the actual Design District below. Here’s what we’re loving…

Design Bar’s favorites: weho design district

(1) DOA (Design around Objects): Makes you wonder what is fine art and what is furniture! Their collection of pieces was truly stunning, unexpected, unique and all derived from natural materials. Teak root table bases and palm tree planters, oh my! This true display of artistry will be something we return to for inspiration again and again.

(2) Perennials and Sutherland: Design Bar’s favorite for exceptional and luxurious outdoor furniture and fabrics. (If you need some outdoor furniture/fabric, you’re in luck—we carry them in our Shoppe!)

(3) James Perse: Originally a fashion line that now has a rich and natural furniture collection. At Design Bar, we are all about mixing different styles together to create maximum character and visual interest. James Perse’s combination of modern, teak outdoor pieces mixed with rich, vintage gems makes for the perfect design fusion.

(4) Formations: Nature-inspired, transitional vibe stonework with historical influence; hand-crafted in LA. Formations is a Design District OG that has stood the test of time—and for good reason! They are pioneers of the SoCal ‘organic modern’ feel, which has heavily influenced the region’s more traditional, Latin-inspired aesthetic.

(5) Miscellaneous finds we love: (The first chandelier is made of love notes! What a great infusion of romance and sentiment to add into the home).

We can’t take you all with us for our travels, but we hope that this peek into the West Hollywood Design District inspires you to take a break from the hustle and grind of daily life to travel, however near or far. Soak in your new surroundings. See what things draw you into the present moment, and let the fresh inspiration guide your next steps. 

Happy traveling, friends!