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Get Lost in the Chic La Jolla Design District |
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From unique furnishings to vintage glass, coveted items abound on Girard Avenue
There is nothing quite like the excitement of redesigning your home. Just ask Esteban Lopez, interior designer and principal of Esteban Interiors. He not only redesigns for his clients, he shops for them, too. He understands firsthand the satisfaction of finding the perfect item. Having recently relocated his showroom and gallery to Girard Avenue, he also knows the ins and outs of a booming design district ripe with resources for the home.
When designing spaces, Lopez finds inspiration in one of the most important aspects of his work: his clients. “I look at their surroundings in terms of where they live, how they live and how they are looking to use the space,” he says. Although not committed to any one style, Lopez does like to incorporate urban chic into his designs, as well as a mixture of period pieces.
Where to begin? First, at Pannikin Coffee & Tea, for a mocha with just a touch of cinnamon. With its collection of lacquered custom end tables and vintage vignette glass, Esteban Interiors would be his next stop, of course. But with clients needing all sorts of home products—from furnishings to linens to accessories—this savvy designer appreciates having other reliable sources within walking distance.
“I would definitely go to Divan + Studio,” says Lopez, who began his design career in his native New York. “They have lots of great lines, such as Cassina.” When looking for new designs in modern furniture, he shops Ligne Roset. For an incredible source of bathroom fixtures and tile, he heads to Waterworks. When designing a traditional palette, he finds inspiring hand-painted tile at Cabochon. However, he’s currently coveting a pair of French chairs at Maudlin.
A trip to the La Jolla Design District wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Cerruti & Company, which “has the most eclectic assortment of furniture in this area,” Lopez says, or MOS: My Own Space, with its unique assortment of “accessories and kitschy objects.” He could go on and on about not-to-miss spots in the area—Roche-Bobois, Everett Stunz, Seaside Home, Design Studio West . . . even Armani Exchange, where the fashion is always inspiring.
Indeed, the hunt for the perfect chair, lamp or linens can be exhausting— which makes the La Jolla Design District ideal. At the end of a long day, Lopez retreats to the water’s edge to watch the sunset. He might even head to Georges at the Cove for a crisp apple martini.
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