If it’s October, it’s WestEdge, and we’re thrilled to again be sponsors. The event kicks off this Thursday night and is followed by three days of programming that brings together some of our of best and brightest local talents.

We’re especially excited unveil this year’s Convo by Design (CXD) stage designed by Calabasas-based Julia Wong. (Our previous designers were Kelley Jackson and Ryan White.) “The stage was inspired by chat shows such as Graham Norton,” says Julia. “I’ve created a more laid-back floor plan encouraging free conversation.” The designer opted for earth tones, especially “hues of bronze and champagne” to keep the space light and bright. She also used jacquards and velvets with a modern edge. Thank you to our friends at Cambria, Kravet, Donghia and Janet Yonaty for helping to create a beautiful space.

 Designer Julia Wong enjoying Milan during our trip to Salone del Mobile last spring.

“I chose Julia because I’ve been a huge fan of hers for quite some time. She was actually featured on Convo By Design Presented By Snyder Diamond in episode number two!” says the podcast’s host, Josh Cooperman. “Her work is luxurious—that’s the theme this year—and she’s transformed the stage into a lounge that will be the perfect backdrop for our curated group of speakers.”

You can check out the full roster of panels here but don’t miss Josh’s conversations with designers Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis; architects Brian Pinkett of Landry Design Group and Dan Brunn; Erika Heet of Interiors magazine; Chris Gialanella and Laura Eckstein Jones of Modern Luxury publishing group; and decorative artist Shari Tipich. And that’s just a tiny sampling of all that’s in store.

While exploring the fair, be sure to visit our vendors, who will be showing their latest kitchen and bath designs: Graff, Jenn-Air, Native Trails, THG Paris, True Residential and Samuel Heath. One of our newest vendors, Seattle-based NK Woodworking & Design, will present one of our favorite new designs, the wooden Lotus tub. It’s an exquisite, handcrafted tub that brings a luminous warmth to the bathroom.

With so much to explore at Westedge 2018 we’re also looking forward to seeing friends like Moya Living, Flexform LA, with whom we developed our 2018 Salone del Mobile trip, (wh)ORE HAUS STUDIOS and Design Milk. And because we’re dog-lovers at Snyder Diamond, you can bet we’ll be visiting Barkiture. Designer dog beds that help support animal charities? We love that!

But we can’t end this post without showing you a little of Julia’s work. While she’s know for creating refined residential interiors, she’s also currently working on several high-end marijuana dispensaries in the L.A. area. Take a peek at the renderings below—they’re gorgeous spaces! The designs offer an extraordinary retail experience that’s more akin to a luxury spa than a smoke shop.

See you at the show! In the meantime, check out a few of our past WestEdge posts:

Tour the Paris Fairs with Megan Reilly of WestEdge

THG Paris Debuts its Latest at WestEdge

Ryan White, Designer of Our WestEdge Tent