Even though La Jolla Design District’s annual home furnishings and interior design event is raising money through “Chair-ity,” sometimes its events are standing room only.
La Jolla’s top home and interior designers are banding together for the fourth annual What’s Up Girard 200″designer showcase on Saturday, Sept. 8.
The event will feature a series of interactive displays and lectures at 10 locations on a four-block stretch of Girard Avenue.
The La Jolla Design district has evolved into an area that has some of the most renowned showrooms in Southern California,” said event spokeswoman Heidi Hageman.
“It’s a self-proclaimed ‘design district’ because there are so many things you can find there,” she said. “The owners have banded together so they could be stronger as a business collective than as individuals.”
Following the daytime lectures, which run from 1 to 5 p.m. and are free and open to the public, private showroom soirees will be held in the evening.
This year’s participants include Seaside Home, Roche Bobois, Everett Stunz, Panto, Waterworks, Nestlife, Design Studio West and Material Things, among others.
“It will be both entertaining and educational,” said Debbie Tremble, owner of Nestlife, a showroom of fine china, crystal, linens and unique gifts for the home. “We’re expecting a very large turnout. La Jolla has great style and a customer base with great taste.”
In addition to a display of the Baccarat line of crystal and figurines, Nestlife will host Dutch floral designer Rene van Rems, who will demonstrate how to integrate beautiful bouquets into daily life.
Roche Bobois will feature artist Norm Looney delivering a seminar on the evolution of a contemporary artist and how to integrate contemporary design into the home.
Panto, the Italian window, door and garden furniture manufacturer, will host Simon Menegazzo, who will speak on using green products in current architecture.
Design Studio West will host a seminar on how to select a builder and designer for your home project; and Waterworks co-founder Barbara Sallick will discuss how to turn everyday inspiration into design ideas for the home.
In addition to promoting the design district, What’s up Girard 2007 raises money for a good cause.
Since Aug. 15, each participating showroom has been displaying a silent auction item ” including chairs ” up for bid. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the La Jolla High School Foundation, the school’s nonprofit fund-raising entity. According to the LJSH Foundation website, last year the school suffered a $430,000 budget cut. The funds raised will help cushion the blow.
For more information on What’s Up Girard participants and a seminar schedule, visit www.whatsupgirard.com.
