On Location
By Jennifer Quail, About.com Guide
Los Angeles area
I've called the L.A. area home twice (so far) and have visited more times than I can count. It's an amazing city for design where the cultures of surf and celebrity have melded to create a very unique vibe. By day you can view priceless works of art coupled with a majestic view of the Pacific Ocean at The Getty Villa and then, by night, crawl your way through the streets of Venice where you're likely to discover the guy you thought lived in your alley may very well be the world's next great sculptor.
- On Location: Sourcing in Venice, Calif.
- On Location: Community & Co. in West Hollywood
- On Location: Olde Good Things
New York City area
My love affair with art and design in New York City began when I was very young. Growing up in Northern New Jersey, my uncle, who worked in art galleries in the city at the time, would take the 5-year-old me on city tours worthy of a scholar and I repeat his stories -- and continue to learn new ones -- to this day. New York is the center of so many universes and design is most certainly one of them. From the museums to the flea markets, uptown to down, it's nothing short of a full sensory experience.
- On Location: Affordable Art Fair, NYC
- On Location: Olde Good Things
- On Location: Gracious Home, New York City
- Directory: Historic House Trust of NYC
- Directory: Architects & Designers Building, NYC
Washington D.C. area
Washington D.C. is so beautifully steeped in history. The design scene here is all at once respectful of and inspired by the past and so open to modern design as well that it seems to have blossomed more each time I visit. This is an area with a genuine appreciation for remarkable antiques, an eye for quality and creativity, a passion for political memorabilia, and the space (something greatly lacking in some cities) for pieces like massive farm tables and decorative mantels.