This is one of the many upcoming profiles of our neighbors in the Arts District of LA. It’s an area of Downtown LA that has seen a huge explosion of growth recently. Residents, creative business’, artists, designers, and entrepreneurs have been moving into this once sleepy district. Everyone living and working here are naturally bonded, there is a strong sense of ownership, a sense of looking out for each other and supporting each other here to make sure our community thrives. Once an area that was mostly manufacturing and warehousing, it’s now a mix of artist studios, restaurants, coffee roasters, bars, cafes, boutiques, lofts and a renowned architecture school. We are seeing it grow and it’s nothing but exciting.

Poketo has been operating from a loft here since 2007, right before many of the current business’ moved in, right around the time change was happening…and if you may or may not have noticed on our Instagram, Poketo will be opening its first brick and mortar right here in the heart of it all. But, more on that later.

This is Jeremy of District Millworks. He runs a custom fabrication shop here in the Arts District, specializing in acquiring and breathing new life to reclaimed wood from across the country. Whether it’s wood from railroad depots in Alabama, old barn siding, bowling lanes in Nebraska, or old homes that no longer have a life… that wood ends up here at District Millworks. It’s right here in this seemingly cavernous, endless warehouse that he and his team design furniture and objects for homes, retail, restaurants, and commercial properties. Their latest endeavor, that newly opened, much talked about UMAMIcatessen in Downtown LA.

We got a rad tour of District Millworks… or rather, we ended up walking aimlessly and getting lost in the myriad of rooms in this huge space.

A view into the open sky courtyard…

We stumbled into areas most people won’t see. If you do go and visit (and you should), you’ll walk through their storefront showroom and will be instantly surrounded by beautiful, handcrafted furniture, tables, beds, and even a playful swing hung from 20 + foot tall ceilings. District Millworks designs and fabricates all their pieces here. You can pick what you like from their showroom, or you can come in with an idea… they’ll help you envision it… they’ll make it come to life.

More at DistrictMillworks.com.

LACMA’s “California Design, 1930-1965″ is part of the Pacific Standard Time, a collaboration of museums and galleries across Southern California coming together to celebrate the birth of the L.A. art scene. There are 46 exhibitions all over Southern California, this one at LACMA showcases designers, architects, architecture, and everyday objects that shaped the California aesthetic that is so prevalent today.

The exhibition is divided into four categories: shaping, making, living and selling. The Selling of the California Dream- its grandness and optimism- was the most interesting to me. The California lifestyle was represented in the design of furniture, clothes, publications, toys for kids, and more- Not much different than it is today. Quoting photographer Julius Shulman, “Good design is seldom accepted, it has to be sold”.

California played a key role in defense and aerospace during WWII. Breakthroughs in fiberglass, molded plywood, and other materials were key to modernism, post-war. These materials for the first time were being used inexpensively for the home and lifestyle products.

Art & Architecture, 1946.

The Barbie Dream House, propogating the California dream at a young age.

These wooden blocks intended for kids back then, reminds me of the Balancing Blocks for the kid in us now.

With the start of fall (and school!) comes one beloved annual tradition…. the Back-to-School Shopping Trip. We may not be in school anymore, but it’s a great time to find deals on small items to perk up our living spaces.

If you’re moving into dorms, apartments or little corners this fall, don’t forget to get in on our 50% off sale on art prints and wall decals. And keep these easy tips in mind:

Blank walls are white canvases, add your style and go!
Keep your walls neutral, but add a row of framed art to create a great contrast without chaos.

Art prints bring a pop of color into a neutral space. A great piece can also be a conversation starter.

Shop for space savers
Look for furniture that does double duty or folds into a compact space, so you can maximize the space in your apartment. Some pieces might be made especially for close quarters, but exercise your creativity and you can often find other uses for pre-existing items.

Swap out one plant for utensils on this mountable planter and you instantly have a bit of green with extra space.

Do without walls, but do divide your space
Walls constrict and nobody ever wants to run into them. Divvy up your living area by adding a visual element. Why not use a plant, a stack of books or wall decals as a divider?

Have you found some great tips to spruce up a small space? We’d love to hear them! Share your photos and tips on the comments below!

Tanya Aguiniga’s signature Rope Knot bracelets and necklaces make a huge fashion statement. We met Tanya years ago, picking up a number of her pieces for ourselves. All of the objects in her collection are designed, hand dyed, hand sewn, all of it put together by hand, by Tanya and her team. We’ve been been fans since day one, so no doubt, it was an honor to visit her studio in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, to see her process and catch up on all the new goods and projects she’s been working on. Check out those chairs!

See her bracelets on Poketo.
More of Tanya Aguiniga at Aguinigadesign.com.