Take A Design Field Trip

DESIGN | by DEBRA PRINZING

IN 2006, WHEN I MOVED from Seattle to Los Angeles, I met Cristi Walden and was invited to join her small group on the first of what I call Cristi’s “Design Field Trips.”

MARION DAVIES © DEBRA PRINZING

Through this lively and curious woman, I’ve had a personal education in architecture, design, decorative arts and the cultural history of Los Angeles. We’ve gone off the beaten track to places I never would have discovered on my own, including the just-restored Marion Davies beach house in Malibu and a pitch-perfect Tiki Bar in the basement of a shy but gifted animator. We met tile makers who are keeping alive the art of the past and toured the ancient warehouse where reproduction Bauer pottery is being manufactured.

With a twinkle in her eye, Cristi has a knack for gathering like-minded people, heading out for a day and creating an unforgettable excursion. She calls us the “Merry Band of Archivists.”

Here are some of Cristi’s tricks for pulling together a design-filled day:

• Keep your ears open and just ask. Her contagious enthusiasm opens doors and, frankly, I think people are flattered to be asked to share their home or give a behind-the-scenes tour to kindred spirits.
• Invite participants. Armed with driving directions or a map, we head out to visit an obscure county museum with an amazing art exhibit or an incredible Arts & Crafts house filled with a stunning vintage pottery collection. Camaraderie, discovery and adventure make us nearly giddy with excitement.
• Add food. Cristi makes sure we eat, perhaps at a Mexican cantina, a barbecue spot or a diner. The restaurants seem to fit the theme of the tour, but maybe that’s a coincidence.

After the trip, armed with the email addresses of new friends, I return home with photographs, stories and a much better appreciation of the place where I now live.