Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2026 10 All auction proceeds supported Habitat LA's mission to provide safe and dignified housing for families impacted by the January wildfires. "The outpouring of support for this year's Opening Night Party has been incredibly meaningful," said Megan Reilly, co-founder of WestEdge Design Fair. "As Los Angeles continues to rebuild, this community has stepped forward with creativity, generosity, and heart. WestEdge has always been about connection, but this year that purpose resonated more deeply than ever." REBUILD LA AND WILDFIRE RECOVERY EFFORTS TAKE CENTER STAGE In addition to the Habitat LA fundraiser, WestEdge partnered with Team Palisades, a neighbor-led support network formed after the January 2025 wildfires, to debut the Team Palisades ReBuild Connect Zone – a new fair destination dedicated to rebuilding efforts across Los Angeles. Built on the Block Captain framework developed by After The Fire USA, Team Palisades mobilizes residents to share trusted resources, challenge inefficient recovery systems, and ensure renters, seniors, and families have a fair path home. The ReBuild Connect Zone featured: • Experts in fire-safe materials and resilient building • Climate-conscious design strategies • Resources for homeowners navigating the rebuild process • Innovative products supporting stronger, smarter, future-proof homes By uniting the Palisades and WestEdge design communities, this pavilion served as a hub of inspiration, information, and forward-looking design solutions – a highlight for attendees seeking to understand how design can drive tangible community recovery. PROGRAMMING & EXHIBITS: A DYNAMIC SHOWCASE OF DESIGN EXCELLENCE This year's programming spanned multiple platforms and experiences: MAIN STAGE: "SEEING THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES" Designed by Kim Gordon Designs, the Main Stage, presented by Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, explored design's ability to influence environmental stewardship, resilience, and long-term impact. Through panels presented in partnership with Convo By Design, the stage addressed topics ranging from wellness and sustainable design to creative burnout and designing with disaster in mind. AMERICAN STYLE CONNOISSEURS' CLUB Curated by Julee Ireland, this hospitality lounge highlighted American-made brands and offered chef-led tastings, lifestyle activations, and hands-on workshops. Participating sponsors included Cambria, Monogram, The Kitchen Store, Barron Designs, Fabuwood, Stone Shop Tile and Granite, and Accurate Lock & Hardware. WESTEDGEXTERIORS An expanded outdoor showcase presented five fully realized exterior vignettes, featuring outdoor kitchens, furnishings, grills, and lighting – showing how exterior design continues to shape modern living. MADE:MODERN This juried exhibition of independent makers featured bespoke furnishings, art, lighting, and objects, spotlighting talent across the contemporary maker community. REBUILD ROOM DESIGNER VIGNETTES New for 2025, these designer-curated environments, each created with partner brands, offered "shop the look" opportunities, with proceeds benefiting Habitat LA's ReBUILD LA Recovery Fund. Participating designers included Eddie Mickenberg, Andrea Hutchman of Poppy Interiors, Janet Shaw Designs, Katie Brightside, Lindsay Pennington Inc., Rydhima Brar/ R/Terior Studio, Thomas Hayes Studio X Canyon Creative Studio and Grace Blu Interior Design with Curated Connections. IIDA X WESTEDGE AWARDS The International Interior Design Association honored excellence in product and booth design, with winners announced during the Opening Night Party. Product award winners included James Lostlen Studio, Fireclay Tile, Qoldfusion, Plumis, Corston Architectural Detail, Light and Green, and VLAZE. Corston Architectural Detail and Fireclay Tile also took home awards for best booth design. The 10th edition was supported by generous sponsors that included: Accurate Lock & Hardware, Barron Designs, Best Buy, Cambria, Ceasta Assurance, Diamond Landscaping, Euhomy, Fabuwood, Fleetwood Windows & Doors, Geek Squad, Monogram, Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, Prestige Beverage Group, Sherwin-Williams, Snyder Diamond, Southwest Greens, Stone Shop Tile & Granite, Team Palisades, The Kitchen Store, The Plant Daddies, Tidelli, TimberTech by AZEK, and Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center alongside a robust lineup of media partners including aspire design and home, BuildingGreen, California Home + Design, California Homes, Convo By Design, D5 Mag, edibleLA, Gray Magazine, Iconic Life, Insytive, KCRW, LAArtParty.com, Los Angeles Magazine, LUXE Interiors + Design, Luxury Pools, Modern Luxury Angeleno, Modern Luxury Interiors, Ocean Home Magazine, Orange Coast Magazine, Pasadena Magazine, The Architect's Newspaper, The Retail Observer, Venü, and more. Save the date for WestEdge Design Fair 2026: October 29-31, 2026. Visit www.westedgedesignfair.com/show-info for more information. RO WestEdge Design Fair 10 th Anniversary

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