Annette and Gustavo Gutierrez hosted another “Cross-Pollination” on Saturday. These get-togethers were initiated by garden designer Dustin Gimbel, who’s already hosted a couple dinners, and are a hybrid between a revolving conversation society and garden party. There was just enough time before nightfall for a few photos.
The tantalizing aroma of Gustavo’s paella permeated their 100-year-old, two-story Craftsman (see Apartment Therapy’s tour here), while in the garden off the kitchen plumeria poured its scent into the warm night air. The Hollywood sign in the nearby hills, visible from the deck, along with the ring of palm trees encircling their street, are the kind of party props you just can’t rent.
photo from Apartment Therapy.
Annette Gutierrez and Mary Gray, at their Atwater Village shop Potted, are providing Los Angeles a much-needed source for modern, vibrant options in outdoor design. (Now, via online sales, everyone else can get Potted too.) At home, Annette mixes many of Potted’s furniture and signature pottery with vintage chairs, built-in banquettes, tile-top tables by Tracey Reinberg’s line of Kismet cement tile, showing how bright-hued Fermob and Bend chairs and tables co-exist beautifully with other materials and styles.
It’s wonderful to see a love of strong color and pattern spill out into the garden, bringing together an outdoor space that, instead of being considered an afterthought, is as personal, idiosyncratic, and irresistibly welcoming as what’s inside the house. Maybe more so. Where else but at a garden party can you be entertained by a dog eating avocados falling from the tree?
Thank you, Annette and Gustavo, for hosting a fabulous evening of Cross-Pollination.
What a fabulous house and garden! I’m not surprised the owner is behind Potted-I’ve been admiring the store from afar through your blog. How does one go about getting on the guest list for these cross-polibation parties?
The next best thing to being there myself if getting to enjoy the evening via your photos. But I really really wish I was there.
@Sue, there’s a botanical Latin quiz at the front door — kidding, of course. Just a bunch of local people who love garden design.
@Loree, and I always wished I’d taken more photos!
I wish you’d taken more photos too. They’re beautiful! I didn’t even see you doing it. And, Loree, next time you’re in town we’ll have another dinner party. I think we still owe your husband, don’t ya think?
Annette, deal! (and the husband agrees).
What a fabulous evening that must have been. I’m getting ideas about hosting a cross-pollination get-together here in Austin. Hmmm.
And speaking of Potted, I was just given an orange-red circle planter for my birthday. Yay!
What a great post and fabulous house and garden. I would have been oohing and aaaahing at everything! Thanks for the tour!