Photos by Kayten Schmidt
Los Angeles-based Kayten Schmidt is a longtime Emme Parsons muse and collaborator, and has also photographed for clients including Architectural Digest, Matteau, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, and Sophie Buhai. We love her personal and professional aesthetic — marked by natural shapes, contours, and an intimate simplicity. Kayten resides in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, but takes full advantage of the city’s natural landscapes, ample art, world class food and fashion as seen in her curated guide below.
Museums, Galleries, and Architecture, Sights
1200 Getty Center Dr #1100, Los Angeles, CA 90049
The only thing I might love more than a library is a research library attached to a museum. No need to choose if you make an appointment and spend a day at The Getty. I exhaust myself looking at the most incredible books you can imagine and then further exhaust myself by taking a stroll through gardens and the galleries.
This is where I go if I want to see the ocean, but don't want to get wet, windy, or sandy. If you know me you know I love a view, and this is one of the most pleasant and easiest to get to.
2504 W 7th St, Suite C
An absolute favorite, I caught the Talia Chetrit show last year. A must visit.
1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
It's nice to escape into florals and soothing art. You must catch the annual orchid show and the roses when they are in bloom.
6525 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
There's not really anything to do here, like so many things in LA it just sort of lives statuesquely in its sordid history. But it does exist and can be rented for events or office space, so let's all move in.
5949 Bonsall Dr, Malibu, CA 90265
Where Joan Didion bought her orchids, quite a read about this orchid farm in Quiet Days in Malibu, which is obviously about much more than the rows of perfectly misted white orchids that will live forever.
Cafes and Restaurants, Hotels
8221 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046
The most quintessential LA spot for breakfast, dinner, or a drink in the lobby lounge. Take a room with your lover, a piano, and a balcony for the most romance I can imagine.
1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
My favorite place to go when I want to really enjoy what I'm eating, or when I'm dining with my absolute favorite people. If I ask you here, I love you. The banana cream pie is incredible.
311 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
A little known fact is that the Beverly Hills Laudurée is entirely vegan. You'd never know. I love to pick up a few boxes of macarons to eat for days.
1936 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Best coffee, best matcha.
1999 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Ambience. Views. Koi pond. A pool. Like dining in a movie.
4645 Melbourne Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Intense smoothies with literally every healthy add-in I've ever heard of. I've never had anything here that wasn't divine.
Shopping
451 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
I think everyone in LA has a fondness for this house on La Cienega, and who better to fill all those rooms with patterns, colors, textures, and a gallery space with frequently changing shows.
8021 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
The best vintage in Los Angeles. Unrivaled.
1138 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Beautiful and really interesting scents. Small batches are blended, decanted, and bottled in-house. I love them all, but especially Musc Botanique, Fair Verona, and Reserve Series Moss.
Melrose Ave
I put these three together because they are all right next to each other on Melrose, which is unheard of in LA. A great destination for browsing home furnishings, objet d'art, and mens tablecloth tops.
11270 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230
This store has a beautiful little garden with a huge rustic dining table that you can rent for events. An unexpected location for a birthday or engagement party. The last time I was there I was lusting over the lamps and tableware.
931 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
Speaking of lust, this warehouse sized but thoroughly elegant showroom is enough to send anyone into a frenzy.
