Designer Interview: Molly Luetkemeyer

Molly Luetkemeyer is a Los Angeles-based interior designer who founded her own design firm in 2001, M. Design Interiors. Inspired by a range of sources from modern and contemporary art to nature, fashion and vintage design books, Luetkemeyer has developed a signature style that is fresh, expressive and sophisticated. She takes a unique approach to each project, combining her personal inspiration with a thorough understanding of each client's wants and needs. Her client roster includes Hollywood A-listers, entertainment industry insiders, captains of industry and stylish people from all walks of life who are looking for an injection of color, creativity, art and vision in their space.

Earlier this year we participated in one of our favorite events - Legends of La Cienega. Legends is one of the most anticipated design events in the United States. It is a 3-day celebration of design in the La Cienega Design Quarter that brings together thousands of design and architecture enthusiasts, tastemakers and editors from across the country and around the world. Each year over 60 (plus) legendary windows in the LCDQ become imaginatively transformed by designers from across the country and around the world. These beautifully designed windows are always a highlight of the event. Molly Luetkemeyer had the opportunity to design one of the windows at our showroom, Harbinger. We recently talked with Molly about her involvement with this event:

Tell us about yourself and describe your journey into the design world... I am a born and bred east coaster who has lived in California for the last 19 years. Clearly, I love it here! The quality of life, indoor-outdoor living and casual sophistication all suit me both personally and in the projects that I design. I came to California from New York City where I was working with the director, Mike Nichols. We were shooting “Primary Colors” and when the film wrapped, I had fallen in love with Los Angeles and decided to stay. Thus began my quarter-life crisis (I won’t bore you with all the details) but the upshot was that I enrolled in the design program at UCLA and started working with Kelly Wearstler and have never looked back. I started my own company in 2001 and have been fortunate to have a wonderful range of clients in the entertainment world and beyond on both coasts.

Describe the window you designed for Legends and the inspiration behind the design... The theme of this year’s legends event was “one of a kind”. I approached Joe Lucas about doing one of his windows at Harbinger because I love the range of his vendors. The theme of my window was “custom collaborations” which gave me the opportunity to work with the best in the business: Fromental on hand-painted silk wallpaper; Ryan Mennealy on a custom ceramic lamp that read “unique” in morse code; Merida on a gorgeous, chunky black sisal shot through with copper; Brian Gennett on a custom side table made of bronze and panels covered in chevrons of vintage book covers; Jeff Robinson on a custom mural on the exterior of the window inspired by Christian Beard; and of course, with Moore & Giles on a fabulous leather coffee table with with a gold sunburst etched on the top and down the sides.

What is your favorite part of your involvement with Legends? My favorite part of legends is always getting to meet and spend time with so many creative, accomplished people in the world of design. It really is design spring break!

What do you like to work with Moore & Giles leather? My favorite part of Moore & Giles leather is the amazing range of color and texture. They are my go-to for leather because no matter how specific the color, thickness or finish I need for a project, I can always find just the right thing.

Where do you like using leather most in a room? I like using leather the most on ottomans and footstools that take a beating and get better and better as they patina over time. That said, I like leather on just about anything for just that reason. Recently, I have been making leather pillows with very think hides because they are supple but still hold their shape and work with all of the patterns I love to use.

Molly's spectacular window design at Harbinger: