The ENTREPRENEUR
ARIEL KAYE
Credentials: Founder and CEO, Parachute FIND IT OUTDOORS • “I’m always inspired by the outdoors and the casual beauty of the Southern California landscape. Bike riding, sunset yoga or a quick walk to the beach always boosts my creativity.”
ALWAYS WELCOME • “My goal is to always design welcoming spaces. My home is full of items that create a cozy and relaxing environment—oversize pillows, throws, a gallery wall full of personal photos and artwork.” MIX ‘N’ MATCH • “Today, people are designing their interiors as a whole, not room by room. I like when pieces can be mixed, matched and layered across all rooms.”
For Ariel Kaye, Founder and CEO of modern bedding brand, Parachute, a trip to Italy changed everything. While staying at a boutique hotel on the Amalfi Coast, Kaye fell head over heels for her sumptuous sheets and began a quest to find a similar set back home. Seeing a gap in the bedding market, Kaye put her 10 years of brand development experience to work and created her line of high-quality home essentials, designed in signature soft tones to combine comfort with luxury. “Starting a business is the wildest ride imaginable,” said Kaye. “Becoming a founder has been a completely transformative experience—and I love it!”
GAGA DESIGNS 818.366.8787 www.shalenasmith.com Photoshoot Location: PORTER RANCH, CA
The NURSERY DESIGNER
SHALENA SMITH Credentials: Founder, GaGa Designs
INSPIRATIONAL MOMS • “I look to my clients as my resource. Most of them are already in a creative industry so it’s about translating their ideas in a way that’s decorative and tells their story.”
ON TREND • “Creating unique accent walls are my favorite right now! From wood paneling and molding to wallpaper and murals, I can’t get enough!”
For preparation for a new baby, GaGa Designs has everything covered. “Most parents don’t think of baby safety from a crawling perspective, so I’ll literally crawl around the room on the floor to see what [babies] see,” said Founder of GaGa Designs, Shalena Smith. Gaga’s services help new parents with everything from designing an elegant nursery, stocked with top-of-the-line decor, to arranging for pediatricians and doulas. After a chance encounter led her to her first high-profile client, Wayne Brady’s wife, word got out and today, the devoted mom of two counts the tots of big-time celebs like Mariah Carey and Tamera Mowry among her faithful clients.
FAVORITE PROJECT • “Sean [P. Diddy] Combs’ nursery for his twins [with Kim Porter in 2006]. It was the entire west wing of the house. How could you not enjoy decorating a space that big?”
PARACHUTE 3436 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026 323.741.0045 www.parachutehome.com
LOCALE MAGAZINE 43